Date: 2026-03-21Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Union Environment Minister chairs 90th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife in Dehradun; key Policy Issues on Wildlife Conservation deliberated
**Executive Summary**
On March 21, 2026, the Union Environment Minister chaired the 90th meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) in Dehradun. The meeting focused on reviewing infrastructure proposals, advancing wildlife conservation policies, and signing a key technological partnership between FSI and BISAG-N. A primary action item includes the recommendation for a comprehensive conservation action plan for the wild water buffalo.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Technological Integration**
* A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Forest Survey of India (FSI) and the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N).
* The partnership aims to enhance forest fire management, wildlife conservation, and decision-making through geospatial technologies, remote sensing, and AI/ML-based tools.
**Infrastructure and Policy Review**
* The Committee evaluated various infrastructure proposals, including roads, drinking water supply, transmission lines, defense, and irrigation.
* Progress was reviewed regarding decisions from the 7th meeting of the National Board for Wildlife, specifically concerning species recovery and institutional strengthening.
**Ecosystem and Habitat Conservation**
* **Riverine Health:** Deliberations focused on maintaining environmental flows in the River Chambal to support species like dolphins and gharials during lean seasons.
* **Grasslands:** The Committee highlighted the need for ecosystem-specific restoration and improved mapping of grasslands to meet Land Degradation Neutrality commitments.
* **Species Protection:** A formal recommendation was made to develop a comprehensive conservation action plan for the wild water buffalo.
**Social and Livelihood Considerations**
* The Committee addressed the dependence of nomadic and pastoral communities on Protected Areas.
* Emphasis was placed on balancing conservation goals with traditional socio-economic practices and pastoral livelihoods.
**Impact Analysis**
**Forest Survey of India (FSI) and BISAG-N**
**Impact:** These organizations are now formally partnered to upgrade national conservation monitoring capabilities.
**Action Required:** Collaborate to implement AI/ML and geospatial tools into forest fire management and decision support systems.
**Nomadic and Pastoral Communities**
**Impact:** Recognition of their ecological and livelihood linkages to Protected Areas may lead to more inclusive conservation strategies.
**Action Required:** Adhere to balanced conservation approaches that integrate traditional practices with national wildlife goals.
**Infrastructure Project Proponents (Defence, Irrigation, Roads)**
**Impact:** Their project proposals are subject to the review and environmental oversight of the SC-NBWL.
**Action Required:** Ensure infrastructure planning aligns with the conservation priorities and guidelines discussed during the committee meetings.
**Wildlife Conservation Authorities**
**Impact:** There is a renewed mandate for specific species recovery and habitat restoration.
**Action Required:** Develop and execute a comprehensive conservation action plan for the wild water buffalo and improve mapping for grassland restoration.
Key Entities Referenced
Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL): A statutory body that deliberates on wildlife conservation policy issues and reviews infrastructure proposals affecting protected areas.
Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: The foundational legislation under which the SC-NBWL is constituted to advise the government on the protection of wildlife and forests.
Forest Survey of India (FSI): A government organization that signed a Memorandum of Understanding to leverage geospatial technologies and AI/ML for forest fire management.
Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N): A technical institute partnered with the FSI to implement remote sensing and decision support systems for wildlife conservation.
Bhupender Yadav: Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change who chaired the 90th meeting of the SC-NBWL and oversaw the MoU signing.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Union Environment Minister chairs 90th Meeting
of the Standing Committee of the National Board
for Wildlife in Dehradun; key Policy Issues on
Wildlife Conservation deliberated
FSI and BISAG-N sign MoU for strengthening use of
Geospatial Technologies, Remote Sensing and AI/ML-based
tools in Forest Fire Management, Wildlife Conservation
Posted On: 21 MAR 2026 5:16PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, chaired the 90th
meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL), today in Dehradun.
The Committee considered proposals across sectors such as roads, drinking water supply, transmission
lines, defence, irrigation, and other infrastructures.
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) for strengthening the use of geospatial technologies, remote sensing and AI/ML-based tools in
forest fire management, wildlife conservation and decision support systems.The Committee also reviewed progress on the decisions taken in the 7th meeting of the National Board for
Wildlife and noted the status of key national initiatives relating to species recovery, habitat management
and institutional strengthening.
The Committee deliberated on the issues of environmental flows in River Chambal for sustaining riverine
species such as dolphins, gharials and other aquatic fauna, particularly during lean seasons.
The Committee also discussed conservation of grasslands and rangelands, highlighting their importance
for biodiversity, carbon sequestration, dryland resilience and pastoral livelihoods. It was observed that
these ecosystems remain under-recognised in planning frameworks and require ecosystem-specific
restoration approaches, improved mapping, and integration with national commitments such as Land
Degradation Neutrality.
The issue of dependence of nomadic and pastoral communities on Protected Areas was also deliberated.
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-economicdependencies.
During the meeting, conservation status of wild water buffalo was discussed, and the committee
recommended a comprehensive conservation action plan for wild water buffalo.
The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife is a statutory body constituted under the Wild
Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and advises the Government on matters relating to conservation and protection
of wildlife and forests.
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VM
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