Question

Who among the following chairs the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) in India?
A. Prime minister
B. Minister of environment and forest
C. Environment Secretary
D. A renowned environmentalist of the country

Answer 1

Under section 5 A of the wildlife (protection) act, the national board for wildlife is constituted by the central government. It is the topmost body to deal with all the wildlife matter-related problems and also approves all projects in and around national parks and sanctuaries.

Complete answer:
In NBWL, 47 members are appointed including the chairperson. Out of these, 19 members are ex-officio members. Other members are from Parliament (one from Rajya Sabha and two from Lok Sabha), 10 members are ecologists, conservationists, and environmentalists, 5 members from NGOs.
The NBWL is chaired by the Prime Minister and the vice-chairman of the NBWL is the Minister of Environment. Every new government formed a new board, based on the provision of the Wildlife Protection Act.
The primary main role of the NBWL is to the development and conservation of the forest and wildlife. The national board is the apex body to review all the wildlife-related matters and approving all the projects of the national park and sanctuaries. No reconstruction of boundaries can be done until it is approved by the NBWL.
The National Board from their choice can constitute the standing committee. This committee consists of the MoEFCC in charge as a vice-chairperson and member secretary. Only 10 members to be nominated by the vice-chairperson from the members of NBWL.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Additional information:
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 - aim to protect the country’s wild animals, plants, birds, and other species. This ensures ecological and environmental security. It has six schedules which provide a different degree of protection, they are as follows-
Schedule I and II – species need absolute protection, offences under these can prescribe the highest penalties.
Schedule III and IV- the penalties are lower as compared to the schedule I and II.
Schedule V- include the animals that may be hunted.
Schedule VI- includes endemic plants, therefore prohibited to cultivation and plantation.

Note: The National Board is a “statutory organisation” constituted under the WLPA. The main role is to advise the central government on preventive and other measures for conservation of wildlife, and also helps to frame policies for wildlife. Therefore it is an “advisory” body in nature.