Biodiversity: the need for conservation

Introduction

7-8 per cent of global biodiversity is found in India. But such diversity is of no use if the country is unable to conserve it, ensure its sustainable use or secure the benefits that accrue from its use for the communities who have conserved the resources for generations.

Shortcomings of Biodiversity Conservation in India

Poor implementation: India ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1994 and passed the Biological Diversity Act in 2002, almost a decade later.

• The Act established a three-tier system with the National Biodiversity Authority at the centre, a Biodiversity Board for each state and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the local body level.
• As of 2016, only 9,700 BMCs had been set up.
• Lack of data: BMCs prepare People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) to document biodiversity in their area.
• As of 2016, only 1,388 PBRs had been prepared by BMCs established across states.
• Following a directive from the National Green Tribunal in January 2020, there are 2,77,688 BMCs and 2,68,031 PBRs by January 2024. However, the quality of these bodies and PBRs is questionable.
• Lack of awareness and transparency: These committees were supposed to ensure that the use of resources is sustainable and local communities benefit from it.
  • But local communities lack information about the benefits of biodiversity.
  • Even in cases where agreements have been made on use and benefit sharing, only nominal benefits are being received.
• No social audit: Most of the work done in the country in the context of biodiversity lacks data and transparency.
  • Data on what benefits have been provided to communities is not publicly available.

Suggestions for better conservation of biodiversity

• Increasing local community involvement: Communities have immense knowledge about their local biodiversity and its use, but this knowledge has been overlooked in PBR.
  • The Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) acknowledges the potential of local communities in protecting the environment.
  • The KMGBF was adopted by 196 countries at the UN Conference on Biodiversity (CoP15) in December 2022 and sets an ambitious roadmap for a world living in harmony with nature.
• Providing financial resources: KMGBF also acknowledges the need for funds to conserve biodiversity.
  • However, according to data from the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the budget of major centrally sponsored schemes for environmental conservation has decreased between 2018 and 2024.
• Policy reforms: State governments should prepare master plans to conserve biodiversity in collaboration with local bodies.

Conclusion

Biodiversity is an indispensable asset of the Earth that provides resources necessary for the livelihood of mankind. More than half of the world's population depends on biodiversity for their livelihood, hence conservation of biodiversity is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the vision of living in harmony with nature.