• Biodiversity, which encompasses the total quantity and variety of life on our planet, is crucial for the future of Earth. The United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Montreal, Canada (2022)emphasized the significance of this biological wealth.
• In the same conference, 188 country representatives adopted an agreementto “halt and reverse” biodiversity loss by conserving 30% of the world’s land and 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030, known as the 30×30 pledge.
• India currently hosts 17% of the planet’s human population and 17% of the global area in biodiversity hotspots, placing it at the helm to guide the planet in becoming biodiversity champions. Toachieve the 30% goal, India needs to have Biodiversity Friendly Management.

Challenges related to Biodiversity Conservation

• Habitat Loss and Fragmentation:
  • Human activities such as deforestation, agriculture, urbanization, and infrastructure developmentare leading to the loss and fragmentation of natural habitats, making it difficult for many species to survive and reproduce.
• Climate Change:
  • Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and extreme weather eventsare affecting ecosystems and altering the distribution and behaviour of many species.
• Invasive Species:
  • Non-native species introduced by humans can compete with and displace native species, disrupt ecosystem functioning, and spread diseases.
• Overexploitation:
  • Unsustainable use of natural resources such as overfishing, hunting, and harvesting of timber and other forest products can lead to the decline or extinction of species.
• Pollution:
  • Contamination of air, water, and soil with chemicals and waste products can harm wildlife and their habitats.
  • For example:pollutants such as sulfur can lead to excess levels of acid in lakes and streams, and damage trees and forest soils; atmospheric nitrogen can reduce the biodiversity of plant communities and harm fish and other aquatic life; ozone damages tree leaves and negatively affects scenic vistas in protected natural areas.
• Lack of Awareness and Appreciation:
  • Many people are not aware of the importance of biodiversityand the role it plays in supporting human well-being, leading to insufficient public support and funding for conservation efforts.
• Poverty and Inequality:
  • Povertycan drive people to rely on natural resources for their livelihoods, leading to overexploitation and habitat destruction. Lack of access to education and economic opportunities can also contribute to biodiversity loss.

Looking Forward

• Science-based Monitoring Programme:
  • A science-based and inclusive monitoring programme is critical not only for the success of the biodiversity conservation related steps taken but also for documentation and distillation of lessons learnt for replication, nationally as well as globally.
  • Some examples of science-based monitoring programs for biodiversity conservation include: The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), The Living Planet Index, The National Biodiversity Network (NBN),
• Effectively using Modern Concepts of Sustainability of Ecosystems:
  • New missions and programmes should effectively use modern concepts of sustainability and valuation of ecosystemsthat consider ecological, cultural, and sociological aspects of biological wealth.
  • Multiple sustainablebio economy can be achieved by defining clear boundaries for the system, prioritizing the benefits for those who provide the resources, and creating value through service-based funds rather than focusing solely on the flow of goods.
• Conserving Water:
  • Thefuture of our wetland ecosystems will depend on how we are able to sustain ecological flows through reduction in water use in key sectors such as agriculture by encouraging changes to less-water intensive crops such as millets as well as investments in water recycling in urban areas using a combination of grey and blue-green infrastructure.
• Focusing on Ecological Restoration:
  • As far as the Green India Missionis concerned, implementation should focus on ecological restoration rather than tree plantation and choose sites where it can contribute to ecological connectivity in landscapes fragmented by linear infrastructure.
  • Furthermore, choice of species and density should be informed by available knowledgeand evidence on resilience under emerging climate change and synergies and trade-offs with respect to hydrologic services.
• Carefully Selecting Site for Mangrove Initiative:
  • Site selection should also be carefully considered for the mangrove initiativewith a greater emphasis on diversity of mangrove species with retention of the integrity of coastal mud-flats and salt pans themselves, as they too are important for biodiversity.
• Involving Local Community:
  • Each of these efforts regarding biodiversity conservation must be inclusive of local and nomadic communitieswhere these initiatives will be implemented.
  • Traditional knowledge and practices of these communities should be integratedinto the implementation plans.
  • Each of these programmes has the potential to greatly improve the state of biodiversity if their implementation is based on the latest scientific and ecological knowledge.
• Significant Educational and Research Funding:
  • For India''s biological wealth to be critically appraised and brought to the public''s attention, each program should include significant educational and research funding.
    • There is already an agreement among the Prime Minister''s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC)and the government is expected to launch the National Mission on Biodiversity and Human Wellbeing on an immediate basis.
    • This mission seeks to harness the power of interdisciplinary knowledge — for greening India and its economy,to restore and enrich the natural capital for the well-being of the people, and to position India as a global leader in applied biodiversity science.