India’s New Biodiversity Plan: Aiming for a Nature-Positive Future
India has introduced its updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) with a focus on agrobiodiversity, conservation, and ecosystem resilience. This plan aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and was presented at the Convention on Biological Diversity COP16 in Cali, Colombia.
Key Targets and Goals
The NBSAP outlines 23 National Biodiversity Targets (NBTs) across six domains: area-based conservation, ecosystem resilience, recovery of threatened species, agrobiodiversity, sustainable biodiversity use, and enabling conditions for implementation. It emphasizes a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, involving ministries, state governments, local communities, and civil society organizations.
Importance of Biodiversity
Biodiversity is described as a life support system essential for environmental maintenance and ecosystem services vital for human wellbeing. The plan stresses the need to protect entire ecosystems, which provide services like clean air, water filtration, and soil fertility.
Urgent Action Required
The NBSAP warns of the rapid decline of biodiversity and calls for urgent action to establish a nature-positive society. It highlights the need for financial resources and capacity-building initiatives to empower local communities in managing biodiversity.
Community-Led Conservation
India’s efforts in community-led conservation and agrobiodiversity protection are highlighted, with 2,77,688 Biodiversity Management Committees and 22 agrobiodiversity hotspots identified. The plan focuses on resource mobilization, requiring an estimated annual funding of INR 81,664.88 crore through FY 2029-2030.
Doubts Revealed
Biodiversity -: Biodiversity means the variety of all living things on Earth, like plants, animals, and microorganisms. It is important because it helps keep our environment healthy and balanced.
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) -: The NBSAP is a plan made by India to protect and manage its natural resources and biodiversity. It includes strategies and actions to conserve plants, animals, and ecosystems.
Agrobiodiversity -: Agrobiodiversity refers to the variety of plants and animals that are used in agriculture. It includes different types of crops and livestock that help in farming and food production.
Ecosystem resilience -: Ecosystem resilience is the ability of an environment to recover from changes or disturbances, like natural disasters. It helps ecosystems stay healthy and continue to support life.
Convention on Biological Diversity COP16 -: The Convention on Biological Diversity is an international agreement to protect biodiversity. COP16 is the 16th meeting where countries discuss and make decisions about biodiversity conservation.
Whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach -: This approach means that everyone, including the government, businesses, and people, work together to protect biodiversity. It involves cooperation from all parts of society.
Community-led conservation efforts -: Community-led conservation efforts are actions taken by local people to protect and manage their natural environment. It involves communities working together to conserve biodiversity.