Nine Anchor Species Could Help India Meet Its 30×30 Biodiversity and Climate Targets, Says Study in Conservation Letters

Why in News

A new study published in Conservation Letters (Volume 19, Issue 3, 2026; DOI: 10.1111/con4.70059) by lead researcher Aakash Lamba and colleagues from the Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions at the National University of Singapore (NUS) identifies nine "anchor species" in India whose habitat protection can simultaneously conserve over 700 co-occurring vertebrates and more than 1.1 gigatonnes of above-ground carbon per species. The study offers a practical, species-centred pathway for India to meet the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework's 30×30 target — protecting 30% of Earth's land and ocean by 2030 — at a time when only 5% of India's land is formally protected.

Background

India's Biodiversity Challenge

India is one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries, harbouring about 7–8% of all recorded species on just 2.4% of Earth's land area. Yet its formal protected area (PA) network — comprising National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves, and Community Reserves — covers only about 5% of the country's land area. This is far below the 30×30 target committed to under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), adopted at the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in December 2022.

Rapidly expanding protected area networks requires enormous land, political capital, and funding — challenges that have made the 30×30 target appear daunting for biodiversity-rich but land-scarce countries like India. The anchor species study proposes a strategic shortcut: protect the habitats of a small number of well-chosen species and gain disproportionate biodiversity and carbon benefits.

The Anchor Species Concept

The study builds on — and advances — the concept of umbrella species: species whose large habitat requirements, when protected, simultaneously shelter many other species. The innovation in the anchor species framework is the addition of a climate co-benefit criterion: anchor species habitats must also contain significant above-ground carbon stocks, aligning biodiversity conservation with India's nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

Current Developments

Methodology

Researchers created high-resolution Area of Habitat (AoH) models for more than 2,000 vertebrate species across India's diverse ecosystems. They narrowed the analysis to 160 species — all listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (highest protection category) and rated as Endangered or Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List. For each of these 160 species, the researchers measured the number of co-occurring vertebrates and the above-ground carbon storage within the species' habitat.

The Nine Anchor Species

The following nine species emerged as "anchor species" — their habitat protection delivers the highest combined biodiversity and climate co-benefits:

Key Findings

• Protecting the habitat of any single anchor species conserves 700+ co-occurring vertebrates and approximately 1.1 gigatonnes of above-ground carbon.
• Sambar deer habitat contains the highest carbon stock: 3.12 gigatonnes of above-ground carbon.
• Together, sambar deer, leopard, and dhole habitats shelter over half of India's above-ground carbon and co-occurring species richness.
• The vast majority of anchor species habitats lie outside existing protected areas: sambar deer (90.7% outside PAs), dhole (88.2%), leopard (75.1%).
• The study proposes extending India's proven tiger conservation model — which uses species-specific legislation and NTCA-managed reserves to deliver both biodiversity protection and carbon sequestration — to other anchor species.

Key Facts

Constitutional Provisions

• Article 48A (Directive Principle): The State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard forests and wildlife. Added by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment, 1976.
• Article 51A(g) (Fundamental Duty): Every citizen's duty to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.
• Article 246 + Seventh Schedule, List III (Concurrent List), Entry 17B: Protection of wild animals and birds — both Parliament and State legislatures may legislate; Parliament's laws prevail in the event of repugnancy.
• Article 21 (Right to Life): Interpreted by the Supreme Court to include the right to a healthy environment (Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar, 1991; M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, multiple judgments).

Legal Framework

• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (amended 2022): Schedule I lists all nine anchor species under the highest protection category — no hunting, trade, or disturbance permitted. The 2022 amendment restructured Schedules (from six to four) and strengthened penalties. National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) operate under this Act.
• Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 2023 (amended Forest Conservation Act, 1980): Governs diversion of forest land to non-forest uses; protects anchor species habitats in forest areas outside formal PAs.
• Biological Diversity Act, 2002: Implements the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); establishes the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and biodiversity management committees at the local level.
• Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: Enables declaration of Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) around protected areas — serving as buffer and corridor habitats that are critical for anchor species movement.
• Forest Rights Act (Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act), 2006: Recognises community forest rights that, if well-implemented alongside conservation, can contribute to Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECMs) toward the 30×30 target.

Institutional Framework

• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC): Nodal ministry for biodiversity, wildlife, and India's CBD commitments.
• National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA): Statutory body under the Wildlife Protection Act; oversees Project Tiger and Tiger Reserves — the model the study recommends extending to other anchor species.
• National Biodiversity Authority (NBA): Implements the Biological Diversity Act; regulates access to biological resources and benefit-sharing.
• Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB): Coordinates enforcement against poaching and trade of Schedule I species including pangolins, tigers, and leopards.
• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): Multilateral treaty with 196 parties; India is a signatory. Secretariat in Montreal. The Kunming-Montreal GBF (2022) is the current strategic plan.
• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): Maintains the Red List of Threatened Species; the study used IUCN threat categories to shortlist the 160 species analysed.

Economic Dimensions

India's biodiversity-based sectors — ecotourism, forestry, fisheries, and traditional medicine — contribute significantly to the economy. The tiger tourism industry alone generates an estimated ₹1,500–2,000 crore annually and employs thousands of local communities around tiger reserves. Extending the anchor species conservation model to dholes, gaurs, and leopards can unlock ecotourism revenue in biodiversity-rich but economically marginalised forest fringe communities.

Above-ground carbon stocks conserved by anchor species habitats can also be monetised through REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) mechanisms and voluntary carbon markets, generating revenue for conservation. India's forest carbon stock is estimated at 7.21 billion tonnes (ISFR 2023), making biodiversity protection inseparable from India's climate finance strategy.

Environmental Dimensions

The study's findings align directly with India's international environmental commitments:

• CBD 30×30 Target (Kunming-Montreal GBF Target 3): India has committed to protect 30% of land and ocean by 2030. Expanding anchor species habitats could provide a practical, legally defensible pathway through species-specific legislation (Wildlife Protection Act) rather than requiring entirely new PA notifications.
• Paris Agreement NDCs: India's updated NDC commits to creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through forest and tree cover. Protecting the 3.12 GT sambar deer habitat carbon stock contributes directly to this goal.
• Planetary Boundaries: The State of India's Environment 2026 (Down to Earth/CSE) notes that seven of nine planetary boundaries have been breached globally, with biosphere integrity (biodiversity loss) among the most severely transgressed. Anchor species conservation addresses this boundary directly.

Social Dimensions

Anchor species habitats overlap significantly with the traditional homelands of Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFDs). The Forest Rights Act, 2006, grants these communities community forest rights that could be channelled into Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECMs) — a category recognised under the Kunming-Montreal GBF — allowing indigenous land stewardship to count toward India's 30×30 commitments without displacing communities. Inclusive conservation models that recognise tribal rights also improve conservation outcomes by reducing human-wildlife conflict and poaching.

Challenges

• Protected area expansion friction: Notifying new wildlife sanctuaries or national parks requires lengthy legal processes (under the Wildlife Protection Act) and often faces resistance from local communities, State governments, and private landowners.
• OECMs operationalisation: India has not yet developed a comprehensive national OECM recognition mechanism; without it, the vast anchor species habitats outside formal PAs cannot formally count toward 30×30.
• Human-wildlife conflict: Expanding anchor species habitats into agricultural fringes — where 90.7% of sambar habitat lies — risks intensifying human-wildlife conflict, particularly with elephants (not on the anchor species list but frequently implicated in crop raids and fatalities).
• Van (Sanrakshan) Adhiniyam 2023 controversy: The amended Forest Conservation Act has been criticised for exempting certain categories of forest diversion from prior approval, potentially encroaching on anchor species habitats.
• Pangolin trafficking: Despite Schedule I protection, Indian pangolins remain among the world's most heavily trafficked mammals. WCCB enforcement capacity is limited.

Government Initiatives

• Project Tiger (1973) / National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA): 54 tiger reserves across India; tiger population recovered from ~1,800 (2010) to 3,682 (2022 Census); the model the study recommends replicating.
• Project Elephant (1992): Protects 33 elephant reserves across 14 States.
• Project Lion (2020): Expanding Asiatic lion habitat beyond Gir; analogous to the anchor species expansion model.
• National Action Plan for conservation of Dhole: MoEFCC action plan for the dhole (Indian wild dog) — one of the nine anchor species.
• CITES compliance: India enforces trade restrictions on all nine anchor species (pangolin, tiger, leopard, etc.) under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
• India's 7th National Report to CBD (2023): Committed to expanding OECMs and engaging local communities in biodiversity governance.

Way Forward

Drawing on NITI Aayog's biodiversity working groups, the Economic Survey 2024–25 (which highlighted green GDP accounting), and Parliamentary Standing Committee recommendations on wildlife conservation:

• Develop a national OECM recognition framework that allows anchor species habitats outside formal PAs — especially those stewarded by tribal communities under FRA 2006 — to count toward the 30×30 target.
• Extend the Project Tiger model (species-specific legislation + dedicated statutory authority + community benefit-sharing) to dholes, sloth bears, pangolins, and gaurs through dedicated conservation action plans.
• Integrate anchor species habitat maps into the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) update required under the Kunming-Montreal GBF.
• Deploy REDD+ and voluntary carbon market mechanisms to fund anchor species habitat protection through international climate finance.
• Strengthen WCCB and anti-poaching capacity specifically for pangolins and great hornbills — the most trafficked anchor species.

Possible Mains Questions

1. "India has committed to the 30×30 biodiversity target under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, yet only 5% of its land is formally protected. Critically examine the feasibility of the anchor species approach and other strategies to bridge this gap." (GS III — Environment and Biodiversity, 250 words)
2. "Biodiversity conservation and climate action are not competing goals but complementary strategies. Discuss with reference to the role of India's forests and wildlife habitats in achieving its Paris Agreement commitments." (GS III — Environment, 250 words)

Possible Prelims MCQs

1. The '30×30 target' refers to: (A) Reducing carbon emissions by 30% by 2030 (B) Protecting 30% of Earth's land and ocean by 2030 (C) Restoring 30 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 (D) Planting 30 billion trees by 2030 — Answer: B
2. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted at: (A) COP26 (Glasgow) (B) COP27 (Sharm el-Sheikh) (C) COP15 of the CBD (Montreal/Kunming) (D) UNEP Stockholm+50 — Answer: C
3. Which of these is NOT one of the nine anchor species identified in the Conservation Letters 2026 study? (A) Sambar deer (B) Indian pangolin (C) Asian elephant (D) Dhole — Answer: C (elephant is not listed as one of the nine)
4. Article 48A of the Constitution relates to: (A) Right to education (B) Protection of environment and wildlife (C) Uniform Civil Code (D) Panchayati Raj — Answer: B
5. Which Schedule of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 provides the highest protection to species, prohibiting hunting and trade? (A) Schedule II (B) Schedule III (C) Schedule I (D) Schedule IV — Answer: C

Essay Dimensions

1. Can India protect nature and grow its economy? The case for biodiversity-inclusive development.
2. Tribal rights and conservation — conflict or convergence? Reimagining protected areas through the Forest Rights Act.
3. From tiger to dhole: scaling India's wildlife conservation model for the 21st century.
4. Carbon markets and biodiversity: can nature-based solutions deliver both climate and conservation goals?
5. The 30×30 promise: global commitment or ecological illusion?

Interview Questions

1. What distinguishes an "anchor species" from a "keystone species" or "umbrella species"? Why does the distinction matter for conservation policy?
2. India's tiger population has recovered remarkably under Project Tiger. What specific elements of that model could be replicated for dholes or pangolins, and what are the obstacles?
3. The Forest Rights Act and the Wildlife Protection Act sometimes come into conflict. How should India resolve this tension in implementing the anchor species conservation approach?
4. India's protected area coverage is only 5%, yet it is committed to 30×30. Do you think OECMs can realistically bridge the gap? What governance safeguards would you recommend?
5. India's NDC commits to creating an additional 2.5–3 billion tonne carbon sink through forests. How does wildlife habitat protection contribute to this goal, and how should this be reflected in green GDP accounting?

FAQ

What is the 30×30 target?

Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (adopted at CBD COP15, December 2022) commits countries to protect and conserve at least 30% of Earth's land, inland waters, coastal areas, and ocean by 2030, with a focus on ecologically representative and well-connected protected area systems.

What are the nine anchor species for India?

Sambar deer, Dhole (Indian wild dog), King cobra, Gaur (Indian bison), Sloth bear, Indian pangolin, Great hornbill, Tiger, and Leopard. All are listed in Schedule I of India's Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Why does the sambar deer habitat contain more carbon than the tiger's?

Sambar deer have a much wider distributional range than tigers, spanning diverse forest types including dense tropical forests with high above-ground biomass. The tiger's habitat, while high-quality, is more restricted. The sambar's habitat area is thus larger and cumulatively richer in carbon.

What are OECMs and how do they relate to the 30×30 target?

Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECMs) are geographically defined areas outside formal protected areas that are managed in ways that achieve positive and sustained outcomes for biodiversity. Under the Kunming-Montreal GBF, OECMs count toward the 30×30 target — meaning tribal community forests, private conservation areas, and ecologically managed landscapes can contribute to India's commitment.

Further Reading

• Lamba et al. (2026) — Conservation Letters: https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/con4.70059
• Mongabay India — Biodiversity Coverage: https://india.mongabay.com
• National Biodiversity Authority: https://www.nba.nic.in
• CBD Kunming-Montreal GBF: https://www.cbd.int/gbf
• NTCA (National Tiger Conservation Authority): https://ntca.gov.in