The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has recently given its approval to 13 defence and paramilitary projects, primarily located in the high-altitude protected areas of Ladakh and one in Arunachal Pradesh. The proposals, which were submitted by the Ministry of Defence, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), encompass a range of critical infrastructure development, including new border outposts, a brigade headquarters, ammunition storage and training facilities, and bridge and culvert construction.

These projects have been approved with a focus on incorporating strict environmental safeguards to minimize their impact on the fragile Himalayan ecosystems. Several significant defense projects are slated for implementation within the Changthang Cold Desert and Karakoram (Nubra-Shayok) wildlife sanctuaries in Ladakh. These include the establishment of a 315 Field Workshop Company at Chushul, which will span 3.7 hectares, to provide support to the 142 Infantry Brigade deployed near the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Furthermore, the committee has cleared the development of a Formation Ammunition Storage Facility (FASF) at Tsogtsalu, covering 24.2 hectares within the Changthang Sanctuary. Another FASF, encompassing 47.1 hectares, has been approved for KM-47 in the Karakoram Sanctuary.

This recent approval follows a broader trend of the NBWL clearing defense-related projects in ecologically sensitive zones. In July 2025, the NBWL recommended 32 defence infrastructure proposals involving land diversion from protected areas and eco-sensitive zones across Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Ladakh, and Sikkim. These projects included strategic roads, helipads, training areas, ammunition depots, and housing for troops, with a significant concentration in Ladakh's Karakoram and Changthang sanctuaries.

In Arunachal Pradesh, the committee previously cleared two major projects by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) inside Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary: the 56-km Malinye-Balua-Kapuda road and the 20.88-km Kapuda-Phuphu road. In Gujarat's Narayan Sarovar Wildlife Sanctuary, approvals were granted for a Border Out Post (BOP) link road and a helipad with associated living and training areas.

The approval of the Arunachal Frontier Highway, which passes through the core zone of the Namdapha Tiger Reserve, was also granted with the condition that the Wildlife Institute of India conduct a site-specific study to recommend mitigation measures. This project involves the diversion of 310 hectares of forest land and the felling of an estimated 150,000 trees.

Concerns about the impact of these projects on wildlife have been raised, with specific attention given to ensuring adequate animal passage plans. During discussions regarding the Malinye-Balua-Kapuda road project, NBWL member R. Sukumar emphasized that the animal passage plan should address the movement of various animal species found in the sanctuary and ensure that the passage structures are suitable for terrestrial and arboreal mammals and reptiles.

In light of these developments, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav suggested a meeting with the Ministry of Defence to discuss conservation efforts for species such as snow leopards and the Great Indian Bustard, as well as measures to curb illegal wildlife trade. Discussions have also included the potential appointment of Army officials in Ladakh as Honorary Wildlife Wardens.