India, one of the 17 identified mega diverse countries of
the world, is rich in biodiversity. It's home to 8% of the world's
biodiversity, including many endemic species. Several initiatives have been
undertaken to assess and conserve biodiversity in India:
- National
Biodiversity Authority (NBA): The NBA, established under the
Biodiversity Act of 2002, aims to regulate activities involving the
commercial use of biological resources and associated traditional
knowledge to ensure equitable sharing of benefits.
- Biodiversity
Management Committees (BMCs): As per the Biological Diversity Act,
every local body is expected to set up a BMC for promoting conservation,
sustainable use, and documentation of biodiversity, including preservation
of habitats and maintenance of land races.
- State
Biodiversity Boards (SBBs): Every state in India has an SBB,
responsible for advising the government on matters relating to conservation,
sustainable use, and equitable sharing of benefits from biodiversity.
- All
India Coordinated Projects: These projects, often spearheaded by the
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Indian Council of
Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), and the Zoological Survey of
India (ZSI), are involved in the survey and documentation of plant,
animal, and microbial resources of the country.
- National
Biodiversity Targets: In line with the global Aichi Biodiversity
Targets, India has adopted 12 national targets for better biodiversity
management. These targets are set for the period 2011-2020.
- Botanical
Survey of India (BSI) and Zoological Survey of India (ZSI):
These are two key government organizations involved in the taxonomic study
of flora and fauna in India, respectively.
- Wildlife
Protection Act 1972 and Project Tiger: This landmark legislation has
provisions for protection of wildlife and to control poaching and illegal
trade in wildlife products. Project Tiger, started in 1973, has led to the
establishment of several tiger reserves across India to protect tiger
habitats.
- Network
of Protected Areas: India has a network of protected areas composed of
national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation reserves, and community
reserves to conserve wildlife and their habitats.
- Biosphere
Reserves and Ramasar Sites: These internationally recognized reserves
and sites are specifically managed for the conservation of biodiversity,
with the sustainable use of natural resources.
- Traditional
Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL): It is a collaborative project
between the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ministry
of AYUSH, and the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion which aims
to prevent exploitation and to protect the ancient and traditional
knowledge of the country from wrongful patents mainly at the international
level.
While these initiatives show progress, continued efforts are
needed due to the ongoing threats to biodiversity from habitat loss, pollution,
climate change, overexploitation, and invasive species.