In August 2025, the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), chaired by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, MoEFCC, approved the West Bengal(WB) government’s proposal to integrate three forest ranges such as Matla, Raidighi, and Ramganga from the South 24 Parganas district of approximately 1,044.68 Square Kilometre (Sq. Km) into the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve (STR).
- With this move, the reserve areas increase to around 3,629.57 sq.km, making it India’s 2nd largest TR, following Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam TR (Andhra Pradesh, AP) with approximately 3,727.82 Sq Km.
Exam Hints:
- What?: Approval for expansion of Sundarbans Tiger Reserve
- Who? National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)
- Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
- Added Forest Ranges: Matla, Raidighi, and Ramganga
- Area: 1,044.68 Sq Km (Added), 3,629.57 sq.km (Total)
- Significance: It will become India’s 2nd largest TR.
Expansion of Sundarbans TR:
Better Management: The integration of the forest ranges, brings these tiger-inhabited areas under unified management, enabling better implementation of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines, efficient patrolling, and allocation of funds from the Government of India (GoI).
- It facilitates the designation of core or buffer zones for more structured conservation efforts.
Tiger Population: According to the latest census, the STR hosts an estimated 101 tigers: 80 within the current Tiger Reserve and 21 in the adjoining South 24 Parganas forests.
Background: In 2005, the first proposal was made to include the three forest ranges. The proposals were repeated and stalled due to funding, staffing, and livelihood concerns between 2012 and 2018.
- In 2023, Nilanjan Mullick, the former Director of Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve, formally revived the proposal.
- In September 2023, the WB State Board for Wildlife approved the proposal. In 2024, NTCA gave technical clearance
About Sundarbans Tiger Reserve:
Tiger Reserve(TR): It is spread across the Sundarbans delta region in West Bengal (WB). It was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1973 under Project Tiger.
Recognition:In 1987, It was designated a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site(WHS).
- In 1989, it was recognized as a Biosphere Reserve(BR) by UNESCO.
Areas: Prior to expansion, the TR comprises a National Park (NP) of approximately 1,330 Sq.km and Buffer area of around 885 Sq Km, totaling to approximately 2,215 Sq. Km.
About West Bengal (WB):
Chief Minister (CM) – Mamata Banerjee
Governor – C.V. Ananda Bose
Capital – Kolkata
National Park (NP) – Gorumara NP, Jaldapara NP
