National Board of Wildlife (NBWL), led by the Union minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, approved the West Bengal government’s proposal to increase the area of Sundarbans Tiger Reserve (STR).

• Now STR is just behind Andhra Pradesh’s Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve in size and elevates it from the seventh to the second-largest tiger reserve within India’s 58 tiger reserves.

Procedure to declare or alter Tiger reserve

• Tiger Reserves are notified by State Governments as per provisions of Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 on advice of the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
• The following steps are involved in the notification:
  • Proposal is obtained from the State.
  • In-principle approval is communicated from the National Tiger Conservation Authority, soliciting detailed proposals under section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
  • The National Tiger Conservation Authority recommends the proposal to the State after due diligence.
  • The State Government notifies the area as a Tiger Reserve.
• Process for alteration: As per section 38 W (1) of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 No alteration in the boundaries of a tiger reserve shall be made except on a recommendation of the Tiger Conservation Authority and the approval of the National Board for Wild Life.
  • Such proposals are also obtained from the State.