Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat Scheme

About Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat Scheme: 

• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched by the union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• It has been made operational by adding more components and activities to the erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Scheme - "Assistance for the Development of National Parks and Sanctuaries" during the 11th Plan Period.
• It envisages boosting technological interventions in different thematic areas over the current and next financial year in tiger and other wildlife habitats.
• Under this scheme 55 tiger reserves, 33 elephant reserves and 718 protected areas and their zones of influence stand to benefit. 
• Components of the scheme
  • Support to Protected Areas (National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves)
  • Protection of Wildlife Outside Protected Areas
  • Recovery programmes for saving critically endangered species and habitats
• Sub components of IDWH
  • Project Tiger: It aims at ensuring a viable population of the Bengal tiger (‘endangered’) in its natural habitats and protecting it from extinction. It also supports the ambitious Project Cheetah in the country.
  • Project Elephant: It aims to conserve elephant populations and their habitats, reduce human-elephant conflicts, and improve the welfare of captive elephants.
  • Development of Wildlife Habitat: The Project Dolphin and Project Lion both are under this sub component.

Q1: What is Project Elephant?

It was launched by the Government of India's Ministry of Environment and Forests in February 1992. It's a scheme aimed at supporting states in managing their wild Asian elephant populations through financial and technical assistance.

Source: Ministry achieves 100 days target on Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats