National Wildlife Management Initiatives
Prime Minister as the ex-officio chairperson of the National Board for Wildlife (NBW), has addressed key challenges in wildlife management and proposed solutions during a recent meeting.
Human-Wildlife Conflict
- Infrastructure projects and farmland expansion have fragmented animal habitats.
- Species like tigers, lions, leopards, rhinos, and elephants are moving out of protected areas.
- The carrying capacity of protected areas is often not well understood within wildlife policies.
Conservation Policy Challenges
The success of conservation is often measured by the increase in endangered animal populations, which has prevented several species from becoming extinct. However, this raises questions about resource competition between humans and animals.
Project Lion and Conservation Strategies
- The NBW approved Rs 2,900 crore for conservation under Project Lion.
- The lion population has increased from fewer than 20 in the early 20th century to over 670 by 2020.
- Local community involvement, especially by Maldhari pastoralists, has significantly contributed to conservation success.
Conservation Challenges
- Over 300 lions live outside the designated boundaries of Gir National Park.
- The prey base is insufficient to support the growing lion population, leading to increased conflicts with humans.
- Despite conflicts and threats, the Gujarat government has resisted relocating lions.
Technological Solutions
PM emphasized the role of technologies, such as AI, in addressing forest fires and human-wildlife conflicts, stressing that science should remain the foundation for conservation efforts over regional or state pride.