The decision was taken at the third meeting of the National Board for Wildlife under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, an official release said.

The Board agreed to provide legal powers under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 to Army Commanders for containing poaching and illegal trade in wildlife and their derivatives in border areas under their charge.

"The Board was apprised of the status of action taken on the agreed urgent recommendations of the Tiger Task Force, which include setting up of the National Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, National Tiger Conservation Authority, All India Estimation of Tiger, co-predators and co-existence with local people," the release added.

Conservation of Asiatic Lion was discussed in relation to the need to establish a second population of Asiatic Lion outside Gujarat and efforts would be to reach a political consensus on relocation of some of lions to the Kuno Palpur Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.