Standing Committee of NBWL Approves Border Infrastructure Plans

Context:

• The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) recently recommended 13 defence and paramilitary projects, largely located in high-altitude Protected Areas (PAs) of Ladakh and one in Arunachal Pradesh.

• The move reflects the intersection of national security imperatives and wildlife conservation concerns, particularly in ecologically fragile Himalayan ecosystems.

Key Highlights:

• About National Board for Wildlife (NBWL):

  • A statutory body constituted in 2003 under Section 5A of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

  • India’s apex advisory body on wildlife conservation, especially within Protected Areas (PAs).

  • Grants approvals for projects located inside PAs and Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs).

• Organisation Structure:

  • 47-member body.

  • Chaired by the Prime Minister

  • Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) – Vice Chairperson.

  • Members include:

    • Chief of Army Staff

    • Defence Secretary

    • Expenditure Secretary

    • 10 eminent conservationists nominated by Central Government.

  • Additional Director General of Forests (WL) & Director, Wildlife Preservation – Member Secretary.

• Standing Committee of NBWL:

  • Independent body under NBWL.

  • Comprises not more than 10 members.

  • Chaired by MoEFCC Minister.

  • Functions primarily as a project clearance body regulating land diversion within PAs and ESZs.

• Functions of NBWL:

  • Promote conservation and development of wildlife and forests.

  • Advise Centre and States on wildlife protection.

  • Control poaching and illegal wildlife trade.

  • Recommend setting up and management of national parks, sanctuaries, and other PAs.

  • Review wildlife conservation progress and publish status reports biennially.

  • Conduct environmental appraisal of projects affecting wildlife habitats.

• Significance / Concerns:

  • Strategic infrastructure in border areas strengthens national security.

  • However, projects in high-altitude fragile ecosystems may impact biodiversity hotspots, endangered species (e.g., snow leopard), and alpine habitats.

  • Raises debate on balancing ecological sustainability and defence preparedness.

Relevant Prelims Points:

• Issue & Background:

  • Infrastructure expansion in border regions often overlaps with Protected Areas and Eco-Sensitive Zones.

  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 governs protection of wildlife and PAs.

• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 – Key Provisions:

  • Establishes National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves, Community Reserves.

  • Provides for constitution of NBWL under Section 5A.

  • Schedules I–VI classify species with varying protection levels.

• NBWL vs Standing Committee:

  • NBWL: Policy-level advisory body.

  • Standing Committee: Project-specific approvals within PAs and ESZs.

• Benefits / Importance:

  • Ensures environmental scrutiny of projects in ecologically sensitive areas.

  • Facilitates coordination between conservation and development goals.

• Challenges / Risks:

  • Risk of habitat fragmentation.

  • Militarization in biodiversity-rich areas.

  • Transparency concerns in project clearance process.

• Impact (India + Ecological Regions):

  • Himalayan ecosystems highly sensitive to climate change and anthropogenic disturbance.

  • Strategic border infrastructure critical amid geopolitical tensions.

Relevant Mains Points:

• Core Concept / Static Linkage:

  • Environmental governance and statutory regulatory bodies.

  • Balance between national security and environmental sustainability.

  • Principle of Sustainable Development and Precautionary Principle.

• Legal / Institutional Provisions:

  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (as amended).

  • Role of NBWL in project clearances under Supreme Court directions.

  • Eco-Sensitive Zones notified under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

• Governance / Ecological / Security Dimensions:

  • Strategic significance of Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.

  • Biodiversity conservation vs infrastructure development dilemma.

  • Importance of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

• Keywords for Answer Writing:

  • Protected Areas (PAs)

  • Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs)

  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

  • Sustainable Development

  • Habitat Fragmentation

  • Strategic Infrastructure

• Way Forward:

  • Ensure rigorous and transparent environmental appraisal.

  • Adopt wildlife-friendly infrastructure design.

  • Strengthen compensatory afforestation and biodiversity offset mechanisms.

  • Integrate conservation planning with strategic infrastructure development.

UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):

• GS2: Statutory bodies and environmental governance.

• GS3: Environment, biodiversity conservation, internal security and border infrastructure.

• GS4: Ethical balance between national security and ecological protection.