India Strengthens Wildlife Conservation: PM Modi’s Key Announcements

What’s in Today’s Article?

• National Board for Wildlife Latest News
• Introduction
• Major Announcements in Wildlife Conservation
• Leveraging Technology for Conservation
• Role of Local Communities in Conservation
• Conclusion
• India’s Wildlife Conservation FAQs

National Board for Wildlife Latest News

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Gir National Park in Gujarat, chaired the 7th meeting of the National Board for Wildlife and unveiled a series of key wildlife initiatives.

Introduction

• India continues to enhance its wildlife conservation efforts with a series of new initiatives announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Gir National Park, Gujarat.
• Chairing the 7th meeting of the National Board for Wildlife, PM Modi introduced several landmark measures aimed at protecting endangered species, improving wildlife habitats, and leveraging technology for conservation.
• Key highlights of the announcements include the first-ever riverine dolphin estimation report, the expansion of India’s cheetah reintroduction program, and the initiation of a National Great Indian Bustard Conservation Action Plan.
• Additionally, a Centre of Excellence for human-wildlife conflict mitigation and a National Referral Centre for Wildlife were also announced.

Major Announcements in Wildlife Conservation

• First-Ever Riverine Dolphin Estimation
  • PM Modi released India’s first comprehensive report on riverine dolphins, estimating a total of 6,327 dolphins across 28 rivers in eight states.
  • The survey, covering 8,500 kilometers, revealed Uttar Pradesh as having the highest population, followed by Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam.
  • The Prime Minister emphasized community participation in dolphin conservation, proposing exposure visits for school children to create awareness about their habitat and ecological importance.
• Strengthening Asiatic Lion Conservation
  • The 16th Asiatic Lion Population Estimation will be conducted in 2025 to track conservation progress.
  • Barda Wildlife Sanctuary will receive increased conservation efforts, including prey augmentation and habitat enhancement to support natural lion dispersal.
  • PM Modi highlighted Gir’s success in lion and leopard conservation, advocating the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital documentation to replicate these efforts in other national parks.
• Expansion of Cheetah Reintroduction Program
  • India’s ambitious cheetah reintroduction project will expand to Gandhisagar Sanctuary (Madhya Pradesh) and Banni Grasslands (Gujarat).
  • The move aims to enhance biodiversity and establish a sustainable cheetah population in India.
• New Wildlife Protection Measures
  • National Referral Centre for Wildlife: The foundation stone for this centre was laid in Junagadh, aiming to improve wildlife disease management and health monitoring.
  • Centre of Excellence at SACON, Coimbatore: This will address human-wildlife conflict by equipping Rapid Response Teams with advanced tracking gadgets, AI-driven surveillance systems, and community training programs.
  • Use of Remote Sensing & AI: The Prime Minister emphasized the deployment of geospatial mapping, AI, and machine learning for detecting and mitigating forest fires and human-animal conflicts.
• Strengthening Conservation of Endangered Species
  • Gharial Conservation Project: A new initiative has been launched to protect and revive gharial populations, which have been dwindling due to habitat loss.
  • National Great Indian Bustard Conservation Action Plan: Recognizing the need to scale up efforts, a national plan will be implemented to protect and increase the population of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard.
  • Conservation Scheme for Tigers Outside Reserves: A special initiative was announced to support tiger conservation beyond protected reserves, addressing human-wildlife conflicts in buffer zones and adjacent areas.

Leveraging Technology for Conservation

• PM Modi underscored the importance of technology in modern conservation strategies:
  • Remote sensing and AI will be used to track wildlife movements and improve conflict management.
  • Forest Survey of India (FSI) and BISAG-N collaboration will enhance forest fire detection and prevention using space technology.
  • Traditional conservation knowledge will be documented using AI-driven tools, ensuring that valuable ecological practices are preserved for future generations.

Role of Local Communities in Conservation

• PM Modi praised the involvement of local communities in conservation, noting a sixfold increase in community reserves over the past decade. He emphasized expanding this model to empower tribal and rural populations in protecting wildlife.
• Additionally, PM Modi announced increased eco-tourism infrastructure, ensuring ease of access to wildlife sanctuaries and protected areas, which will contribute to both conservation and local economic growth.

Conclusion

• The announcements made by PM Modi mark a significant milestone in India’s wildlife conservation strategy.
• With a focus on species protection, habitat restoration, technology integration, and community participation, these initiatives will strengthen India’s position as a global leader in wildlife conservation.
• The government's continued commitment to sustainable biodiversity management is expected to yield long-term ecological benefits, ensuring a thriving coexistence between wildlife and human populations.

India’s Wildlife Conservation FAQs

Q1. What is the significance of India’s first riverine dolphin estimation report?

Ans. The report estimates 6,327 riverine dolphins across 28 rivers, providing critical data for conservation efforts.

Q2. How is the government enhancing Asiatic lion conservation?

Ans. Measures include the 16th Asiatic Lion Population Estimation (2025) and conservation efforts in Barda Wildlife Sanctuary.

Q3. What new sites are being considered for cheetah reintroduction?

Ans. The program will expand to Gandhisagar Sanctuary (MP) and Banni Grasslands (Gujarat).

Q4. How will technology aid wildlife conservation in India?

Ans. AI, geospatial mapping, and remote sensing will be used for forest fire prevention, human-animal conflict mitigation, and habitat monitoring.

Q5. What steps has India taken to conserve the Great Indian Bustard?

Ans. The government launched a National Great Indian Bustard Conservation Action Plan to restore habitats and increase population numbers.

Source: IE | PIB