NBWL Standing Committee considers over 100 development projects requiring wildlife clearance

The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) considered over 100 development projects requiring wildlife clearance and reviewed progress on key conservation initiatives in its 91st meeting held in Coimbatore on Thursday (July 9).

The meeting, chaired by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, considered proposals that entail roads and bridges, defence infrastructure, drinking water supply, communication towers, power transmission lines, optical fibre networks, pipelines, mining, renewable energy, educational institutions, public infrastructure and other essential development works requiring wildlife clearance under the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

The proposals were appraised on the basis of their ecological impacts; importance for public welfare and national development; and the adequacy of mitigation measures to ensure conservation of wildlife and their habitats, said a release.

Progress made on several important directions issued by the NBWL and the Standing Committee in its earlier meetings were reviewed. The committee also reviewed progress of decisions taken during the seventh meeting of the NBWL, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and deliberated upon several important national conservation initiatives, said the release.

Emphasising that wildlife conservation remains central to India’s environmental governance, Mr. Yadav said that scientific planning, habitat connectivity, and effective mitigation measures should continue to guide decision-making on developmental projects in and around wildlife habitats. He stressed the need for solution-based policy interventions involving technological and sociological studies, using traditional knowledge in wildlife conservation.

Long-term conservation strategy for the greater one-horned rhinoceros based on the Rhino DNA Indexing System; future conservation strategy for the great Indian bustard; inclusion of the pygmy hog under the Species Recovery Programme were among important issues discussed during the meeting, which also reviewed progress of conservation programmes for threatened species. Scientific publications relating to rhinoceros, sloth bear and great Indian bustard were released.

Central zoo authority meeting

Mr. Yadav also chaired the 46th meeting of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), in which key achievements and strategic priorities of the CZA during the financial year 2026-27 were presented before its governing body.

The meeting reviewed proposals for modernisation of zoos; establishment of new zoological facilities; improved visitor education; scientific planning and infrastructure development of Indian zoos to serve as centres of conservation, education, and research.

The second cycle of management effectiveness evaluation of zoos; issues related to National Zoological Park modernisation; standard operating procedures for zoo veterinarians and animal handlers in Indian zoos; National Wildlife Health Policy Concept Paper for emerging challenges in wildlife health management; unauthorised possession and display of non-native species of wild animals listed in appendices of CITES; and enforcement of legal provisions were among the deliberations in the meeting.