(1) It shall be the duty of the National Board to promote the conservation and development of wild life and forests by such measures as it thinks fit.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, the measures referred to therein may provide for—
(a) framing policies and advising the Central Government and the State Governments on the ways and means of promoting wild life conservation and effectively controlling poaching and illegal trade of wild life and its products;
(b) making recommendations on the setting up of and management of national parks, sanctuaries and other protected areas and on matters relating to restriction of activities in those areas;
(c) carrying out or causing to be carried but impact assessment of various projects and activities on wild life or its habitat;
(d) reviewing from time to time, the progress in the field of wild life conservation in the country and suggesting measures for improvement thereto; and
(e) preparing and publishing a status report at least once in two years on wild life in the country.]
1 [6. Constitution of State Board for Wild Life.—(1) The State Government shall, within a period of six months from the date of commencement of the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002 (16 of 2003) constitute a State Board for Wild Life consisting of the following members, namely:—
(a) the Chief Minister of the State and in case of the Union territory, either Chief Minister or Administrator, as the case may be - Chairperson;
(b) the Minister in-charge of Forests and Wild Life - Vice-Chairperson;
(c) three members of the State Legislature or in the case of a Union territory with Legislature, two members of the Legislative Assembly of that Union territory;
(d) three persons to represent non-governmental organizations dealing with wild life to be nominated by the State Government;
(e) ten persons to be nominated by the State Government from amongst eminent conservationists, ecologists and environmentalists including at least two representatives of the Scheduled Tribes;
(f) the Secretary to the State Government or the Government of the Union territory, as the case may be, in-charge of Forests and Wild Life;
(g) the Officer in-charge of the State Forest Department;
(h) the Secretary to the State Government, Department of Tribal Welfare;
(i) the Managing Director, State Tourism Development Corporation;
(j) an officer of the State Police Department not below the rank of Inspector-General;
(k) a representative of the Armed Forces not below the rank of a Brigadier to be nominated by the Central Government;
1. Subs. by Act 16 of 2003, s. 7, for section 6 (w.e.f. 1-4-2003).
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(l) the Director, Department of Animal Husbandry of the State;
(m) the Director, Department of Fisheries of the State;
(n) an officer to be nominated by the Director, Wild Life Preservation;
(o) a representative of the Wild Life Institute of India, Dehradun;
(p) a representative of the Botanical Survey of India;
(q) a representative of the Zoological Survey of India;
(r) the Chief Wild Life Warden, who shall be the Member-Secretary.
(2) The term of office of the members other than those who are members ex officio and the manner of filling vacancies referred to in clauses (d) and (e) of sub-section (1) and procedure to be followed shall be such, as may be prescribed.
(3) The member (except members ex officio) shall be entitled to receive such allowances in respect of expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as may be prescribed.]