Environmental Organisations in India

Environmental Organisations in India constitute a vital component of the country’s environmental governance framework. Aimed at protecting and conserving the environment, these organisations play a crucial role in balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability. This article aims to study in detail the key Environmental Organisations in India, their objectives, functions, achievements, challenges, and other related aspects.

Meaning of Environmental Organisations

• An Environmental Organisation is an organization that emerges from the conservation or environmental movements aiming to protect, monitor or analyse the environment against misuse or degradation from human forces.
• The organisation may be a charity, a trust, a non-governmental organisation, a Governmental organisation or an intergovernmental organisation.
• Environmental organisations can be global, national, regional or local.
• Some environmental issues that environmental organisations focus on include pollution, plastic pollution, waste, resource depletion, human overpopulation and climate change.

Key Environmental Organisations in India

• After the United Nations Conference on Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972, a number of environmental organisations in India were established.
• These organisations play a critical role in addressing issues such as pollution, deforestation, climate change, and wildlife conservation.
• Some of the prominent environmental organisations in India include:
  • Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)
  • Central Zoo Authority (CZA)
  • National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)
  • Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)
  • National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)
  • National Green Tribunal (NGT)
  • Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA)
  • National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB)

Each of these environmental organisations in India has been discussed in detail in the sections that follow.

What is Environmental Governance? – Environmental Governance refers to the systems and processes in place to manage environmental resources and protect the environment. – It encompasses the laws, policies, initiatives, and institutions that guide human interactions with nature. – Environmental Governance in India comprises the rules, practices, policies and institutions that shape how people in the country interact with the environment.

Read our detailed article on Environmental Governance in India, Environmental Laws in India, and Environmental Initiatives in India.

Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)

• The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) is a statutory advisory body established in 1962 in accordance with Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
• A well-known humanitarian, late smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale, was instrumental in the formation of AWBI and acted as its first Chairperson.
• The Board has been monitoring animal welfare laws of the nation, providing grants to Animal Welfare Organizations (AWOs) and advises the Government on animal welfare issues for the last 55 years.
• The AWBI comes under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and is one of the most prominent environmental organisations in India.
• The Board of AWBI consists of 28 Members.
  • The term of office for members is three years.
• It is headquartered in Ballabgarh, Haryana.

Read our detailed article on the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI).

Central Zoo Authority (CZA)

• The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) is a statutory autonomous body under the administrative control of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Govt. of India.
• The CZA was established in 1992 under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• It has been established with the objective of enforcing minimum standards and norms for the healthcare and upkeep of animals in Indian Zoos.
• The CZA also oversees Zoo management and provides technical and financial support in times of need.
• Every zoo in the country must obtain recognition from the Authority for its operation.
  • The CZA evaluates the Zoo with reference to the parameters prescribed under the Rules and grants recognition accordingly.

Read our detailed article on the Central Zoo Authority (CZA).

Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (WPA, 1972) – The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (WPA, 1972) is an environmental legislation enacted by the Government of India to protect the country’s wildlife and their habitats. – It provides a legal framework for the conservation of various species of flora and fauna and regulates activities that could harm them. Read our detailed article on the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)

• The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) is a statutory authority set up under India’s Biological Diversity Act (2002).
• It came into existence in 2003, with its headquarters in Chennai.
• The NBA provides facilitative, regulatory, and advisory functions to the Government of India on issues of conservation, sustainable use, and fair & equitable sharing of benefits arising from the country’s biological resources.
• Under the Biodiversity Act, 2002 and Biodiversity Rules, 2004, the following two other entities have been established to complement the National Biodiversity Authority:
  • State Biodiversity Boards (SBB) at the State level, and
  • Biodiversity Management Committees (BMC) at the local village level.

Read our detailed article on the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA).

Biological Diversity Act 2002 (BDA 2002) – The Biological Diversity Act 2002 (BDA 2002) is an act of the Indian Parliament aiming to protect India’s rich biodiversity and associated knowledge against their use by foreign individuals and organisations without sharing the benefits arising out of such use and to check bio-piracy. – It primarily addresses issues of conservation, sustainable use of biological resources in the country, issues related to access to genetic resources and associated knowledge and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of biological resources to the country and its people. – This Act aligns with India’s commitment to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD), which aims to protect the world’s biodiversity while promoting its sustainable use. Read our detailed article on the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)

• Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is a multi-disciplinary statutory body established by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to combat organised wildlife crime in the country.
• It was established in 2007 by amending the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006.
• The Bureau is Headquartered in New Delhi and has five regional offices in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Jabalpur.
• As one of the most prominent environmental organisations in India, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has been playing an important role in combating and controlling wildlife crimes in India.

Read our detailed article on the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB).

National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)

• The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is a flagship program initiated by the Government of India with the primary objective of rejuvenating the Ganga River.
• The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) was registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, on August 12, 2011.
• The consortium serves as the operational arm of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), established under the Environment Protection Act (EPA) of 1986, to tackle pollution issues in the Ganga River.
• The objective of the National Mission for Clean Ganga is to reduce pollution in the Ganga River and ensure its rejuvenation.
• The operational area of this project covers the Ganges Basin and all the states through which the Ganga River flows, including Delhi.

Read our detailed article on the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).

National Green Tribunal (NGT)

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is a specialised judicial body in India established to handle cases related to environmental protection and conservation of forests & other natural resources.
• As one of the prominent environmental organisations in India, it has been envisaged as a dedicated forum for the effective and expeditious resolution of environmental disputes, thus reducing the burden on regular courts.

Read our detailed article on the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA)

• The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management & Planning Authority (CAMPA) serves as a mechanism to manage and utilise funds generated from compensatory afforestation, a process aimed at offsetting the environmental impact of deforestation due to industrial and developmental activities.
• As one of the prominent environmental organisations in India, CAMPA plays a crucial role in ensuring that the loss of forest cover is compensated through afforestation and other conservation efforts.

Read our detailed article on the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).

National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB)

• National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB) was set up in 1992 with the responsibility of promoting tree planting, afforestation, ecological restoration and eco-development activities in the country.
• It pays special attention to the degraded forest areas, lands adjacent to the forest areas, national parks, sanctuaries and other protected areas, and also the ecologically fragile areas like the Western Himalayas, Aravallis, Western Ghats, etc.

Functions of National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB)

Some of the major functions of National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB) include:

• To develop mechanisms for the ecologically damaged forest areas through systematic planning and implementation in a cost-effective manner,
• Sponsor research and development methods to restore the forest cover through natural regeneration for ecological security and meet the fuelwood, fodder and other needs of the rural communities.
• Monitor, coordinate, and undertake all actions related to afforestation, tree planting, ecological restoration, and eco-development.
• To operate the National Afforestation Programme (NAP) as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the MoEF&CC.

Challenges Faced by Environmental Organisations in India

The major challenges faced by the environmental organisations in India are as follows:

• Weak Implementation: Despite robust laws, implementation remains a major challenge due to factors such as lack of adequate manpower, corruption, political interference, etc.
• Weak Coordination: The overlapping responsibilities of various agencies and lack of coordination among central and state institutions often lead to inefficiencies in environmental management.
• Lack of Public Awareness: Limited awareness about environmental issues hinders public participation and compliance.
• Emerging Challenges: Climate change, pollution, and waste management pose new challenges to environmental governance.
• Data and Monitoring: Inconsistent data and inadequate monitoring infrastructure affect the effective enforcement and implementation of environmental policies.
• Balancing Development and Conservation: India’s rapid economic growth poses challenges in balancing developmental needs with environmental conservation.

Way Ahead

In order to strengthen the environmental organisations in India, the following suggested measures can be undertaken:

• Strengthening Institutions: Strengthening the capacity and coordination of these environmental organisations in India at both the central and state levels.
• Effective Implementation: Improving the enforcement of environmental laws through better monitoring, increased penalties for non-compliance, and greater transparency can help ensure adherence to regulations.
• Public Participation: Promoting public awareness and participation in environmental decision-making can make these environmental organisations in India more effective.
• Sustainable Development: Integrating environmental considerations into development planning and adopting sustainable practices can help balance economic growth with environmental protection.
• Green Technologies: Promoting Green Technologies such as renewable energy sources can aid in better environmental management.

Conclusion

Environmental Organisations in India play a crucial role in addressing the country’s diverse and pressing environmental challenges. Through their efforts in awareness, advocacy, research, and on-ground conservation, these organisations contribute significantly to the protection and preservation of India’s natural heritage. Continued support, collaboration, and innovation for strengthening these environmental organisations in India will be essential for advancing environmental sustainability and ensuring a healthier future.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)