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NBWL meet strategises on reducing wildlife deaths
The meeting of the National Board For Wildlife (NBWL), on Wednesday, presided by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the first ever since its reconstitution two years back, considered several proposals including measures to check wildlife deaths due to linear infrastructure and diversion of CAMPA funds for conservation purposes among others.
No decision was, however, taken on subjudice issues related to eco tourism, import of cheetah or relocation of lions in Kuno Palpur reserve in Madhya Pradesh from Gujarat. According to well-placed sources, all the agenda lined up for the meeting was discussed. Stressing on the importance of wildlife and bio-diversity, the PM said additional funds would be provided for their protection.
The members raised the issue on the use of CAMPA funds for voluntary relocation from Protected Areas. They also called upon the need to review the National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016) and reminded on the impending amendment of the Wildlife Protection Act.
The meeting noted with concern the rising number of wildlife deaths in the wake of linear infrastructural projects in the country. The PM assured that he would write to the respective ministries of power, irrigation and surface transport to consider the proposal of mitigation fund that can be used to tackle such emergencies.
The issue of bringing important wildlife corridors and Elephant Reserves under the purview of the Standing Committee of NBWL was also discussed. The members stressed on the need to send such diversion proposals to SC-NBWL for approval. This, they pointed out, was as per the National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016) and Wildlife Conservation Strategy-2002 that clearly state that there can be no diversion of forestland for non-forest purposes from critical and ecologically fragile wildlife habitat.
The meeting of the National Board For Wildlife (NBWL), on Wednesday, presided by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the first ever since its reconstitution two years back, considered several proposals including measures to check wildlife deaths due to linear infrastructure and diversion of CAMPA funds for conservation purposes among others.
No decision was, however, taken on subjudice issues related to eco tourism, import of cheetah or relocation of lions in Kuno Palpur reserve in Madhya Pradesh from Gujarat. According to well-placed sources, all the agenda lined up for the meeting was discussed. Stressing on the importance of wildlife and bio-diversity, the PM said additional funds would be provided for their protection.
The members raised the issue on the use of CAMPA funds for voluntary relocation from Protected Areas. They also called upon the need to review the National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016) and reminded on the impending amendment of the Wildlife Protection Act.
The meeting noted with concern the rising number of wildlife deaths in the wake of linear infrastructural projects in the country. The PM assured that he would write to the respective ministries of power, irrigation and surface transport to consider the proposal of mitigation fund that can be used to tackle such emergencies.
The issue of bringing important wildlife corridors and Elephant Reserves under the purview of the Standing Committee of NBWL was also discussed. The members stressed on the need to send such diversion proposals to SC-NBWL for approval. This, they pointed out, was as per the National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016) and Wildlife Conservation Strategy-2002 that clearly state that there can be no diversion of forestland for non-forest purposes from critical and ecologically fragile wildlife habitat.
