India's Biodiversity Commitments
India's Biodiversity Commitments (Ecology, Environment and Climate Change)
Why In News:
The government released a comprehensive update on India's implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Three-Tier Governance Structure for Biodiversity:
National Level: National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) — apex statutory body. Constituted under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
State Level: State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) & UT Biodiversity Councils — established in each state and UT.
Local Level: Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) — Rural and Urban local bodies.
Legal Framework:
Biological Diversity Act, 2002: India's principal legislation for conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of components, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from use of biological resources.
Amendment (2023): Made implementation more facilitative and effective; aimed at reducing regulatory burden while strengthening conservation outcomes.
India's Commitments under CBD / KM-GBF:
23 National Targets aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
4 National Reports submitted to the CBD Secretariat.
National Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan (2024–2030) developed and being implemented.
30×30 Goal: India committed to protect 30% of land and ocean by 2030.
Key Facts for Prelims:
CBD Secretariat: Based in Montreal, Canada. India is a party to the CBD (signed in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit).
Nagoya Protocol (2010): Supplementary agreement to the CBD on Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) of genetic resources.
Cartagena Protocol (2000): On biosafety — regulating transboundary movement of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs).