NEWS – India’s Commitment to Enhanced Biodiversity Funding by 2030

HIGHLIGHTS

• India pledges to boost its budget for biodiversity conservation by 2.5 times by 2030.
• The commitment aligns with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) guidelines, with India presenting this plan at the 16th Conference of Parties in Colombia.
• Focus on making 30% of degraded land and marine areas suitable for biodiversity by 2030.

Financial Commitments and Timeline

• Between 2017 and 2022, the Indian government spent an average of Rs 33,200 crore annually on biodiversity.
• By 2029-2030, India plans to allocate over Rs 81,600 crore yearly to species and ecosystem protection.

Key Conservation Targets

• Aims to restore 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030, focusing on terrestrial, inland water, marine, and coastal regions.
• These restorations are intended to improve biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.

Threats to Biodiversity in India

• Identified Threats:
  1. Land and Sea Use Change: Habitat alteration affecting native species.
  2. Pollution: Degradation of ecosystems due to contaminants.
  3. Species Overexploitation: Unsustainable use of flora and fauna.
  4. Climate Change: Adverse impacts on ecosystems.
  5. Invasive Alien Species: Non-native species disrupting native biodiversity.
• Strategic Plans: 23 specific plans to address these threats under the new biodiversity strategy.

India’s Mega-diverse Status

• Global Biodiversity: India is one of 17 mega-diverse countries, hosting 7-8% of global species within only 2.4% of the world’s landmass.

Historical Background and Policy Alignment

• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD):
  • Adopted at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
  • Aims to conserve biodiversity, promote sustainable use, and support fair resource-sharing.
• India’s Membership: Joined CBD in 1994 and follows its mandate to submit national biodiversity strategies and action plans.
• Reporting Protocol: India reports its biodiversity progress every four years.

Global Biodiversity Framework

• Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: Adopted at the 2022 UN Biodiversity Conference in Canada.
• Alignment: India’s new biodiversity plan is designed to meet the goals of this global framework.