India’s Wildlife Plan for Climate Future

India’s Expanding Wildlife Blueprint for Climate Resilience

Syllabus:

GS Paper – 2 : Government Policies & Interventions
GS Paper – 3 : Conservation

Why in the News?

In the context of a shifting multipolar west and evolving international relations, India’s strategic autonomy in conservation has positioned the country as a global leader in biodiversity protection. This approach aligns with India’s broader foreign policy goals of regional stability and climate diplomacy. Recent achievements — from Project Cheetah and Project Dolphin to the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 — showcase India’s integrated approach to conservation amid the ongoing climate crisis.

Expanding the Network of Protected Areas:

• Rising Protected Coverage: India now has 1,022 protected areas covering 5.43% of its total land area (178,640 sq. km), comprising 106 national parks and 573 wildlife sanctuaries.
• Community Inclusion: The number of community and conservation reserves rose from 115 in 2014 to 343 in 2024, ensuring local participation in habitat protection through public diplomacy initiatives.
• Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs): A total of 474 ESZs have been established to buffer human impact and maintain ecological balance around sanctuaries.
• Tiger and Elephant Reserves: India’s tiger reserves and elephant corridors form the backbone of its biodiversity framework, supporting inter-species migration and ecosystem stability.
• Policy Integration: The government’s approach combines habitat security, afforestation, and green investments, promoting climate resilience through multi-ministry coordination across national, state, and local levels, demonstrating strategic autonomy in conservation practices.

Success Stories of Iconic Species Revival:

• Tiger Triumph: As per the 2022 census, India hosts 3,682 tigers, accounting for 70% of the global population, marking a 30% rise over the past decade.
• Asiatic Lions: The 2025 census recorded 891 Asiatic lions, up by 32% since 2020, highlighting successful management in Gir and surrounding landscapes.
• Leopard Stability: India’s 13,874 leopards show a stable trend, indicating balanced predator-prey dynamics across forests.
• Snow Leopards: The Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) identified 718 snow leopards across Himalayan and trans-Himalayan zones, covering nearly 70% of potential habitats.
• Project Snow Leopard: This initiative involves local communities, state agencies, and conservation partners to safeguard this keystone species in fragile ecosystems, demonstrating India’s strategic autonomy in species management.

Legislative and Institutional Strengthening:

• Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022: Enhanced alignment with CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) by reclassifying species and strengthening sanctuary governance through Gram Sabha consultations.
• National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP): Promotes decentralized biodiversity conservation with community-based governance.
• Project Tiger @2047: Launched during the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger (2023), it envisions bringing all potential tiger habitats under conservation cover.
• Project Cheetah: The 2022 reintroduction of cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa marks the world’s first intercontinental wild-to-wild translocation, restoring a species extinct in India since 1952.
• Data-Driven Governance: India became the first country to prepare a checklist of 102,718 fauna species, enhancing research and monitoring. This effort aligns with broader digital governance initiatives aimed at improving conservation management.

Water Ecosystems and Wetland Conservation:

• Project Dolphin (2020): Conducted the first-ever river dolphin census across eight states, revealing 6,327 dolphins across the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus systems — representing 90% of the global Ganges dolphin population.
• Satellite Tagging Milestone: Introduced satellite tagging of Ganges dolphins in Assam, improving understanding of riverine ecology.
• Ramsar Expansion: India expanded its Ramsar-designated wetlands from 26 in 2014 to 91 by mid-2025, the highest in Asia and third globally, covering 1.35 million hectares.
• Wetland Conservation Rules: Promote wise use principles, pollution regulation, and community participation under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.
• Ecosystem Services: These wetlands enhance carbon sequestration, flood control, and climate adaptation, serving as natural buffers against environmental shocks and contributing to regional stability.

Forest Restoration and Green Infrastructure Integration:

• Forest Cover Growth: The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 recorded an increase of 1,445 sq km in total forest and tree cover, bringing India’s green cover to 25.17% of its land area.
• Global Ranking: As per FAO’s Global Forest Resource Assessment (2020), India ranks among the top 10 nations with 72.16 lakh ha of forest cover.
• Annual Forest Gain: FAO’s State of the World’s Forests 2024 places India third globally in forest area gain, adding 266,000 ha annually from 2010–2020.
• Green Corridors: The NH-44 upgrade through Pench Tiger Reserve introduced nine wildlife underpasses, leading to a 240% rise in crossings by tigers and leopards.
• Eco-sensitive Expressways: The Samruddhi Expressway and Delhi–Dehradun Expressway include Asia’s longest wildlife corridor (14 km) and multiple bridges, embedding biodiversity safeguards in infrastructure.

India’s Conservation Diplomacy and Global Leadership:

• Blueprint for the World: India’s integrated approach — combining species revival, habitat protection, and climate adaptation — offers a replicable model for biodiversity governance in the multipolar world, strengthening international relations.
• Ramsar Leadership: With 91 Ramsar sites, India champions South-South environmental cooperation and aligns with Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) goals, showcasing its climate diplomacy efforts.
• Climate Alignment: India’s efforts support SDG-13 (Climate Action), SDG-14 (Life Below Water), and SDG-15 (Life on Land).
• Afforestation as Mitigation: The large-scale National Afforestation Programme (NAP) and Green India Mission contribute to carbon neutrality under the Paris Agreement (2015), demonstrating India’s strategic autonomy in addressing climate change.
• Community-Led Conservation: Local participation through Eco-Development Committees (EDCs) strengthens grassroots resilience and ecological stewardship, enhancing public diplomacy in conservation efforts.
• Strategic Partnerships: India’s conservation efforts are bolstered by strategic partnerships with other nations, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, aligning environmental goals with broader geopolitical objectives.

Climate Crisis and Future Imperatives:

• Rising Temperatures: The Himalayan and arid ecosystems face habitat shifts and species vulnerability due to changing climate patterns.
• Water Scarcity Threats: Depleting river systems and wetland shrinkage affect aquatic biodiversity, particularly dolphins and migratory birds.
• Human–Wildlife Conflicts: Expanding agriculture and urban encroachment heighten conflicts in buffer zones.
• Biodiversity Data Gaps: Despite improvements, species monitoring frameworks need enhanced AI-based tracking and citizen science integration.
• Need for Sustainable Financing: Mobilizing green bonds and CSR-based conservation funding is essential to sustain long-term projects and maintain strategic autonomy in conservation.

Challenges:

• Climate Vulnerability: Changing rainfall and temperature patterns are disrupting species migration and forest regeneration.
• Funding Deficit: Insufficient budgetary allocation for long-term habitat restoration limits policy implementation.
• Developmental Pressure: Rapid urbanization, mining, and linear infrastructure continue to fragment habitats.
• Human–Wildlife Conflicts: Increasing incidents in agricultural regions create economic losses and public resentment.
• Institutional Overlaps: Coordination challenges between MoEFCC, State Forest Departments, and local bodies hinder integrated management.
• Pollution and Invasive Species: Aquatic ecosystems suffer from industrial effluents and alien flora/fauna intrusion.
• Monitoring Challenges: Limited real-time data systems reduce the efficiency of early conservation interventions.
• Community Awareness: Low awareness in rural zones weakens local conservation participation despite policy incentives.
• Economic Interdependence: The growing economic interdependence and foreign direct investment in infrastructure projects near protected areas pose new challenges for conservation efforts.

Way Forward:

• Strengthen Legal Enforcement: Ensure stricter implementation of the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 and Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2023.
• Integrated Habitat Corridors: Develop a National Wildlife Corridor Policy linking fragmented habitats through ecological bridges and underpasses.
• Community Partnerships: Expand Eco-Development Committees and Gram Sabha involvement in sanctuary management, enhancing public diplomacy in conservation.
• Technology Integration: Use drones, AI, and GIS mapping for real-time tracking of wildlife populations and forest health.
• Sustainable Financing: Promote green bonds, carbon credits, and public–private partnerships for biodiversity projects.
• Restoration of Wetlands: Implement a National Wetland Atlas Update and catchment area treatment to prevent encroachment and eutrophication.
• Climate-Resilient Species Management: Develop adaptive conservation strategies focusing on high-altitude and arid species under climate stress.
• Education and Awareness: Launch a nationwide “Biodiversity Literacy Campaign” to engage schools, youth, and communities in ecological stewardship.
• Enhanced Defense Cooperation: Strengthen defense cooperation and intelligence sharing mechanisms to combat wildlife trafficking and protect sensitive ecological zones.

Conclusion:

India’s conservation journey exemplifies a synergy of ecological foresight, community participation, and climate resilience. By mainstreaming biodiversity into development and legislation, India sets a global precedent in sustainable coexistence. The challenge ahead lies in sustaining this momentum through innovation, inclusivity, and international cooperation. As India navigates the complexities of a multipolar world, its strategic autonomy in conservation and climate diplomacy efforts contribute significantly to regional stability and global environmental governance.

Source: HT

Mains Practice Question:

Discuss how India’s integrated approach to wildlife conservation — combining legal, infrastructural, and community-based measures — contributes to combating the climate crisis. Evaluate its significance for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate targets. Suggest measures to enhance ecosystem-based climate resilience in the context of India’s strategic autonomy and climate diplomacy efforts.