https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Prosperity Through Preservation: India’s Vision for Wildlife and Development by 2047

Dr S. P. Yadav, 1989-batch IFS officer and Director General of the International Big Cat Alliance, highlights wildlife conservation as a vital part of India’s sustainable development vision for Viksit Bharat 2047.
Indian Masterminds Stories

India’s vision for Viksit Bharat @2047 envisions a developed nation that balances economic prosperity with environmental sustainability, social equity, and global leadership.

Wildlife conservation is integral to this goal, as biodiversity underpins ecosystem services like carbon sequestration, water regulation, pollination, and tourism, which contribute to sustainable development.

The creation of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) by the Government of India, as envisioned by Hon’ble Prime Minister for conservation of 7 big cats of the world namely Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar & Puma found in 95 range countries & covering habitat of more than 55 million Sq Km is a significant step in right direction.

With India being one of the major mega-biodiverse countries, hosting 8% of global biodiversity across diverse ecosystems – from the Himalayas to the Western Ghats, from hot deserts to cold deserts, from wetlands to high lands – protecting wildlife ensures resilience against climate change and supports the $30 trillion economy target by 2047.

However, rapid urbanization, habitat loss, and human pressures threaten this richness, necessitating, integrated strategies.

India has made significant strides in wildlife conservation. The country has established approximately 1,000 protected areas, including 106 national parks and 573 wildlife sanctuaries, 58 Tiger Reserves, 33 Elephant Reserves covering about 5% of the land. Flagship programs like Project Tiger have increased tiger populations from 1,411 in 2006 to approximately 4000 today, while Project Elephant, Project Cheetah and initiatives for species like the Asiatic lion, Dolphin, Great Indian Bustards and Snow Leopard have shown success.

India is the largest tiger range country in the world having more than 70% tigers in the wild, India is the largest Asiatic Elephant range country in the world, India is the largest Single Horn Rhinoceros country in the world and India is the only home to the Asiatic Lion. Further, as a first in the world, India has done inter-continental, wild to wild, translocation of Cheetahs successfully and reintroduced them after 7 decades.

Despite these achievements, challenges persist, like

Habitat Loss and Fragmentation: Deforestation, agricultural expansion, encroachment and infrastructure (e.g., highways under the Viksit Bharat plan) development would adversely impact wildlife conservation which would call for ensuring a strict balance with all developmental activities.

Human-Wildlife Conflict: Rising incidents, such as elephant crop raids, straying of tigers & leopards lead to retaliatory killings, exacerbated by population growth near forests.

Poaching and Illegal Trade: Despite efforts of the Central, State Governments and enforcement agencies, trafficking in species like tigers, rhinos and pangolins continues, driven by international demand remains a challenge.

Low Research Investment: Altered habitats due to warming threaten migratory species & other wildlife. The R&D budget is low for research in these areas, hindering data-driven decisions.

Recommended Strategies for Wildlife Conservation Towards 2047:

 To achieve Viksit Bharat, conservation must completely integrate with development. Strategies should leverage technology, community involvement, and policy reforms for long-term resilience.

Key recommendations include:

1. Integrate wildlife into Viksit Bharat sectoral plans: For instance, the Ministry of Road Transport’s 50,000 km highway expansion should mandate eco-friendly mitigation measures for wildlife corridors and underpasses to ensure connectivity & minimize fragmentation.

 2. Expand and Restore Habitats: – Increase protected area coverage to 10% of land by 2047, focusing on biodiversity hotspots of the country.  Restore degraded habitats, adopt carbon sequestration strategies—afforestation, agroforestry, and mangrove protection—to combat climate change, aligning with India’s net-zero goals.

3. Leverage Technology and Research: – Deploy AI, machine learning, and satellite tagging for real-time monitoring of different endangered species.  The IndiaAI Mission can fund predictive models for poaching hotspots and straying patterns which lead to human-wildlife conflict.

 4.Promote Community-Led and Sustainable Livelihoods: – Empower local communities via Eco-development Committees, Forest Management and eco-tourism besides sharing revenues from parks. This creates jobs (e.g., guides, monitoring) and reduces poaching by linking conservation to income.

5. Involve youth through the “Viksit Bharat @2047: Voice of Youth” platform, encouraging ideas for sustainable practices like natural farming to minimize chemical use near wildlife habitats.

 5.Enhance International and Cross-Sectoral Collaboration: –           

Integration with Viksit Bharat @2047 Wildlife conservation must be a core enabler of Viksit Bharat’s four pillars:

  1. economic opportunity (ecotourism could generate $10 billion annually),
  2. social progress (community benefits to reduce inequality),
  3. environmental sustainability (biodiversity supports climate goals), and
  4. good governance (transparent data, enforcement & building trust among stakeholders).

By 2047, we should aim for zero poaching, stable & viable populations of all Schedule-I species, and 33% forest cover.

 Success stories like Project Tiger demonstrate feasibility—proving conservation drives inclusive growth. Hon’ble Prime Minister’s emphasis on “harmony with nature” in his 2024 Independence Day speech underscores this: A Viksit Bharat thrives on healthy ecosystems. With political commitment, India can lead globally in sustainable development.

Collective efforts – from government to citizens – will transform challenges into opportunities, realizing a developed, green India by its independence centenary.

We need clean air to breathe, clean potable water from our taps to drink and fertile soil producing enough to feed in Viksit Bharat @2047.

To conclude, Viksit Bharat represents not just economic growth, but a holistic vision where wildlife conservation plays a pivotal role. As we march towards this brighter future, let us not forget to protect the very essence of our natural heritage. Wildlife conservation in developed India must be about creating a future where prosperity does not come at the cost of nature, but where nature itself becomes the foundation of lasting prosperity.  

Thank you & Jai Hind.

(The article is written by Dr. S. P. Yadav, a 1989-batch Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, who is currently serving as the Director General of the International Big Cat Alliance, New Delhi.)


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Concor
Dividend Alert: CONCOR to Announce Q2 FY26 Financial Results and Second Interim Dividend on November 11
ircon and coal india
Coal India Partners with IRCON to Strengthen Rail Network for Seamless Coal Transportation
BEML_Joins_SCOPE_GIZ_Initiative
BEML Showcases Green Leadership at SCOPE-GIZ LeadIT Workshop on Industrial Decarbonisation
World Habitat Day 2025
World Habitat Day 2025: HUDCO's 30-Year Legacy Empowers Underprivileged Children Through Art
BEL and IREDA
BEL and IREDA Set to Announce Q2 FY26 Results in October; Investors Await Key Growth Updates
mohan yadav
CM Mohan Yadav Directs Bold Reforms in Bhopal Conference: “Let Us Deliver Vision‑2047 with Good Governance”
Vishnu Sai CM @ Pateshwar  Dham
Blessings, Not Bullets: CM Sai’s Visit to Pateshwar Dham Ties Peace to the Spiritual Legacy of Chhattisgarh
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services
EC Bars IAS Officer Transfers in 72 Uttar Pradesh Districts Ahead of Graduate & Teacher Constituency Elections
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IDES Saquib Alam
UPSC Strategy & Mindset Tips from IDES Officer Saquib Alam | Video Interview 
Dr G K Goswami IPS
Everything you ever wanted to know about e-murder, e-dacoity and data safety
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Jitendra Baghel MPPSC
7 Years, 4 Interviews, Now Dy.SP: How Jitendra Baghel Cracked MPPSC Through Relentless Struggle
Jitendra Baghel’s inspiring journey from a humble farming background to MPPSC Dy.SP showcases relentless...
IDES Saquib Alam
UPSC Strategy & Mindset Tips from IDES Officer Saquib Alam | Video Interview 
Discover how IDES officer Saquib Alam left his corporate job at Mahindra, overcame six UPSC attempts,...
Utkarsh Ujjwal IAS
IAS Utkarsh Ujjwal Shares Key Advice for UPSC Aspirants: Work Ethic, Failure, and Focus
Read the inspiring journey of IAS Utkarsh Ujjwal, 2023 batch, Gujarat cadre. From IIT Guwahati to clearing...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Concor
Dividend Alert: CONCOR to Announce Q2 FY26 Financial Results and Second Interim Dividend on November 11
ircon and coal india
Coal India Partners with IRCON to Strengthen Rail Network for Seamless Coal Transportation
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IDES Saquib Alam
Dr G K Goswami IPS
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT