On June 26, 2025, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav chaired the 21st Steering Committee meeting of Project Elephant in Dehradun. The session at IGNFA reviewed progress on elephant conservation and prioritized community-led strategies to enhance habitat management, anti-poaching, and human–elephant conflict mitigation.

Key Points:

1. The meeting took place at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA) in Dehradun and brought together senior officials, scientists, and field experts.
2. Discussions focused on evaluating the implementation of Project Elephant’s initiatives, including habitat protection, corridor restoration, and anti-poaching measures.
3. Minister Yadav emphasized the importance of community-led conservation approaches to tackle human–elephant conflict and foster coexistence.
4. The committee reviewed funding allocations, progress in priority elephant landscapes, and strategies for future action.