India unveiled its updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) at the 16th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP 16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The document, released during a special event on October 30, 2024, outlines a roadmap for India’s biodiversity conservation efforts aligned with the global Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). A press release on the launch was issued on November 3, 2024.
Key Highlights Of the Meeting
The updated NBSAP aligns with the goals of the KMGBF, aiming to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and achieve a future of living in harmony with nature by 2050.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) emphasized a “Whole-of-Government” and “Whole-of-Society” approach in developing the NBSAP, highlighting the importance of collaboration across sectors and involving communities.
The plan prioritizes ecosystem restoration, species recovery programs, and community-driven conservation efforts. It emphasizes restoring degraded ecosystems, protecting wetlands, and promoting the sustainable management of marine and coastal areas.
India’s robust biodiversity governance framework, including the Biological Diversity Act of 2002 with its 2023 amendments, was highlighted. This framework establishes a three-tier institutional structure involving the National Biodiversity Authority, State Biodiversity Boards, and local Biodiversity Management Committees for effective implementation across the country.
The updated NBSAP outlines 23 national biodiversity targets developed through a comprehensive consultative process with diverse stakeholders.
- The plan emphasizes a transformative approach to biodiversity conservation, focusing on ecosystem-based management, a bottom-up implementation strategy, mainstreaming biodiversity into various sectors, inter-agency cooperation, and financial solutions.
- The NBSAP provides detailed information on the current state of biodiversity in India, trends, existing policies and institutions, biodiversity expenditure, and potential financing solutions.
