Strengthening Ecological Corridors: Chandigarh’s Strategic Approach to Wildlife Conservation

For policymakers, this initiative highlights the necessity of integrating environmental impact assessments (EIA) with urban master plans. The focus on connectivity suggests a move away from 'island conservation' toward a landscape-level approach, which is crucial for maintaining the ecological integrity of the Shivalik foothills and surrounding ecosystems. Furthermore, the emphasis on scientific planning underscores the role of technology and field research in informing administrative decisions, ensuring that conservation efforts are not merely symbolic but are grounded in empirical reality. As India faces the dual challenge of developmental pressure and environmental degradation, such regional models of habitat management provide a blueprint for other urban centers to follow, ensuring that biodiversity is treated as a core component of sustainable urban development rather than an afterthought. UPSC Relevance: This topic is highly relevant for GS Paper III under 'Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation.' Aspirants can cite this as a case study for 'landscape-level conservation' and 'mitigating human-wildlife conflict' in urban planning questions. It also touches upon GS Paper I regarding 'changes in flora and fauna' due to urbanization.