Wildlife conservation successes highlight India's biodiversity governance challenges

The Hindu - Opinion · 8 Oct 2026 · 2 min read
Prelims · Environment Mains · GS3 Environment and biodiversity High relevance

India's wildlife conservation efforts show mixed results, with species like the Great Indian Bustard and Asiatic lion recovering through targeted interventions, while systemic gaps in biodiversity governance persist.

Key points

Great Indian Bustard recorded a chick hatching in Kutch after a decade, demonstrating the potential of focused conservation efforts for critically endangered species.

Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH) scheme supports recovery of 24 identified species across diverse ecosystems, from Rajasthan's grasslands to Manipur's wetlands.

[GS3-Environment] India's National Red List Roadmap aims to assess all species by 2030, crucial for a country hosting 8% of global flora and 7.5% fauna despite having just 2.4% of land area.

Project Nilgiri Tahr in Tamil Nadu exemplifies multi-stakeholder conservation involving WII, IUCN, and local universities, with population increasing from 1,303 (2025) to 1,364 (2026).

Vulture conservation success shows policy impact - ban on veterinary diclofenac and breeding programs helped populations rebound from 8,397 (2019) to 12,981 (2025) in MP.

Asiatic lion population expanded from 674 (2020) to 891 (2025) in Gujarat through habitat management and community participation, though concerns about single-population risks remain.

[GS2-Governance] Tamil Nadu established India's first dugong conservation reserve (448.34 sq km) with compensation for fishermen, balancing ecology and livelihoods.

Snow leopard baseline established with first scientific count (718 in 2024), enabling future monitoring in Himalayan ecosystems.

Way Forward: Expand the National Red List assessment to cover more species, increase funding for habitat corridors, strengthen community-based conservation models, and integrate climate resilience into all wildlife recovery plans.

Key terms

Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH)

A Centrally Sponsored Scheme under MoEFCC that provides financial and technical assistance for wildlife habitat improvement, species recovery, and protected area management. It's significant for UPSC as it operationalizes India's commitments under CBD and Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

National Red List Assessment

India's systematic evaluation of species extinction risks, aligned with IUCN criteria but tailored to national contexts. Crucial for GS3 as it directs conservation priorities and measures progress towards SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Megadiverse countries

The 17 nations harbouring the majority of Earth's species diversity. India's position as one highlights its global conservation responsibility and the need for robust environmental governance (GS3).

Biodiversity hotspots

Regions with exceptional species richness facing severe threats. India contains parts of Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats-Sri Lanka, and Sundaland hotspots, making their protection constitutionally mandated under Article 48A and 51A(g).