Published on: November 2, 2024
BIODIVERSITY FUNDING
BIODIVERSITY FUNDING
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:
- Land and Sea Use Change: Habitat alteration affecting native species.
- Pollution: Degradation of ecosystems due to contaminants.
- Species Overexploitation: Unsustainable use of flora and fauna.
- Climate Change: Adverse impacts on ecosystems.
- 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.