The WWF Global Conservation Conference was inaugurated in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on 21 September 2026. Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurated the conference, which was attended by representatives from more than 100 countries.
Global Conservation Conference
The World Wide Fund for Nature, or WWF, is an international non-governmental organisation founded in 1961. WWF works on wildlife conservation, habitat protection, climate action, and sustainable use of natural resources across multiple countries.
India’s Conservation Profile
India has expanded its protected areas from around 750 to more than 1,000 in the last decade. The country’s tiger reserves have increased from 47 to 58, and elephant reserves have increased from 30 to 33 during the same period.
Wetlands and Species Protection
India’s Ramsar sites have increased from 24 to 101, and Ramsar sites are wetlands designated under the Ramsar Convention of 1971. India’s cheetah reintroduction programme is linked to the reintroduction of the species into Indian protected landscapes after its local extinction in the 20th century.
Important Facts for Exams
- The WWF Global Conservation Conference was held in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on 21 September 2026.
- Bhupender Yadav is the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
- India’s tiger reserves increased from 47 to 58 in the last decade.
Constitutional and Legal Basis
India’s environmental framework includes the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Article 48A of the Constitution directs the State to protect and improve the environment, and Article 51A(g) places a fundamental duty on citizens to protect forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife.
