India is a country rich in biological diversity, thanks to its varied climate and geographical features, which harbour diverse habitats for various species of the world. The National Campaign for Updation and Verification of People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) was recently launched in Goa, marking a significant milestone in the documentation and preservation of this unique biodiversity. This campaign, organised by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, aims at creating, verifying, and updating over 2,67,608 PBRs across the country.
Understanding the People’s Biodiversity Register
The PBR is an inclusive document recording different facets of biodiversity including conservation of habitats, land races, folk varieties, cultivars, domesticated stocks, breeds of animals, and micro-organisms. Local bodies across states and union territories are responsible for constituting Biodiversity Management Committees (BMC). These committees then consult with local communities to prepare the PBRs.
This bottom-up approach promotes conservation, sustainable use, and documentation of biological diversity. It facilitates an understanding of the link between cultural and natural biodiversity and supports the concept of “Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE)”, introduced by the Indian Prime Minister at COP26 in Glasgow.
Biodiversity Scenario in India
Despite occupying only 2.4% of the earth’s land, India accounts for 7-8% of the world’s recorded species. Four of the global biodiversity hotspots are located in India: The Himalayas, Western Ghats, Indo-Burma area, and Sundaland.
The governance of biodiversity in India is guided by the Biological Diversity Act (BDA) 2002, which aligns with the Nagoya Protocol and implements provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It recognises the sovereign rights of countries over their natural resources and aims to manage bio-resources in a decentralised manner through a three-tier structure: The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), State Biodiversity Boards (SSBs), and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs).
Challenges to Biodiversity Conservation
The efforts towards conserving biodiversity face several challenges. Introduction of invasive alien species, global warming, climate change, inefficient plastic waste management leading to marine pollution, and genetic modification are some of the major problems affecting biodiversity. Conservation needs to address these issues in order to maintain the ecological balance.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a legally binding treaty signed in June 1992 during the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It came into force on December 29, 1993 with India becoming a party on February 18, 1994. Currently, there are 196 Parties to this Convention which has three main objectives: the conservation of biodiversity; sustainable use of the components of biodiversity; and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources.
Way Forward for Biodiversity Conservation
To preserve biodiversity, it is essential to involve local communities and indigenous peoples in conservation efforts. Use of emerging technologies like remote sensing, drones, and artificial intelligence can help monitor biodiversity changes, identify high-priority conservation areas, and assess the effectiveness of conservation interventions. Furthermore, conservation should focus on preserving entire ecosystems, including the environment and local communities. The creation of more biosphere reserves will help protect biodiversity and ensure sustainability of the ecosystem.
Relevant queries from the UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ) Prelims and Mains have been included as an annexure for aspirants to understand the examination pattern and prepare accordingly.