National Board of Wildlife Approved Advisory for Human-Wildlife Conflict Management

On January 7, 2021, the Standing Committee of National Board of Wildlife (SC-NBWL) in its 60th meeting approved the advisory for management of Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) in the country to expedite effective inter-departmental coordinated actions.

• The advisory envisages empowering gram panchayats in dealing with the problematic wild animals as per the section 11 (1) (b) of WildLife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Key steps advised:

-To utilize Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY) for crop compensation against crop damage due to HWC.

–Augmenting fodder and water sources within the forest areasaugmenting fodder and water sources within the forest areas.

–Payment of a portion of ex-gratia as interim relief within 24 hours of the incident to the victim or family.

–The inter-departmental committees at local or state level should adopt early warning systems, create barriers, and dedicated circle wise Control Rooms with toll free 24X7 numbers.

–Identification of hotspots and formulation and implementation of special plans for improved stall-fed farm animals etc.

Inclusion of Caracal in critically endangered species list:

Caracal, a medium sized wildcat found in some parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat included in the list of critically endangered species.  Currently there are 22 wildlife species under the government’s recovery programme for critically endangered species.

• The programme was started in 2009.

Other Decision taken during the meet:

–Construction of causeway across Jampannavagu to Muthapur of Govindaraopet and between Jampannavagu to Motlagudem in Mulugu District of Telengana with certain mitigation measures.

–Construction Tinaighat-Castlerock-Caranzol Railway doubling of South Western Railways, Karnataka

–Construction of Integrated Bus Terminus cum Commercial complex in Vashi, Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra) in Thane district.

• It will pave way for 17 bus bays and approximately 3,300 bus trips.

Recent Related News:

i.“Firefly Bird Diverter” a unique initiative of the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), India to reduce the mortality of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB).

ii.On December 5, 2020, Maharashtra’s 16th State Board of Wildlife (SBWL) meeting headed by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray approved the declaration of 10 new Conservation Reserves (CR) & 1 New Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) in Maharashtra. Kanhargaon in Chandrapur district was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary making it Maharashtra’s 50^th Wildlife Sanctuary.

About National Board for Wildlife (NBWL):

It is constituted by the Central Government under Section 5 A of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WLPA). It is chaired by Prime Minister (Current- Narendra Modi)