New Delhi, Oct 9
Inaugurating the programme on the launch of India's National Red List Roadmap at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, Union Minister of State (MoS) for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh noted that the document reflects efforts in biodiversity documentation and conservation.
He referred to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) event as a gathering that embodies our collective commitment to safeguarding nature and shaping a sustainable future.
The Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change presented India's Vision 2025-2030 for the National Red List Assessment (NRLA), a comprehensive framework prepared by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), in close collaboration with IUCN-India and the Centre for Species Survival, India.
"This vision outlines our roadmap for a nationally coordinated, inclusive and science-based system to assess and monitor the conservation status of our species", he stated.
Addressing the session, the Minister informed that India stands proudly among the world's 17 megadiverse countries, home to four of the 36 global biodiversity hotspots: the Himalayas, the Western Ghats, Indo-Burma and Sundaland.
Although India occupies only 2.4 pr cent of the world's land area, it harbours nearly 8 per cent of the global flora and 7.5 per cent of global fauna, with 28 per cent of the plants and over 30 per cent of the animals being endemic.
India has long upheld robust legal frameworks for protection of biodiversity, foremost among them, the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, recently amended in 2022 to extend protection to species listed under CITES appendices, he stated.
"To fulfil our commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), India has launched the National Red List Assessment initiative, aligned with IUCN global standards," Singh stated.
This initiative will establish a nationally coordinated red-listing system, a tool for accurate assessment, conservation planning, and informed policy development. The Minister laid stress on the important role of documentation of traditional knowledge in biodiversity conservation.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great to see India taking leadership in conservation. Our four biodiversity hotspots are global treasures that need protection. Hope this roadmap translates into real action on ground level, especially in the Western Ghats where development pressure is high.
As someone working in environmental science, I appreciate the focus on traditional knowledge documentation. Indigenous communities have preserved biodiversity for centuries. Their wisdom combined with modern science can create powerful conservation strategies.
While I support conservation efforts, I hope this isn't just another paperwork exercise. We've seen many plans fail due to poor implementation. The real test will be how effectively this reaches local communities and protects habitats from encroachment.
Proud moment for India! Our country's rich biodiversity is our heritage. The 2022 amendment to Wildlife Protection Act shows commitment. Let's hope this international collaboration brings global best practices to our conservation efforts. ðŸ…🌳
Excellent initiative! The statistics about endemic species are impressive - 28% plants and 30% animals found only in India. This systematic assessment approach will help prioritize conservation actions where they're needed most.
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