• NBWL is India’s apex statutory advisory body for wildlife conservation and policy formulation.
• Established in 2003 under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, replacing the Indian Board for Wildlife (IBWL).

• 1952: IBWL formed;
• 1961: Declared Peacock as National Bird;
• 1972: Wild Life (Protection) Act (WLPA) passed;
• 1973: Project Tiger launched; 1982-83: Keoladeo National Park declared a Ramsar site;
• 1997: IBWL last met under PM H.D. Deve Gowda;
• 2003: IBWL replaced by NBWL.

• Chairperson: Prime Minister of India (ex officio).
• Vice-Chairperson: Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• Members (47 total): – Government Officials: Chiefs of Army Staff, Secretaries from Defence, Tribal Affairs, Finance, I&B Ministries.
• Parliamentary Members: 3 Lok Sabha MPs, 1 Rajya Sabha MP.
• Experts: 10 eminent conservationists, ecologists, environmentalists.
• NGO: 5 from non-governmental sectors.
• + Director General of Forests (MoEFCC).

• Wildlife Conservation Policy: Formulates and updates India’s wildlife policies and provides recommendations on biodiversity conservation.
• Development Project Regulation: Reviews and grants environmental clearances for projects near wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and eco-sensitive zones (ESZs).
• Protected Area Management: Recommends creation and expansion of protected areas.
• Monitoring Conservation Programs: Oversees Project Tiger (1973), Project Elephant (1992), Project Cheetah (2022), and Project Lion Expansion.
• Ecological Impact Assessment: Evaluates deforestation, poaching, and human-wildlife conflicts.

Standing Committee of NBWL:

• A smaller body that evaluates infrastructure projects impacting wildlife habitats, grants fast-track approvals, and advises on conservation policies.
• It has the power to approve or reject projects affecting protected areas.

• Framed key wildlife policies including National Wildlife Action Plan.
• Approved eco-sensitive zones (ESZs) around national parks and sanctuaries.
• Strengthened Project Tiger, Project Elephant, and species-specific conservation programs.

PYQ:

[2017] Consider the following statements:

1. Animal Welfare Board of India is established under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

2. National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body.

3. National Ganga River Basin Authority is chaired by the Prime Minister.

Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?

(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3