New Delhi: India on Wednesday launched its updated Biodiversity Action Plan with a target of protecting at least 30 per cent of its land areas, inland waters and coastal and marine areas and the loss of high-risk areas. Biodiversity is close to zero by 2030, in line with global biodiversity targets.

The updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), unveiled at the 2024 16th United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) in Cali, Colombia, sets out 23 national targets aligned with the 23 global goals set as part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Program. Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), which was adopted at the 15th United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Canada in 2022.

One of the key goals of the KGBF is to protect at least 30% of the planet’s land and ocean areas by 2030. It also aims to restore degraded ecosystems, such as forests, wetlands and rivers, to to ensure they continue to provide essential resources like clean water. and air.

Mint had earlier indicated that India plans to release its national biodiversity targets at the 2024 United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity or CBD COP16, which took place between October 21 and November 1 in Colombia.

India, recognized as one of the 17 megadiverse countries, became a party to the CBD in 1994. It is home to about 7-8% of the world’s recorded species on just 2.4% of the world’s land area.

According to the updated NBSAP, India spent approximately ₹32,200 crore for protection, conservation and restoration of biodiversity between 2017-18 and 2021-22. Projected average annual spending on biodiversity conservation through 2029-2030 is estimated at ₹81,664.88 crores.

India has set its biodiversity targets in three main areas. The first theme, “Reducing threats to biodiversity” includes eight objectives. The first five targets directly highlight the major threats to biodiversity: changes in land and sea use, pollution, overexploitation of species, climate change and invasive alien species.

Through inclusive biodiversity planning for land and sea use, the country aims to implement efficient land and sea use, such that the loss of biodiversity-rich areas is “near from zero” by 2030. The report also highlights that this includes ecosystems of high ecological integrity and the plan will respect the rights of local communities.

To do this, the plan provides for the use of high-resolution geospatial data to identify areas rich in biodiversity and threatened ecosystems. Forestry work plans must be prepared for everyone, all streamlined and adhering to a national work plan. For India’s rich river basins, the focus will be on “integrated coastal management” that addresses connectivity issues between coastal areas, wetlands and river systems through relevant policies and regulations.

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

Releasing the document, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh said the updated NBSAP, aligned with the KGBF, is a road map essential to address strategies to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, with a longer-term horizon. vision of living in harmony with nature by 2050.

India’s governance framework for biodiversity conservation, exemplified by the Biological Diversity Act of 2002 and its amendments of 2023.

The Minister further said that the updated NBSAP recognizes environmental challenges and presents strategies to address them through ecosystem restoration, species recovery programs and community-led conservation efforts focused on restoring natural habitats. degraded ecosystems, protection of wetlands and sustainable management of marine resources. and coastal areas.

However, experts have a different opinion and believe that the actions do not correspond to the objectives.

“Biodiversity conservation is fundamentally linked to the protection of natural habitats, but unsustainable development continues to erode these vital ecosystems,” said Debadityo 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 Bustard 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 allowed new projects that disrupt these sensitive areas threatening wildlife extinction, particularly outside of wildlife reserves and national parks which make up just 6% of our area geographical.

Regulatory protection

A significant amount of native and migratory species are found outside of these protected areas which lack regulatory protection. Added to this are compensatory afforestation practices that often fail to take local biodiversity into account, inadvertently causing greater damage to ecosystems and their services.

“We need to reassess and strengthen our environmental legislation to ensure it prioritizes the conservation of biodiversity within its natural ecosystem, with a renewed emphasis on ecosystem restoration rather than plantations. It is only with such reforms that we can hope to safeguard the precious ecological heritage of our nation,” Sinha added.

India’s diverse topography and climatic conditions make it an ideal home to more than 55,000 plant taxa and over 100,000 animal species, making the country a remarkable global powerhouse in biodiversity.