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The extent of the protected areas of India is far below the optimal extent finalised in the Aichi Biodiversity targets. Critically analyse the reasons behind this laggardness and its obvious results
The extent of the protected areas of India is far below the optimal extent finalised in the Aichi Biodiversity targets. Critically analyse the reasons behind this laggardness and its obvious results.
Aichi Biodiversity Targets:
- Aichi biodiversity targets are a series of goals that were set in 2010 at a Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity meeting for protection and conservation of biodiversity.
- The Aichi target mandates each member nation to bring 17% of their terrestrial land under the protected areas category.
India’s Case:
- However India’s network of protected areas is just hovering around 5% of its total terrestrial extent, which is far below the Aichi target.
- It is important to pinpoint that national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation reserves and community reserves form part of our protected areas category lands.
- At present, about 0.3% of EEZ (exclusive economic zone) is under Marine Protected Areas (MPA) in India, far below the Aichi Target of 10%.
Reasons for Laggardness:
- India’s increasing attention towards erecting transport networks and other infrastructure related structures.
- Protests by the villagers in case of their eventual translocation due to declaration of new protected sites.
- Complacency on the part of the major stakeholders of the industrial economy that the existing extent of protected areas in India is good enough.
- Lack of resources (especially in terms of money) to sustain the newly established protected sites.
- Increasing dearth of awareness among the general public regarding the matter in question.
Eventual Consequences:
- Degradation of ecological services offered by the forests and the wildlife to humans.
- To be precise, it may put our natural resources like rivers, ponds and other wetlands in jeopardy leading to water insecurity.
- Our food security will be put to test if our forests and wild animals weren’t given adequate protection.
- Deterioration of livelihood opportunities of millions who depend upon the vibrancy of the forests, oceans.
- India’s potential in ecotourism might be negatively affected.
- India’s economic security could be in peril if its carbon footprint goes on escalating.
- Moreover, India’s aesthetic beauty might become a thing of the past.
Road Ahead:
- Of late, the Government of India was mulling to double the number of protected areas from the current number of 729 (including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and so on). It is high time for all of us to realise the true values of a New Green India.
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