Dehradun, March 21 – Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav led discussions on proposals across sectors, including roads, drinking water supply, defence, irrigation, and infrastructure near protected areas, at the 90th meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife, an official said.
The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife is a statutory body established under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and advises the Union government on matters related to the conservation and protection of wildlife and forests, the official said in a statement.
"During the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between the Forest Survey of India (FSI) and Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) to strengthen the use of geospatial technologies, remote sensing, and AI/machine learning-based tools in forest fire management, wildlife conservation, and decision support systems," an official of the Ministry for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change said.
The Committee also reviewed progress on the decisions taken in the seventh meeting of the National Board for Wildlife and noted the status of key national initiatives related to species recovery, habitat management, and institutional strengthening.
Union Minister Yadav, who chaired the committee meeting, also discussed the issue of environmental flows in the Chambal river to sustain riverine species such as dolphins, gharials, and other aquatic fauna, particularly during the lean season.
The Committee also discussed the conservation of grasslands and rangelands, highlighting their importance for biodiversity, carbon sequestration, resilience in dryland areas, and pastoral livelihoods.
"It was observed that these ecosystems remain under-recognized in planning frameworks and require ecosystem-specific restoration approaches, improved mapping, and integration with national commitments such as Land Degradation Neutrality," the statement said.
The issue of dependence of nomadic and pastoral communities on Protected Areas was also discussed.
The Committee noted the ecological and livelihood linkages of pastoral systems and emphasized the need for balanced approaches for conservation goals while considering traditional practices and socio-economic dependencies.
"During the meeting, the conservation status of wild water buffalo was discussed, and the committee recommended a comprehensive conservation action plan for wild water buffalo," the statement added.