The Sundarbans Tiger Reserve in West Bengal has become India’s second-largest tiger reserve, after Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam TR, Andhra Pradesh.
- This status has been achieved after the National Board for Wildlife approved an expansion of 1,044.68 sq km area to the existing reserve. It now is spread across an area of 3,629.57 square kilometres (sq km).
- Three tiger-inhabited ranges in the South 24 Parganas district — Matla, Raidighi and Ramganga — have been added to the existing expanse of the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve (STR).
About Sundarbans Tiger Reserve (STR)
- Location: Coastal districts of South & North 24-Parganas, West Bengal, at the southernmost extremity of the Lower Gangetic Delta, bordering the Bay of Bengal.
- Formation: Part of the largest delta in the world (Sundarbans), formed by the Ganga & Brahmaputra rivers before they drain into the Bay of Bengal.
- Status: Tiger Reserve, National Park, Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ramsar site).
- Borders:
- East: International boundary with Bangladesh (Harinbhanga, Raimangal, Kalindi rivers).
- South: Bay of Bengal.
- West: River Matla (boundary with South 24-Parganas Forest Division).
- North-West: Bidya & Gomdi rivers.
- Landscape: A maze of estuaries, river channels, and 105 islands of varying sizes.
- Unique Feature: Only mangrove forest in the world (with Bangladesh) to support a significant tiger population (~101 tigers, 2022 census).
- Flora: True mangroves, mangrove associates, halophytic herbs, shrubs, weeds, epiphytes, parasitic plants.
- Fauna: Flagship species is Royal Bengal Tiger.
- Others: Fishing cat, Estuarine crocodile, Gangetic dolphin, Irrawaddy dolphin, King cobra, Water monitor lizard, migratory birds.
- Significance of Expansion:
- Conservation: Strengthens protection of a fragile mangrove–tiger ecosystem.
- Climate Resilience: Sundarbans act as a natural cyclone shield and a major carbon sink.
- Livelihood Concerns: Fishermen & local communities fear restricted access, though the government assures continued buffer zone rights.
- International Value: Only transboundary tiger reserve (India–Bangladesh).
About National Board for Wildlife
- Statutory Body: The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) was constituted by the Central Government under Section 5A of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WLPA).
- It was established through an amendment of the WLPA in 2022.
- Replaced the Indian Board for Wildlife: The NBWL replaced the Indian Board for Wildlife, which was originally formed in 1952.
- Role of NBWL: The board serves an advisory function and provides recommendations to the Central Government regarding wildlife conservation policies and measures.
- Mandatory Approvals by NBWLas per WLPA:
- Altering the boundaries of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries or de-notifying Tiger Reserves.
- Constructing tourist lodges within protected areas.
- Destruction or diversion of wildlife habitats for development projects.
- Organizational Structure: The NBWL is a 47-member committee with the following key members:
- Chairperson : Prime Minister of India
- Vice-Chairperson : Minister of Environment, Forests & Climate Change
- Member-Secretary: Additional Director General of Forests (WL) and Director, Wildlife Preservation
- Other Members
- 3 Members of Parliament (2 from Lok Sabha, 1 from Rajya Sabha)
- 5 Representatives from NGOs
- 10 Eminent conservationists, ecologists, and environmentalists
- Government secretaries from various departments
- Chief of Army Staff, Director General of Forests, Tourism, etc.
- Standing Committee of NBWL: The Standing Committee of NBWL functions as an independent body under the NBWL.
- Composition: Consists of up to 10 members from the NBWL.
- Chairperson: Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
- Difference from NBWL: The Standing Committee focuses on project clearances, while the NBWL is responsible for policy decisions.
23 Aug 2025
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