The National Wildlife Action Plan (NWAP) is the primary policy document guiding wildlife conservation in India. Unlike a statutory act, it acts as a strategic framework to coordinate efforts between the Union and State governments. India is currently implementing its Third National Wildlife Action Plan (2017–2031), which was drafted by a committee headed by J.C. Kala.
Chronology of Wildlife Action Plans
India has a long history of structured wildlife planning, evolving from species-specific focus to a broader landscape-level approach.
| Plan | Period | Key Focus Area |
| First NWAP | 1983 – 2001 | Establishment of a network of Protected Areas (PAs) and species-specific protection. |
| Second NWAP | 2002 – 2016 | Focus on people’s participation and conservation outside the Protected Area network. |
| Third NWAP | 2017 – 2031 | Integration of climate change, landscape approach, and use of advanced technology. |
Five Core Components of NWAP-3 (2017-2031)
The current plan is structured around five strategic components, further divided into 17 themes, 103 conservation actions, and 250 projects.
1. Strengthening the Protected Area (PA) Network
This involves expanding the coverage of National Parks, Sanctuaries, and Conservation Reserves. As of 2026, India has expanded its PA network to 1,134 sites (up from 745 in 2014). A key goal is to ensure all biogeographic zones of India are adequately represented.
2. Landscape-Level Conservation
Shifting away from “island-style” conservation, this approach focuses on the entire landscape, including areas outside PAs.
- Wildlife Corridors: Identification and legal protection of corridors to ensure genetic flow between isolated populations.
- Recovering Threatened Species: Targeted recovery programs for 22 critically endangered species (e.g., Great Indian Bustard, Hangul).
3. Climate Change and Aquatic Biodiversity
For the first time, the plan mandates “Vulnerability Mapping” to assess how climate change affects habitats.
- Aquatic Ecosystems: Integrated management of inland, coastal, and marine ecosystems.
- Mitigation: Planting along ecological gradients to allow species to migrate as temperatures rise.
4. Ecotourism, Education, and Participation
The plan emphasizes that wildlife conservation cannot succeed without the support of local communities.
- Plough-back Mechanism: Revenue generated from wildlife tourism is directed back into the management of the specific Protected Area and local community development.
- Nature Education: Developing interpretation centers to foster conservation awareness.
5. Enabling Policies and Research
This component focuses on strengthening the legal and technical backbone of conservation.
- Technology Integration: Use of AI, drones, and DNA forensics for monitoring and anti-poaching.
- Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC): Developing rapid response teams and standardized compensation protocols.
Recent Updates and Achievements (2024-2026)
- Project Cheetah Phase II: Expanded to Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary and Nauradehi (2025-26) to establish a metapopulation.
- Tiger Reserves Growth: India now manages 58 Tiger Reserves covering approximately 85,000 sq. km.
- SPAI 2.0: The “Snow Leopard Population Assessment India 2.0” was launched in late 2025 to update the 2024 baseline of 718 individuals.
- River Dolphin Census: A range-wide estimation for the Ganges and Indus River Dolphins was initiated in January 2026, covering the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus river systems.
- Wetland City Accreditation: Udaipur and Indore (2025) have been recognized for integrating wetland conservation into urban planning, a key goal of the NWAP’s aquatic biodiversity component.
Important Facts for UPSC Prelims
- Landscape Approach: It treats a large geographical area as a single unit, managing both forest and non-forest land (like agricultural fields) to support wildlife.
- Standing Committee of NBWL: The National Board for Wildlife (chaired by the PM) oversees the implementation through its Standing Committee.
- Wildlife Health: The plan mandates the establishment of a “National Referral Centre for Wildlife” to monitor zoonotic diseases and wildlife forensics.
- Private Sector Participation: Unlike previous plans, NWAP-3 encourages Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding for wildlife conservation projects.