India pledges to protect 30% of land and marine area in updated biodiversity conservation plan

New Delhi: India on Wednesday launched its updated Biodiversity Action Plan to protect at least 30% of its land, inland waters, coastal and marine areas and close to zero loss of high-biodiversity areas by 2030, according to to global biodiversity conservation goals.

The updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), released at the 16th or 2024 United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) in Cali, Colombia, outlines 23 national targets aligned with 23 global targets established under Kunming-Montreal Global Convention. Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), which was adopted at the 15th United Nations Conference on Biodiversity in Canada in 2022.

The main goal of the KMGBF is to protect at least 30% of the world’s land and oceans by 2030. It also aims to restore degraded ecosystems such as forests, wetlands and rivers so that they continue to provide important resources such as clean water and air.

Mint It was earlier reported that India plans to unveil its national biodiversity targets at the 2024 UN Convention on Biological Diversity or CBD COP16, held from October 21 to November 1 in Colombia.

India, recognized as one of the 17 countries with great diversity, became a member of the CBD in 1994. It is home to about 7-8% of the world’s registered species on only 2.4% of the world’s land area.

According to the updated NBSAP, India spent approx ₹32,200 crore for the protection, conservation and restoration of biodiversity between 2017-18 and 2021-22. The projected average annual costs for biodiversity conservation until 2029-2030 are estimated in ₹81,664.88 crores.

India has set its biodiversity targets in three main areas. The first theme, “Reducing Threats to Biodiversity,” includes eight goals. The first five goals directly address serious threats to biodiversity: land and sea use change, pollution, species overexploitation, climate change and invasive alien species.

Through biodiversity-sensitive land and sea use planning, the country aims to implement efficient land and sea use so that by 2030 the loss of high-biodiversity areas is “close to zero”. The report also emphasizes that this includes an ecosystem with high ecological integrity, and that the plan will respect the rights of local communities.

To do this, the plan involves using high-resolution geospatial data to highlight richly biodiverse areas and endangered ecosystems. Forestry work plans should be prepared for everyone, all of them simplified and following the national work plan. For India’s rich river basins, the focus will be on ‘integrated coastal management’, which addresses the linkages between coastal areas, wetlands and river systems through appropriate policies and regulations.

The other three goals focus on restoring ecosystems, managing species and genetic diversity, and ensuring the legal and sustainable use of wild species.

Releasing the document, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh said the updated NBSAP aligned with KMGBF is a vital roadmap to address strategies to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 with a long-term perspective. vision of living in harmony with nature by 2050.

A framework for managing biodiversity conservation in India exemplified by the Biodiversity Act, 2002 and its amendments, 2023.

In addition, the minister noted that the updated NBSAP recognizes environmental challenges and outlines strategies to address them through ecosystem restoration, species recovery programs and community-led conservation efforts focused on restoring degraded ecosystems, protecting wetlands and sustainable marine resource management . and coastal areas.

However, experts have a different opinion and say that the actions do not meet the goals.

“Biodiversity conservation is fundamentally linked to the protection of natural habitats, but unsustainable development continues to destroy these vital ecosystems,” said Debadithyo Sinha, Head of Climate and Ecosystems at the Vidhi Center for Legal Policy Mint.

“The unique biodiversity of Great Nicobar Island and the critical habitats of the great Indian woodpecker in Rajasthan are stark reminders of the threats posed by unsustainable development, despite experts’ warnings of irreversible threats. Recent amendments to the Forest and Wildlife Acts have unfortunately made it even more possible for such projects to disturb these sensitive areas, putting wildlife at risk of extinction, especially outside wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, which make up only 6% of our geographical area.

Regulatory protection

A significant number of native and migratory species occur outside these protected areas, which do not have regulatory protection. This is compounded by compensatory afforestation practices that often disregard local biodiversity, inadvertently causing greater damage to ecosystems and their services.”

“We must reassess and strengthen our environmental legislation to ensure that it prioritizes the conservation of biodiversity in its natural ecosystem, with a renewed focus on ecosystem restoration rather than plantations. Only with such reforms can we hope to preserve the priceless ecological heritage of our country,” Sinha added.

India’s varied topography and climatic conditions make it an ideal home for over 55,000 plant taxa and over 100,000 animal species, making the country a notable global biodiversity hotspot.