Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife reviews progress on Key Conservation Initiatives and considers over 100 Development Projects in its 91st Meeting

The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, chaired the 91st meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC‑NBWL) in Coimbatore. The Committee reviewed progress on earlier NBWL directions, reaffirmed a science‑based approach to wildlife conservation, and examined more than 100 development proposals—including roads, defence infrastructure, pipelines and renewable energy projects—that require clearance under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Key species‑specific strategies discussed were the Greater One‑horned Rhinoceros DNA indexing system, the Great Indian Bustard conservation plan, and the inclusion of the Pygmy Hog in the Species Recovery Programme. The Committee emphasized ecological impact assessment, mitigation measures, and the need to balance national development with wildlife habitat protection.