The 26th State Wildlife Board meeting in Gandhinagar, chaired by Bhupendra Patel, emphasized wildlife conservation, habitat protection, and eco-tourism management in Gujarat’s protected forest areas. Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia and Minister of State for Forests Pravin Mali attended the meeting. The Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary has been included in the National Sloth Bear Conservation Programme by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.
Officials reported the sighting of a tiger in the Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary, indicating a potential permanent settlement in the region. Discussions were held on community participation training programs for tiger conservation in collaboration with the National Tiger Conservation Authority to engage local communities in protection efforts. The Chief Minister emphasized the importance of ensuring that the increasing number of visitors to protected forest areas does not disrupt wildlife habitats, directing the Forest Department to enhance eco-tourism initiatives while establishing visitor policy guidelines for tourism and conservation balance.
The meeting also addressed Gujarat’s growing leopard population and future plans for dedicated sanctuary spaces for rescued and rehabilitated leopards. Various proposals for infrastructure development within sanctuaries and national parks, such as roads, water supply, optical fiber connectivity, renewable energy installations, and power transmission lines, were presented for approval. Legislators, including Mahesh Kaswala, Deva Malam, and Malti Maheshwari, provided suggestions to strengthen wildlife conservation measures. The meeting was overseen by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Jaypal Singh, with senior officials from the Forest Department in attendance.
