The strongest message to emerge from the global conference of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Hyderabad is that countries allowing their natural capital to be rapidly depleted and destroyed in pursuit of short-term goals are dangerously risking their future. Many examples from around the world underscore the importance of diverse plant and animal species to agriculture, human health, climate and the complex web of interactions that make up an ecosystem. It is important to note, for example, that the latest update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species classifies 20,219 of the 65,518 species listed, as facing extinction. Given the rising threat, the Conference of the Parties to the CBD have done well to commit themselves to a doubling of biodiversity funding for developing countries, although from a modest baseline. India, which has assumed the presidency of the conference and is itself biodiversity-rich, must show leadership by mainstreaming ecosystem concerns in development policy. It has won plaudits by allocating $50 million towards building technical and human capacity to attain biodiversity conservation goals in the country. But the real test lies in its commitment towards strengthening and implementing national laws on environment protection, forests, wetlands, marine areas, wildlife, tribal welfare, air quality and urban development. Some key laws, notably the Environment (Protection) Act, are weakly enforced at present, if at all. State governments share a considerable part of the blame for rendering the law sterile.
Arguably, some of the most important takeaways for participants of the Hyderabad meet come from the findings of The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity studies. They show that nature is critically important to the livelihood of millions, and in India, 47 per cent of the ‘GDP of the Poor’ comes from ecosystem services. It is heartening that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh acknowledged this contribution of natural capital to the economy of the less affluent — in comparison with conventional GDP measurements. There are valuable insights also for urban areas in the ‘Cities and Biodiversity Outlook’ study. A preliminary assessment of Bangalore, for instance, has demonstrated the value of biodiversity to slum livelihoods, in the form of food and herbal medicines. Local body governments, however, were found to have insufficient knowledge on sustainable development. These are pointers to the work that lies ahead. The CBD’s Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and its Aichi Targets for 2020 call for speedy action to stem losses. India must lead by example over the next two years.
"By virtue of physiognomy and climatic diversity,India harbors a rich flora and is one of the
12 megadiversity centres,housing an estimated 12percent of the world flora"-writes Anurudh
K Singh,M D University Rohtak in his chapter on Horticultural Biodiversity Heritage Sites to
the comming IV th Volume of "Biodiversity of Horticultural Crops" published by Daya Books
New Delhi.India contains three of the 34 biodiversity hotspots,The Himalayas,the Indo-
Burma region,with thousands of endemic flora.Floristically rich India has about 141 endemic
genera belonging to over 47 families.As per BSI,India has over 46,214 plant
species.Around 583 species are cultivated,of which 417 belong to horticultural crops.India
possess rare and life saving medicinal plants especially against jaundice,snake bite,hysteria
and even cancer.Bioprospecting of these life saving plants needs to be done and there is
extreme necessity to create awareness among tribals and forest dwellers about the plant
treasure.
Situation is very grim and demoralizing indeed. On one hand we have
factories/industries that are pulling the GDP of INDIA to be foremost
among the developing nations and thus transcending into realm of
developed nation. But on cost of whom ???
we have have think hard, what real development is? and are we on the
right track.
We, those who are educated should make an effort in making people aware of importance of maintaining ecosystem. Govt. will continue to do its work, but the risk at present is large and we must co-operate.
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