Five New Wildlife Conservation Projects Launched in India: Balancing Ecology and Legal Framework
Why in the News?
The Union Environment Ministry launched five new wildlife conservation projects during National Wildlife Week 2025, focusing on dolphins, sloth bears, gharials, and tigers. These initiatives aim to manage human-wildlife conflicts and promote community-based conservation using technology and ecological planning, while also addressing access to justice for marginalized communities affected by conservation efforts and strengthening the legal framework for environmental protection.
Newly Launched Conservation Initiatives
- Project Dolphin (Phase-I): Aims at conserving India’s river and marine dolphins through habitat protection and awareness programs, supported by a robust legal framework for species protection.
- Project Sloth Bear: Seeks to protect sloth bear habitats and mitigate human-bear conflicts, incorporating elements of the Criminal Procedure Code for wildlife crime prevention.
- Project Gharial: Focused on conserving the critically endangered gharial through river ecosystem restoration, utilizing scientific evidence and forensic labs for population monitoring.
- Tigers Outside Reserves: Focuses on managing human-tiger conflicts in landscapes beyond protected tiger reserves, emphasizing the enforcement of judgments related to wildlife protection.
- Centre of Excellence for HWC: Established at SACON, Coimbatore, for research, training, and community engagement in conflict management, enhancing public confidence in conservation efforts and addressing related legal challenges through alternative dispute resolution methods.
Building Coexistence and Ecological Balance
- The initiative strengthens India’s position as a global leader in biodiversity conservation, aligning with international commitments and national litigation policies.
- Focus on technology-based interventions such as drone mapping and camera traps for monitoring wildlife movements, integrating AI and video conferencing for efficient data analysis and case management.
- Encourages collaboration between forest departments, NGOs, and local communities for sustainable conservation and improved access to justice, addressing issues of undertrial prisoners in wildlife-related cases.
- Prioritizes reducing habitat encroachment through eco-restoration and community-based incentives, supported by a strong legal framework to prevent environmental degradation.
- Reflects India’s commitment to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) targets, reinforcing democratic integrity in environmental policy and addressing policy gridlocks in conservation efforts.
Key Facts for Wildlife Conservation Projects: |
| ● India’s Tiger Population (2022): Around 3,167, constituting 70% of the global wild tiger population, highlighting the success of conservation laws and judicial activism. |
| ● Gharial Status: Listed as Critically Endangered under IUCN Red List, necessitating stringent legal protection and special leave petitions for conservation actions. |
| ● Sloth Bear: Found mainly in central and southern India; faces habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict, requiring innovative legal solutions and fast-track courts for related disputes. |
| ● Project Dolphin: Announced in 2020 under the Namami Gange Programme, covering both riverine and marine ecosystems, supported by comprehensive environmental laws and judicial oversight. |
| ● National Wildlife Week: Observed annually from October 2 to 8 to spread awareness on conservation and enhance public confidence in environmental initiatives, including legal aspects of wildlife protection. |
These conservation projects demonstrate India’s commitment to balancing ecological preservation with legal reforms, ensuring that wildlife protection is supported by a strong justice delivery system and efficient case management. By addressing both environmental and legal challenges, these initiatives aim to create a sustainable model for wildlife conservation that respects the rule of law and fundamental rights of all stakeholders involved.
