National Board for Wildlife

Q. What is National Board for Wildlife?

A. It is a “Statutory Organization” constituted under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 to promote the conservation and development of wildlife and forests.

Q. What are its roles and functions?

1. Its role is “advisory” in nature and advises the Central Government on framing policies and measures for conservation of wildlife in the country.
2. Primary function of the Board is to promote the conservation and development of wildlife and forests.
3. It has power to review all wildlife-related matters and approve projects in and around national parks and sanctuaries.
4. No alternation of boundaries in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries can be done without approval of the NBWL.
5. It is an important body because it serves as an apex body for the review of all wildlife-related matters and for the approval of projects in and around national parks and sanctuaries.
6. The Wildlife Protection Act mandates that without the approval/recommendation of the National Board for Wildlife, construction of tourist lodges, alteration of the boundaries of PAs, destruction or diversion of wildlife habitat and de-notification of Tiger Reserves, cannot be done.

Q. What is its composition?

A. The NBWL is chaired by the Prime Minister. It has 47 members including the Prime Minister. Among these, 19 members are ex-officio members. Other members include three Members of Parliament (two from Lok Sabha and one from Rajya Sabha), five NGOs and 10 eminent ecologists, conservationists and environmentalists.

Q. What is its standing committee?

•  The National Board may, at its discretion, constitute a Standing Committee.
• The standing committee of NBWL is chaired by the Minister of Environment Forest and Climate Change.
• The standing committee approves all the projects falling within protected wildlife areas or within 10 km of them.