Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav Leads Wildlife Week 2025 Celebrations in Dehradun
Wildlife Week 2025 was celebrated with great enthusiasm on October 6, 2025, at the historic Hari Singh Auditorium in Dehradun. Organized by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in collaboration with several key institutions, the event highlighted the importance of wildlife conservation and human-wildlife coexistence. Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, led the celebrations, emphasizing the need for innovative approaches to wildlife management and the shared responsibility of all stakeholders in protecting biodiversity.
Celebration Highlights and Theme
The Wildlife Week celebrations brought together a diverse group of participants, including senior officials from the Ministry, representatives from State Forest Departments, scientists, academicians, students, and conservation professionals. This year’s theme, “Human-Wildlife Coexistence,” aimed to address the increasing interactions between humans and wildlife, fostering community support to transition from conflict to coexistence. The event showcased a collaborative effort among the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), and Forest Research Institute (FRI), emphasizing a holistic approach to wildlife conservation and policy integration.
During his address, Minister Yadav referenced significant announcements made by the Prime Minister at the 7th National Board for Wildlife meeting, reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to biodiversity conservation. He stressed the importance of adopting technology-driven and community-centric strategies for effective wildlife management. In his concluding remarks, he called upon all stakeholders to strengthen partnerships for conservation, highlighting that wildlife protection is a collective responsibility essential for maintaining harmony between nature and humanity.
Launch of National Conservation Projects
A significant aspect of the event was the launch of five national-level projects aimed at species conservation and conflict management. These initiatives align with the vision outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the National Board for Wildlife meeting. The projects include the implementation of the Action Plan for Project Dolphin (Phase-II), which focuses on enhancing conservation measures for river and marine cetaceans across India.
Additionally, the Minister announced the launch of the national implementation framework for the conservation of the Sloth Bear, along with the release of its project brochure. Another key initiative is the Project Gharial, which aims to conserve Gharials through a dedicated action plan. Furthermore, the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Human-Wildlife Conflict Management (CoE-HWC) at SACON will support policy development and field-based solutions to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts. Lastly, the “Tigers Outside Tiger Reserve” project aims to address conflicts outside protected areas using a landscape approach, technological interventions, and community support.
Population Estimation and Monitoring Initiatives
In addition to the project launches, Minister Yadav unveiled four national-level action plans and field guides focused on species population assessments and monitoring. These initiatives include the second cycle of population estimation for river dolphins and other cetaceans, along with the release of a brochure and field guide. The All India Tiger Estimation Cycle–6 was also highlighted, with field guides being made available in eight regional languages.
Other notable plans include an action plan for the second cycle of snow leopard population estimation and a progress report on the population estimation of the Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican. The event also featured the online inauguration of the SFS Officers’ Mess at CASFoS in Coimbatore, further emphasizing the commitment to wildlife conservation and management.
National Hackathon and Awards
A key highlight of the celebrations was the concluding session of the National Hackathon on Human-Wildlife Conflict Co-existence. This initiative brought together young innovators, students, and technology developers from across India to devise creative solutions for mitigating conflicts and promoting coexistence. Over three weeks, 120 teams comprising 420 youths from 75 institutions across 20 States and Union Territories participated in the event.
The finale, held in Dehradun, showcased the top six finalists who presented their innovative ideas in front of the Minister and expert juries. The top three teams received cash prizes and certificates, while all other finalists were recognized with appreciation prizes. Additionally, the Minister awarded prizes for winners of a quiz competition conducted by IGNFA, celebrating the spirit of conservation and innovation among the youth.
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