{"id":157611,"date":"2025-03-04T19:33:37","date_gmt":"2025-03-04T14:03:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&#038;p=157611"},"modified":"2025-03-05T18:41:54","modified_gmt":"2025-03-05T13:11:54","slug":"meeting-of-national-board-for-wildlife","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/meeting-of-national-board-for-wildlife","title":{"rendered":"7th Meeting of National Board for Wildlife"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Prime Minister chaired the seventh meeting of the<\/span><b> National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">at<\/span><b> Gir National Park in Gujarat <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on <\/span><b>World Wildlife Day.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Major Announcements and Conservation Initiatives<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>First-ever Riverine Dolphin Estimation Report Released:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The government released the<\/span><b> first-ever Riverine Dolphin Estimation Report<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to assess the population and conservation needs of river dolphins in India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>16th Asiatic Lion Population Estimation (2025) Announced: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 16th population estimation of Asiatic lions will be conducted in 2025 to monitor their numbers and conservation status.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cheetah Reintroduction Program Expansion: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ongoing Cheetah Reintroduction Program will be expanded to new locations to ensure the successful reestablishment of cheetahs in India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Foundation Stone Laid for National Referral Centre for Wildlife (Junagadh): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A National Referral Centre for Wildlife will be established in Junagadh, Gujarat, to provide specialized research and medical support for wildlife conservation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>National Great Indian Bustard Conservation Action Plan: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A dedicated conservation action plan for the<\/span><b> critically endangered Great Indian Bustard <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">will be initiated to strengthen its protection.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>New Project for Gharial Conservation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A new conservation project will be launched to protect and revive the population of gharials, a<\/span><b> critically endangered crocodilian species found in India.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>About National Board for Wildlife<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Statutory Body:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The <\/span><b>National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was constituted by the<\/span><b> Central Government under Section 5A of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WLPA)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was established through an amendment of the WLPA in 2022.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Replaced the Indian Board for Wildlife<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The NBWL replaced the Indian Board for Wildlife, which was originally formed in 1952.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Role of NBWL: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The board serves an advisory function and provides recommendations to the Central Government regarding wildlife conservation policies and measures.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Mandatory Approvals by NBWLas per <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0WLPA:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Altering the boundaries of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries or de-notifying Tiger Reserves.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Constructing tourist lodges within protected areas.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Destruction or diversion of wildlife habitats for development projects.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Organizational Structure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The NBWL is a 47-member committee with the following key members:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Chairperson : <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prime Minister of India<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Vice-Chairperson <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Minister of Environment, Forests &#038; Climate Change<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Member-Secretary: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additional Director General of Forests (WL) and Director, Wildlife Preservation<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Other Members\u00a0<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3 Members of Parliament (2 from Lok Sabha, 1 from Rajya Sabha)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5 Representatives from NGOs<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10 Eminent conservationists, ecologists, and environmentalists<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Government secretaries from various departments<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chief of Army Staff, Director General of Forests, Tourism, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Standing Committee of NBWL:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The Standing Committee of NBWL functions as an independent body under the NBWL.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Composition:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Consists of up to 10 members from the NBWL.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Chairperson<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Difference from NBWL:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The Standing Committee focuses on project clearances, while the NBWL is responsible for policy decisions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>About Gir National Park<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Gir National Park is situated in the Junagadh district of Gujarat, in the southwestern part of the<\/span><b> Saurashtra region.<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It lies in the<\/span><b> foothills of the Girnar range, an extension of the Western Ghats.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-157720 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/unnamed-2025-03-05t110518442-67c84ce92b2c8.webp\" alt=\"National Board for Wildlife\" width=\"451\" height=\"310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/unnamed-2025-03-05t110518442-67c84ce92b2c8.webp 1015w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/unnamed-2025-03-05t110518442-67c84ce92b2c8-300x206.webp 300w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/unnamed-2025-03-05t110518442-67c84ce92b2c8-768x527.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 451px) 100vw, 451px\" \/><b>Protected Status<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Declared as a sanctuary in 1965.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Upgraded to a<\/span><b> national park in 1975<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Represents the largest continuous <\/span><b>dry deciduous forest tract in western India.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Significance:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Gir National Park is the last natural habitat of the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica). Conservation efforts have been instrumental in preventing their extinction.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Indigenous Pastoral Community: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Maldharis, a pastoral community residing in Gir, share a historical and symbiotic relationship with the Asiatic lions.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their settlements are known as <\/span><b>&#8220;nesses&#8221;.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Flora and Habitat<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dominant tree species include teak, dhak, acacia, and other drought-resistant plants.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The park consists of a mix of dense forests, open scrubland, and grasslands, creating a diverse ecosystem for various species.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Comparison: Asiatic Lion vs. African Lion<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.7979%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 16.0643%; text-align: center;\"><b>Aspect<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 41.5735%; text-align: center;\"><b>Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica)<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 42.9998%; text-align: center;\"><b>African Lion (Panthera leo)<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 16.0643%;\"><b>Size<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 41.5735%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smaller; males weigh 350-450 lbs<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 42.9998%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Larger; males weigh 330-500 lbs<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 16.0643%;\"><b>Mane<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 41.5735%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shorter, sparser, darker mane<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 42.9998%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fuller, longer mane covering entire head<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 16.0643%;\"><b>Pride Size<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 41.5735%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smaller prides (2-5 females); males live with pride females<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 42.9998%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Larger prides (up to 6 females); males do not live with females unless mating or at a large kill<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 16.0643%;\"><b>Skin Folds<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 41.5735%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Has a long skin fold under the belly<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 42.9998%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No skin fold<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 16.0643%;\"><b>Distribution<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 41.5735%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Found only in Gir National Park, Gujarat, India<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 42.9998%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Found in Sub-Saharan and West Africa<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 16.0643%;\"><b>Protection Status<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 41.5735%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IUCN Red List : Endangered<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CITES : Appendix I<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WPA 1972: Schedule I<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CMS : Appendix II<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 42.9998%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IUCN Red List : Vulnerable<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CITES: Appendix II<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CMS: Appendix II<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.6375%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 111.19%; 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