National Biodiversity Action Plan

India has a rich heritage of biological diversity- over 89,000 species of animals and 46,000 species of plants in its 10 bio geographic regions. Nearly 6,500 native plants are still used prominently in indigenous healthcare systems. Thousands of locally-adapted crop varieties, grown traditionally since ancient times, and over 130 native breeds of farm livestock, continue to thrive in its diversified farming systems.

 Biodiversity (comprising all the diversity observed among species, their populations and also the vast ecosystems) is the outcome of over 3.5 billion years of evolutionary development, shaped by natural processes and increasingly by human influence. It sustains the web of life and we fully depend upon it to meet our food, healthcare and other daily needs. 

Conserving biodiversity is basic to our survival and well-being and using it sustainably forms part of the Indian culture and lifestyle. Biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by it contribute to poverty eradication and national development.

        There is  need to develop and implement suitable national action plans and policies  for promoting biodiversity conservation, sustainable use of its components and equitable sharing of benefits arising from such use.

The National Environment Policy, 2006, seeks to achieve balance and harmony between conservation of natural resources and development processes and also forms the basic framework for the National Biodiversity Action Plan.

The objectives of the NBAP are founded in the backdrop of the cardinal principles set out in the NEP 2006. The most important of these principles is that human beings are at the centre of sustainable development concerns. The other relevant principles on which the objectives are premised include the right to development, precautionary approach, economic efficiency, entities with ‘incomparable value’, decentralization, integration, preventive actions etc.

The objectives relate to current perceptions of key threats and constraints to biodiversity conservation and are as follows. 

1.      Strengthening and integration of in situ, on-farm and ex situ conservation
2.      Augmentation of natural resource base and its sustainable utilization
3.      Regulation of introduction of invasive alien species and their management
4.      Assessment of vulnerability, and adaptation to climate change and desertification
5.      Integration of biodiversity concerns in economic and social development
6.      To prevent, minimize and abate impacts of pollution
7.      Development and integration of biodiversity databases
8.  Strengthening implementation of policy, legislative and administrative measures for biodiversity conservation and management
9.      Building of national capacities for biodiversity conservation and appropriate use of new technologies
10.  Valuation of goods and services provided by biodiversity and use of economic instruments in the decision-making processes
11.  International cooperation to consolidate and strengthen bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation on issues related to biodiversity

Two things are the pre-requisites in this action plan: 

Ecological security of the country or of any region within it, and Livelihood Security of those most critically dependent on biodiversity and its components:

 Ecological security refers to the maintenance of: the diversity of ecosystems and habitats; the diversity of species, subspecies/varieties, populations and communities; the interactions between species, populations, communities and their habitats and ecosystem; their integrity including biological productivity of ecosystems and taxa; the evolutionary potential of natural and agricultural systems; and critical ecosystem benefits. This refers to both wild and domesticated biodiversity.

 Livelihood security refers to the security of human communities and individuals critically dependent on biological resources, including guaranteed access to, control over, and responsibility to, such biological resources and related knowledge.

 Both ecological and livelihood security have been severely compromised, and continue to be threatened. There is a need to take urgent and comprehensive measures to reverse this trend and this requires:

1) Conservation of biodiversity, including the integrity and diversity of genes, species and ecosystems and their evolutionary potential; 

2) Sustainable use of biological resources, referring to the use of components of biological diversity in such a manner and at such rates that does not lead to the long-term decline of the biological diversity, thereby maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of present and future generations;

3) Equity in conservation and use, including equitable access to and decision-making control over biodiversity as well as equitable distribution of costs and benefits associated with conservation and sustainable use. this includes creating democratic spaces for the voices of disprivileged women and men in defining conservation and use priorities.

Implementation of NBAP

The implementation of the NBAP involves the Central Government, the state governments and institutions of governance in the States/ Union Territories (UTs) at the local level. These three tiers of governance implement the NBAP with the active involvement of all other stakeholders such as Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), industry and business, technical and educational institutions, local and traditional communities.

1) Gender Mainstreaming

The CBD and its CoPs recognize the importance of gender mainstreaming in biodiversity conservation and implementation. Effective engagement of women in implementation of NBAP has been promoted and secured through specific provisions in policies and programmes to ensure their role and engagement. 

The Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 and the Constitution (74th Amendment) Act, 1992 have mandated reservation of at least one third of the seats for women in institutions of local governance at all levels in the rural and urban areas respectively. This ensures their representation and participation in governance at the local level and in the planning and implementation of policies and programmes.

2) Role of Local Communities in NBAP Implementation

Governance and implementation systems also specifically provide for the representation and involvement of local communities by securing their mandatory representation in committees and government institutions at various levels. Their participation in implementation of government programmes at all levels is also secured. Specific schemes and interventions have been designed and implemented to secure their economic uplift and welfare. They make important contributions in conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity both as users and conservers.

NBAP, 2008 with its Addendum 2014 reflects the national agenda for biodiversity determined through a participatory process. Implementation of this agenda requires its integration and ownership at all levels of governance in the country. It requires effective and meaningful participation of communities at the state as well as sub-state level.

Institutions that participate in implementation at the local level include institutions of local governance known as Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs),  Gram Sabhas etc. Government Policies are implemented through schemes and programmes which include specifically constituted missions and projects.

The implementation basket of NBAP includes Central sector schemes which are either fully funded by the Central Government or Centrally sponsored schemes which are jointly funded by the Central and the state governments, and state plan schemes funded by the state governments, and local level initiative by institutions of local governance from own resources or grants received from the state governments and other sources. 

SBAPs provide an integrated platform for central and state schemes implementation. Typically, SBAPs include a review of sectoral policies and programmes that affect biodiversity to flag the areas of concern and challenges for implementation.

 A comprehensive web of policies and laws has evolved in the country to address various aspects of nature conservation that NBAP seeks to achieve.

National Agroforestry Policy, 2014

The policy promotes tree plantation in complementarity with crops and livestock to:

(i) improve productivity, employment, incomes and livelihoods of rural households,

(ii) achieve efficient nutrient cycling and organic matter addition for sustainable agriculture,

(iii) expand vegetation cover,

(iv)  and contribute to conserving natural resources and forests by meeting demand for timber, food, fuel, fodder and other agroforestry products.

NPMF, 2017 (National Policy on Marine Fisheries)

To ensure the health and ecological integrity of the marine living resources of India for the benefit of present and future generations of the nation. I

BD (Biological Diversity) Act, 2002

The Act recognises India’s richness in biological diversity and associated traditional and contemporary knowledge systems, acknowledges its commitment to conserve the same

IF (Indian Forest) Act, 1927 (last amended in 2017)

Its provisions include:

(i) Criteria and modalities for reserving and designating forests for conservation and legal protection,

(ii) Management of forest produce, and

(iii) Issues regarding transit of the forest produce and the fees and duties leviable on this produce.

WP (Wild Life Protection) Act, 1972 (last amended in 2006)

It empowers the State to declare areas of ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological or zoological association or importance as protected areas, under four categories, namely, National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Community Reserves and Conservation Reserves.

FC (Forest Conservation) Act, 1980

The Act governs matters relating to diversion of forest land for any non-forest purpose. 

The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 (NGT Act, 2010)

The Act establishes a National Green Tribunal (NGT)  for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection, conservation of forests and other natural resources.

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (Forest Rights Act, 2006)

The Act recognizes and vests the forest rights and occupation in forest land in the forestdwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers, who had been residing in such forests for generations but whose rights could not be recorded in the past.

The Act also seeks to balance these rights with the responsibilities for sustainable use, conservation of biodiversity and maintenance of ecological balance so that forests are conserved while ensuring the livelihood and food security of the forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.

Creating Communicaton,Education and Public Awareness for Biodiversity

People themselves are generally not aware of the rate of loss their actions cause and the consequences their own survival faces as a result of extinction of species and degradation of habitats. Knowledge shapes people’s perception about why and how biodiversity should be cared for, used wisely, conserved for sustainable use and inter-generational equity. A fundamental requirement of securing sustainable conservation of biodiversity requires that people are made aware of:

(i) the environmental, social, cultural, economic and intrinsic values essential for human wellbeing,

(ii) consequences of its loss, and

(iii) the responsibility that each person must share to arrest the loss and restore whatever is possible.

Creation of Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) is therefore the first requirement of any action to save biodiversity.

Education and several other initiatives contribute to awareness and capacity building of this identified group. Environmental Education (EE) has been made compulsory in curricula at all levels of education throughout the country.

Co-curricular programmes like Eco-clubs, National Nature Camps and Paryavaran Mitra Programmes.are funded by Central Ministries, Central Government, Departments, and state governments.

(i) Eco-clubs Programme

Students are encouraged to constitute these clubs. These provide them with indoor and outdoor opportunities to learn, conserve, and spread the message to others.

(ii) National Nature Camp Programme

Students undertake three- day field visits to get first-hand knowledge of the value of area- based conservation of species and habitats.

(iii) Paryavaran Mitra (Friends of Nature)

The Programme creates a network of young leaders from schools across the country to make them enhance environmental sustainability. These leaders help create environmental citizenship qualities and positive changes in behaviour and actions at individual, school, family and community levels.

(iv) Specific training of the youth in environment, forest and wildlife sectors under the Green Skill Development Programme to enhance their employability

(v) Mobile exhibitions such as the Science Express exhibition on diverse themes mounted on a railway train which has completed nine phases travelling across India. The Science Express ran as a ‘Biodiversity Special’ from 2012-2014.

    Mobile exhibitions by States such as Prakriti Bus by Uttar Pradesh government.

(vi) Involvement of youth and children in counting, identification, awareness generation and protection of birds through organisations specialised in ornithology and birdwatching such as Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON).

(vii) Vast network of botanical gardens maintained by Botanical Survey of India -BSI, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) institutions, universities, local-self-government bodies to provide opportunities of learning to visitors.

(iv) Natural Resource Awareness Clubs programme- Under a Department of Biotechnology (DBT) funded programme, school students visit institutions of excellence, undertake field excursions for first hand exposure to microbial, plant and animal resources, and carry out lab experiments. Mini-projects/ hands-on activities, lectures by invited eminent experts, audio visual shows, inter-and intra-school competitions on bio-resource based themes are part of the initiative.

(v) Biotechnology Labs in Senior Secondary schools (BLiSS)

 This programme in the North Eastern Region (NER) creates awareness about the use of biodiversity and biotechnology at the school level through well-equipped laboratories.

 (vi) Youth clubs for developmental activities including conservation of resources and greening the landscape 

India’s population is estimated to be 1.33 billion today. Biodiversity matters for each one of this population. While the aim is to reach the entire population through Creation of Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA), specific priority has been assigned to reaching the following groups.

Youth constitute 35% of the population. School students and youth together add up to nearly 54 % of the total population. Their active engagement in gaining knowledge regarding conservation and participation in remedial activities contributes to immediate positive action, and it creates a foundation for long term sustainability of such biodiversity friendly attitudes and capabilities.