The XI Conference of the Parties to the Convention of Biological Diversity is now being held in Hyderabad.
In 1988, an Ad Hoc Working Group of Experts on Biological Diversity was convened by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The working group, later known as the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, finished its work in 1991. It was presented at the Nairobi Conference For Adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity or the CBD. The Convention was opened for signatures by nations at the Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
Today 193 countries, except the U.S., Andorra and the Holy See, are signatories to the Convention or international agreement onconservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The Conference of Parties (CoP) is the governing body of CBD that meets regularly to review implementation of the Convention.
Chalking a plan
After each meeting of Conference of Parties, there have been declarations, biodiversity strategies and action plans tabled that the signatory countries implement in their nations. For instance, the declaration that was tabled at the end of the X CoP in Japan — the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation to the Convention on Biological Diversity focussed on causes for biodiversity loss, the need to reduce pressure on coral reefs and other vulnerable ecosystems, promote sustainable use of resources in agriculture, aquaculture and forestry and enhance implementation of national biodiversity strategy through participatory planning by the year 2020. Subsequently 2011-20 was declared as the UN Decade on Biodiversity.
All species depend on one another for food or existence. The absence of even one link in the food chain can lead to chaos in the ecosystem. Today many species of snakes are not to be found. The Great Indian Bustard is an endangered species along with vultures and donkeys,” says R. Hampaiah, Chairman, Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board.
Incidentally, India is one of the 17 mega diverse nations along with Australia, Brazil, Congo, Venezuela and Madagascar, accounting for 60-70 per cent of the world’s biodiversity. The agenda for the XI CoP at Hyderabad includes deliberations on access and benefit sharing, integration of biodiversity into poverty eradication, ecosystem restoration, action against species extinction, global taxonomy initiative, biodiversity and development, climate change and biodiversity, organic farming to revive soil biodiversity and more. “
What can we do?
Organise biodiversity clubs in schools.
Discuss issues related to theloss of biodiversity - aquatic, marine, forest and so on - and steps that must be taken up for its conservation.
These can be man-made threats such as destruction of habitat for agriculture, housing, roads and so on. Discuss the impact of pollution, climate change and over exploitation of resources on biological diversity.
Read the declaration released at the end of each CoP to understand thebiodiversity- related issues in focus and long term measures being taken to solve them.
CoP logo
Cop 11 to CBD logo is designed by National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. The Royal Bengal Tiger, a dolphin, a leaf, a bird and a woman with grains depicts the link between biodiversity and livelihood. The Sanskrit slogan on the logo ‘Prakruti rakshatirakshita’ translates as ‘Nature protects if she is protected’ .
