India Calls for Stronger Global Action on Conservation at WWF Conference

Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav on Monday inaugurated the Global Conservation Conference of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in Jaipur, calling for stronger global action on conservation and coexistence with the involvement of local communities. Addressing representatives from more than 100 countries, Yadav emphasised the need to work collectively on conservation, reconnect communities with nature, draw confidence from progress already achieved and build a shared sense of hope and direction. During his address, the minister highlighted India’s conservation achievements and outlined the country’s approach towards protecting wildlife, habitats and biodiversity. Protected areas, tiger reserves and Ramsar sites expand Yadav said the number of protected areas in India has increased from around 750 to more than 1,000 over the last decade. During the same period, the number of tiger reserves increased from 47 to 58, while elephant reserves rose from 30 to 33. The number of Ramsar sites in the country also increased significantly, from 24 to 101. The minister also highlighted India’s cheetah reintroduction programme and described it as a major conservation success under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said India’s commitment to species conservation is rooted not only in modern environmental laws but also in the country’s constitutional and cultural traditions. India’s Constitution provides a framework under which wildlife protection is both a directive for the State and a duty of citizens. Yadav also noted that India is a party to major international conservation agreements, including CITES, the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Ramsar Convention. He cited the recovery of species including tigers, elephants, rhinoceroses and Asiatic lions as examples of what sustained political commitment to conservation can achieve. Scientific monitoring strengthens conservation efforts Yadav highlighted the role of scientific research and monitoring in India’s conservation programmes. He said pan-India population assessments of species such as tigers, elephants, dolphins, lions and snow leopards have generated information that can support habitat improvement, protection of wildlife corridors and landscape-level conservation of megafauna. The minister also highlighted the conservation breeding programme for the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) in Rajasthan. Another example cited was the community-led protection and conservation of Oran sacred groves, which, according to the minister, is contributing to efforts towards land degradation neutrality. Focus on grasslands, wetlands and wildlife habitats Yadav stressed that conservation efforts should extend beyond forests and include grasslands and wetlands, alongside woodlands. He outlined India’s approach to conserving grassland-dependent megaherbivores and referred to ongoing conservation programmes for the one-horned rhinoceros and wild water buffalo. The minister called on wildlife conservationists from across the world to work together to translate conservation experience into action. He urged participants not only to reflect on conservation achievements and challenges, but also to learn from approaches that have worked and apply those lessons to future conservation efforts. Representatives from over 100 countries attend conference The inauguration was attended by Additional Director General (Wildlife), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ramesh Pandey; Head of Forest Force and Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Government of Rajasthan, Arijit Banerjee; Chief Conservation Officer at WWF-International, Daudi Samba; and CEO of WWF-India, Ravi Singh.