In News : MoEFCC declares Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary as Eco-Sensitive Zone
Analysis
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has issued a notification declaring the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the Aravalli mountain range, as an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ).
- The ESZ covers an area ranging from zero to one kilometre around the sanctuary.
- The declaration aims to strengthen conservation of flora and fauna while balancing the livelihood needs of indigenous communities living in and around the sanctuary.
- According to the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, the notification will promote eco-friendly and community-focused initiatives.
- Key livelihood-supporting measures include:
- Promotion of organic farming
- Agroforestry practices
- Skill development programmes for sustainable income generation
- The sanctuary region hosts diverse wildlife, including:
- Leopard
- Striped hyena
- Jungle cat
- Indian pangolin
- Blue bull (Nilgai)
- Chinkara
- The area is also rich in avifauna, with species such as the painted francolin recorded.
Necessary Static Part
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) – Overview
- MoEFCC is the nodal ministry of the Government of Indiaresponsible for planning, promotion, coordination and implementation of policies related to:
- Environmental protection
- Forest conservation
- Wildlife management
- The Ministry acts as India’s nodal agency for several international environmental frameworks, including:
- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
- South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP)
- International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
- Follow-up mechanisms of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)
- It also handles matters related to multilateral and regional bodies such as:
- Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)
- Global Environment Facility (GEF)
- UN ESCAP
- SAARC (environment-related issues)
Key objectives of MoEFCC
- Conservation and survey of flora, fauna, forests and wildlife
- Prevention and control of pollution
- Afforestation and regeneration of degraded areas
- Environmental protection
- Ensuring animal welfare
Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary – Key Facts
- Location: Rajsamand district, Rajasthan
- Area: Approximately 610.5 sq km
- Districts covered: Rajsamand, Udaipur and Pali
- Mountain ranges:
- Kumbhalgarh Range
- Sadri Range
- Desuri Range
- Bokhada Range
- Drainage pattern:
- Eastern section forms the origin of the Banas River (drains into the Bay of Bengal)
- Western slopes give rise to tributaries of the Luni River (drains into the Arabian Sea)
- Flora: Predominantly herbs; key species include Dhok, Khair, Salar and Churel
- Fauna: Leopard, wolf, sloth bear, hyena, jackal, jungle cat, sambhar, nilgai, chausingha, chinkara and hare
Updated – 20 January 2026; 09:59 PM | News Source: News on Air