State Board for wildlife reconstituted

The State Government has reconstituted the State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) for effective implementation of wildlife projects and scientific management of protected areas. 
State Board for wildlife reconstituted

KOCHI: The State Government has reconstituted the State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) for effective implementation of wildlife projects and scientific management of protected areas.  It is the responsibility of the State Board for Wildlife to advise the government in matters related to selection and management of areas to be declared as ‘protected’; formulation of policies for protection/conservation of wildlife and plants; and harmonisation of the lives of forest dwellers with conservation  activities.

The Board, which has Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as chairperson, will hold its first meeting on Tuesday. The meeting is expected to take up some of the major proposals pending before the government for a long time for approval - including construction of dry-dock near the ecologically sensitive Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary in the city; wildlife clearance for the proposed Kochi-Salem LPG pipeline by BPCL/IOC through the Peechi Wildlife Sanctuary; and clearance for use of antlers of spotted/sambar deer in zoos for preparation of ayurvedic medicine.  It is expected that the reconstituted SBWL would give consent for the proposals - which would have only minimal impact on wildlife -  and send them to the National Board for Wildlife for final clearance.

On October 26, the government had issued an order constituting the Board under Section-6 of the Wildlife Protection Act-1972 (Central Act 53-1972). According to the Act and guidelines set by the Supreme Court, it is mandatory for states to form Wildlife Boards and have them approved. Projects proposed inside core forest areas should be approved by the state-level Board before being submitted before the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) for approval.

The reconstituted Board will have 31 members, in addition to the Chief Minister (chairman) Minister for Forests (vice-chairman) and legislators representing the Ollur, Pattambi and Kalpetta constituencies. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and the Chief Wildlife Warden will be the member secretaries of the Board.

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