Content:
- India’s Wildlife Conservation Milestones
India’s Wildlife Conservation Milestones
Every year on March 3rd, the world celebrates United Nations World Wildlife Day (WWD) to honour the vital role of wild animals and plants in our lives and the planet’s health. This day is a reminder of the need to protect and preserve biodiversity for future generations. The theme for WWD 2025 is “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet.”
Relevance : GS 3(Environment and Ecology )
National Wildlife Action Plan (2017-2031)
- Focuses on landscape-level conservation, integrating climate change considerations into wildlife management.
- Emphasizes community involvement to ensure sustainable conservation efforts across diverse ecosystems.
National Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Strategy and Action Plan (2021-26)
- Developed through a four-year consultative process under the Indo-German Project.
- Aims to systematically reduce human-wildlife conflict (HWC) while balancing wildlife conservation and human well-being.
- Integrates scientific, policy, and community-driven approaches.
Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (Amended 2022)
- Strengthened enforcement by empowering the Indian Coast Guard.
- Recognizes Gangetic and Indus River Dolphins as distinct Schedule I species, enhancing their legal protection.
Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019
- Prioritizes conservation of ecologically sensitive areas like mangroves, coral reefs, and turtle nesting grounds.
- Restricts unregulated development to protect marine biodiversity.
National Conservation Strategy for the Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros (2019)
- Aims to repopulate rhinos in historically inhabited areas using scientific and administrative measures.
Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI)
- Launched in 2024 to restore degraded mangroves, enhancing coastal sustainability and local livelihoods.
National Mission for Green India (GIM)
- Initiated in 2014 under the National Action Plan on Climate Change.
- Targets protection, restoration, and enhancement of forest cover for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH)
- A centrally sponsored scheme providing financial and technical support for wildlife conservation, including Project Tiger and Project Elephant.
National Marine Turtle Action Plan
- Focuses on conserving marine turtles and their habitats along India’s coastline.
Tiger Conservation Scheme (Announced 2025)
- Targets protection of tigers and co-predators outside traditional reserves.
National Great Indian Bustard Conservation Action Plan (Announced 2025)
- Aims to upscale efforts to protect this critically endangered species.
Project on Gharials (Announced 2025)
- Dedicated initiative to address the dwindling population of gharials.
Achievements
Budgetary Allocations (2025-26)
- Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change allocated ₹3,412.82 crores, a 9% increase from 2024-25 revised estimates.
- Revenue expenditure: ₹3,276.82 crores (8% increase); Capital expenditure: ₹136 crores (46% increase).
- ₹450 crores allocated for IDWH, with ₹290 crores (64%) for Project Tiger and Elephant, an 18% rise from 2024-25.
Protected Areas Expansion
- As of November 2023, India has 1,014 Protected Areas:
- 106 National Parks
- 573 Wildlife Sanctuaries
- 115 Conservation Reserves
- 220 Community Reserves
- Covering 5.32% of the country’s geographical area (1,75,169.42 km²).
Project Dolphin
- Launched in 2020, with ₹241.73 lakhs (2022-23) and ₹248.18 lakhs (2023-24) allocated.
- First-ever Ganges River Dolphin satellite-tagging completed on December 18, 2024, in Assam—a global conservation milestone.
- Population estimation of riverine dolphins completed across 28 rivers in eight states, report under finalization.
- Chambal River Conservation Zone (200 km) recommended as a Dolphin Conservation Zone.
Project Tiger (50 Years)
- Celebrated 50 years in 2023; India hosts over 70% of global wild tigers (3,682 avg. population, 6.1% annual growth).
- 54 tiger reserves span 78,000 km²; new reserves like Rani Durgavati (Madhya Pradesh) added.
- Tiger reintroduction successful in Rajaji, Madhav, Mukundra Hills, and Ramgarh Vishdhari reserves.
- 23 reserves accredited under CA|TS; Pench and Satpura won the Tx2 Award for doubling tiger numbers.
International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)
- Became a treaty-based organization on January 23, 2025, with 27 countries onboard.
- Launched in 2023 by PM Modi, headquartered in India, focuses on seven big cat species conservation.
Project Cheetah
- Launched in 2022; translocated 20 cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa to Kuno National Park.
- Successful births (e.g., three cubs born January 3, 2024) mark cheetah reproduction after 75 years in India.
- Over 350 ‘Cheetah Mitras’ engaged for community awareness and conflict mitigation.
Project Elephant
- Elephant population grew from 26,786 (2018) to 29,964 (2022).
- 33 Elephant Reserves across 14 states cover 80,777 km²; ₹236.58 crores allocated for 2021-26.
Asiatic Lion Conservation
- Population increased from 411 (2010) to 674 (2020) in Gir National Park.
- Gujarat allocated ₹155.53 crores in 2023-24; IUCN status upgraded from “Critically Endangered” to “Endangered” (2008).
One-Horned Rhinoceros
- Population in Kaziranga reached 2,613 (2022), accounting for 68% of the global total.
- Indian Rhino Vision 2020 enhanced genetic diversity via translocation.
Mangrove Restoration
- MISHTI restored 22,561 hectares of degraded mangroves across 13 states/UTs by 2024.
Digitization Efforts
- BSI and ZSI digitized 16,500 faunal specimens with 45,000 images; geo-tagged 6,124 springs in Himalayan states.
‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ Campaign
- Over 102 crore trees planted by December 2024, targeting 140 crore by March 2025.
Wildlife Crime Control
- WCCB conducted 166 operations (2019-2023) in the North East, arresting 375 offenders.
Global Commitments
World Wildlife Day 2025 Theme
- “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet” aligns with India’s focus on funding and community involvement.
International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)
- Treaty-based status enhances global collaboration for big cat conservation.
- Hosted capacity-building course with Kaziranga National Park for 27 countries.
Project Tiger Global Leadership
- MoUs with Cambodia for tiger reintroduction and talks with Bangladesh for Sundarbans conservation.
Global Declaration for River Dolphins
- India participated in discussions (October 2023, Bogotá, Colombia), reinforcing dolphin conservation commitments.
United Nations Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)
- Expanded engagement announced in 2025 for enhanced international cooperation.
Alignment with International Whaling Commission
- States urged to appoint Dolphin and Whaling Commissioners to meet global standards.
Climate Change Integration
- IBCA and National Mission for Green India integrate climate mitigation into conservation strategies.
Additional Insights
Technological Advancements
- Next Gen DNA Sequencing facility (WII, 2024), AI/ML for conflict mitigation, and space tech for forest fire management.
Community Engagement
- Initiatives like ‘Cheetah Mitras’ and ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ foster local participation.
New Conservation Sites
- Gandhisagar Sanctuary and Banni Grasslands identified for cheetah reintroduction.
