UPSC IAS exam preparation - Technology and environmental issues in India - Lecture 3

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Biodiversity in India - Part 2

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7.0 BIO DIVERSTIY CONSERVATION IN INDIA

As we all know by now, Biodiversity is essential for maintaining the ecological functions, including stabilizing of the water cycle, maintenance and replenishment of soil fertility, pollination and cross-fertilization of crops and other vegetation, protection against soil erosion and stability of food producing and other ecosystems. Conservation of biological diversity leads to conservation of essential ecological diversity to preserve the continuity of food chains.  Biodiversity provides the base for the livelihoods, cultures and economies of several hundred millions of people, including farmers, fisher folk, forest dwellers and artisans. It provides raw material for a diverse medicinal and health care systems. It also provides the genetic base for the continuous up-gradation of agriculture, fisheries, and for critical discoveries in scientific, industrial and other sectors. The rapid erosion of biodiversity in the last few decades has impacted on the health of the land, waterbodies and people.

Biodiversity is a wealth to which no value can be put. In the final analysis, the very survival of the human race is dependent on conservation of biodiversity. It is evident that this invaluable heritage is being destroyed at an alarming rate due to several reasons. Measures are being taken up at national and international levels to address this issue. The Earth Summit produced a plan of action on a number of issues (Agenda 21) including conservation of biodiversity during the 21st century. Conservation and sustainable use of biological resources based on local knowledge systems and practices is ingrained in Indian ethos. The country has a number of alternative medicines, like Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathic systems which are predominantly based on plant based raw materials in most of their preparations and formulations. Herbal preparations for various purposes including pharmaceutical and cosmetic form part of traditional biodiversity uses in India.

There are several strategies which are adapted for conservation of Biodiversity. Some of these are:

Legislation: Formal policies and programmes for conservation and sustainable utilisation of biodiversity resources dates back to several decades. The concept of environmental protection is enshrined in the Indian constitution in articles 48a and 51a(g). Major central acts relevant to biodiversity include:

1. Environment Protection Act, 1986
2. Fisheries Act, 1897
3. Forest Act, 1927
4. Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 
5. Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act 1991

The various central Acts are supported by a number of state laws and statutes concerning forests and other natural resources. The policies and strategies directly relevant to biodiversity include National Forest Policy amended in 1988, National Conservation Strategy and Policy Statement for Environment and Sustainable Development, National Agricultural Policy, National Land Use Policy, National Fisheries Policy, National Policy and Action Strategy on Biodiversity, National Wildlife Action Plan and Environmental Action Plan. 

In-situ Conservation: Conserving the animals and plants in their natural habitats is known as in situ conservation. The established natural habitats are:

1. National parks and sanctuaries
2. Biosphere reserves 
3. Nature reserves 
4. Reserved and protected forests 
5. Preservation plots
6. Reserved forests

The first such initiative was the establishment of the Corbett National Park in 1936. National Parks are highly protected by law. No human habitation, private land holding or traditional human activity such as firewood collection or grazing is allowed within the park. Sanctuaries are also protected but certain types of activities are permitted within these areas. Biosphere Reserves are another category of protected areas. Under this, a large area is declared as a Biosphere Reserve where wildlife is protected, but local communities are allowed to continue to live and pursue traditional activities within the Reserve. The Government of India has set up seven biosphere reserves: Nokrek (Meghalaya), Nilgiri (Kamataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu), Namdapha (Arunachal Pradesh), Nanda Devi (Uttar Pradesh), Sundarbans (West Bengal), Great Nicobar (Andaman & Nicobar Islands), Gulf of Mannnar (Tamil Nadu).

Several special projects have also been launched to save certain animal species which have been identified as needing concerted protection effort. These projects are designed to protect the species in situ, by protecting  and conserving their natural habitat. Project Tiger, Project Elephant, Save the Barasingha campaign are examples of this initiative. Other strategies include offloading pressure from reserve forests by alternative measures of fuelwood and fodder need satisfaction by afforestation of degraded areas and wastelands. 

A programme "Eco-development" for in-situ conservation of biological diversity involving local communities was initiated. It integrates the ecological and economic parameters for sustained conservation of ecosystems by involving local  communities with maintenance of earmarked regions surrounding protected areas.  Approximately, 4.2 % of the total geographical area of the country has been earmarked for extensive in-situ conservation of habitats and ecosystems. A protected area network of 85 national parks and 448 wildlife sanctuaries has been created. The results of this network have been significant in restoring viable population of large mammals such as tiger, lion, rhinoceros, crocodiles and elephants.

Ex-situ conservation: Ex-situ conservation of plants and animals preserve/ or protect them away from their natural habitat. This could be in zoological parks and botanical gardens or through the forestry institutions and agricultural research centres. A lot of effort is under way to collect and preserve the genetic material of crops, animal, bird and fish species. This work is being done by institutions such as the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, etc. Reintroduction of an animal or plant into the habitat from where it has become extinct is another form of ex situconservation. For example, the Gangetic gharial has been reintroduced in the rivers of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan where it had become extinct. Seed banks, botanical, horticultural and recreational gardens are important centres for exsitu conservation. Ex-situ conservation measures complement in-situ conservation. 

Recording indigenous knowledge: The lives of local communities are closely interwoven with their environment, and are dependent upon their immediate resources for meeting their needs. These communities have a vast knowledge about local flora and fauna which is very important for biodiversity conservation. Much of this knowledge is orally passed on from generation to generation. Such indigenous knowledge needs to be recorded and preserved before it is lost. Several organizations have recognized this and are working to record the knowledge and preserve it for posterity.

Community participation in biodiversity conservation: It is being recognized that no legal provisions can be effective unless local communities are involved in planning, management and monitoring conservation programmes. There are several initiatives to do this, both by government as well as non-governmental organizations. For example, the Joint Forest Management philosophy stresses involvement of village communities in regenerating and protecting degraded forest land in the vicinity of villages. Successful conservation strategies will have to have the confidence and participation of the local communities.

International conservation strategies: Conserving biodiversity is not an issue confined to any one country or community. It is a crucial global concern. Several international treaties and agreements are in place in the attempt to strengthen international participation and commitment towards conserving biodiversity. Some of these are:

1. The Convention on Biological Diversity:This was signed during the Earth Summit in 1992. It focuses not only on conserving biodiversity but also on sustainable use of biological resources and equitable sharing of benefits arising from its use. 
2. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES): This is an international treaty which is designed to protect wild plants and animals affected by international trade. The treaty, in force since 1975, controls the export, import and re-export of endangered and threatened wildlife.
3. The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance:This Convention, also known as the Ramsar Convention, was signed in Ramsar (Iran) in 1971 and came into force in December 1975. It provides a framework for international cooperation for the conservation of wetland habitats which have been designated to the 'List of Wetlands of International Importance'. 

Saving biodiversity - Saving life: Following are some conservation actions that we can take up:

1. Plant trees: Grow native species of plants (trees, shrubs and climber) where possible, this would attract local wildlife such as birds, butterflies and insects.
2. Grow local vegetables in your school garden that are not usually available in the markets. This would allow help conserve them for generations to come.
3. Initiate, organize and participate in responsible citizen action against existing or proposed activities that harm or are likely to harm local biodiversity.
4. Make a list of different kinds of trees in your campus or locality. For each one find out the names, uses, flowering season, animals and birds that depends on it. Present this information in an interesting way, and put it up by the tree. Many people will stop by to read this information and know more about the tree. 
5. Curb our greed for products made out of animal parts like skin, fur, ivory, bones, nails, etc., to discourage wildlife traders and poachers, and spare the lives of the remaining animals. 
6. Adopt vegetarianism which would require fewer animals to be fattened for slaughtering and more plants to be grown for food. 
7. Avoid using insecticides, pesticides and inorganic fertilizers and try to use natural plant- based substitutes wherever possible. Paper and cloth should replace non-biodegradable plastic and polyester which damage the ecosystem. 
8. Make children aware of their surroundings and the need for biodiversity. 
9. Promote bio-farming which is less intensive and environmental-friendly. 
10. Make use of sustainable technologies like smokeless chulhas, ground water recharging unit, wind energy, solar power, etc.
11. Set up 'Community Sanctuaries' for free ranging animals, migratory birds and endemic species. Establish voluntary 'Village Reserves' for plants and animals. 
12. Assist National level Bodies in recording and preserving rare and endemic species 
13. Create 'Biodiversity Registers' in communities, schools, villages.

8.0 CONVENTION ON BIO DIVERSITY (CBD), CARTAGENA PROTOCOL, NAGOYA PROTOCOL, AICHI TARGETS

The three Rio Conventions on Biodiversity, Climate Change and Desertification derive directly from the 1992 Earth Summit. Each instrument represents a way of contributing to the sustainable development goals of Agenda 21. The three conventions are intrinsically linked, operating in the same ecosystems and addressing interdependent issues.

The notion of an international convention on bio-diversity was conceived at a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Ad Hoc Working Group of Experts on Biological Diversity in November 1988. 

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, the Rio Summit and the Earth Summit was a major United Nations conference held in Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992. The Earth Summit was created as a response for Member States to cooperate together internationally on development issues after the Cold War. Due to issues relating to sustainability being too big for individual member states to handle, Earth Summit was held as a platform for other Member States to collaborate. Since the creation, many others in the field of sustainability show a similar development to the issues discussed in these conferences, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

In 2012, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development was also held in Rio, and is also commonly called Rio+20 or Rio Earth Summit 2012.

8.1 The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

It is one of the three ‘Rio Conventions’, emerging from the UN Conference on Environment and Development, also known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. This multilateral treaty came into force at the end of 1993, with three main goals including: the conservation of biological diversity (or biodiversity); the sustainable use of its components; and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources. There are currently 194 Parties to the Convention (193 countries and the European Union).

The Convention was opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro on 5 June 1992 and entered into force on 29 December 1993. CBD has two supplementary agreements - Cartagena Protocol and Nagoya Protocol. 

8.2 The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety 

The Catagena Protocol on Biosafety to the CBD is an international treaty governing the movements of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology from one country to another. It was adopted on 29 January 2000 as a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity and entered into force on 11 September 2003.

8.3 The Nagoya Protocol 

The Nagoya Protocol on “Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS)” to the CBD is a supplementary agreement to the CBD. It provides a transparent legal framework for the effective implementation of one of the three objectives of the CBD: the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. 

The Nagoya Protocol was adopted on 29 October 2010 in Nagoya, Aichi Province, Japan, and entered into force on 12 October 2014, 90 days after the deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification. Its objective is the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources, thereby contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

8.4 Aichi Biodiversity Targets  (COP 10, October 2010, Nagoya, Japan)

These targes included :

Strategic Goal A: Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society

Strategic Goal B: Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use 

Strategic Goal C: To improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity 

Strategic Goal D: Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services 

Strategic Goal E: Enhance implementation through participatory planning, knowledge management and capacity building

8.5 Details of Aichi Biodiversity Targets

Strategic Goal A: Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society

Target 1 - By 2020, at the latest, people are aware of the values of biodiversity and the steps they can take to conserve and use it sustainably.

Target 2 - By 2020, at the latest, biodiversity values have been integrated into national and local development and poverty reduction strategies and planning processes and are being incorporated into national accounting, as appropriate, and reporting systems.

Target 3 - By 2020, at the latest, incentives, including subsidies, harmful to biodiversity are eliminated, phased out or reformed in order to minimize or avoid negative impacts, and positive incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity are developed and applied, consistent and in harmony with the Convention and other relevant international obligations, taking into account national socio economic conditions.

Target 4 - By 2020, at the latest, Governments, business and stakeholders at all levels have taken steps to achieve or have implemented plans for sustainable production and consumption and have kept the impacts of use of natural resources well within safe ecological limits.

Strategic Goal B: Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use

Target 5 - By 2020, the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including forests, is at least halved and where feasible brought close to zero, and degradation and fragmentation is significantly reduced.

Target 6 - By 2020 all fish and invertebrate stocks and aquatic plants are managed and harvested sustainably, legally and applying ecosystem based approaches, so that overfishing is avoided, recovery plans and measures are in place for all depleted species, fisheries have no significant adverse impacts on threatened species and vulnerable ecosystems and the impacts of fisheries on stocks, species and ecosystems are within safe ecological limits.

Target 7 - By 2020 areas under agriculture, aquaculture and forestry are managed sustainably, ensuring conservation of biodiversity.

Target 8 - By 2020, pollution, including from excess nutrients, has been brought to levels that are not detrimental to ecosystem function and biodiversity.

Target 9 - By 2020, invasive alien species and pathways are identified and prioritized, priority species are controlled or eradicated, and measures are in place to manage pathways to prevent their introduction and establishment.

Target 10 - By 2015, the multiple anthropogenic pressures on coral reefs, and other vulnerable ecosystems impacted by climate change or ocean acidification are minimized, so as to maintain their integrity and functioning.

Strategic Goal C: To improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity

Target 11 - By 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes.

Target 12 - By 2020 the extinction of known threatened species has been prevented and their conservation status, particularly of those most in decline, has been improved and sustained.

Target 13 - By 2020, the genetic diversity of cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals and of wild relatives, including other socio-economically as well as culturally valuable species, is maintained, and strategies have been developed and implemented for minimizing genetic erosion and safeguarding their genetic diversity.

Strategic Goal D: Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services

Target 14 - By 2020, ecosystems that provide essential services, including services related to water, and contribute to health, livelihoods and well-being, are restored and safeguarded, taking into account the needs of women, indigenous and local communities, and the poor and vulnerable.

Target 15 - By 2020, ecosystem resilience and the contribution of biodiversity to carbon stocks has been enhanced, through conservation and restoration, including restoration of at least 15 per cent of degraded ecosystems, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation and to combating desertification.

Target 16 - By 2015, the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization is in force and operational, consistent with national legislation.

Strategic Goal E: Enhance implementation through participatory planning, knowledge management and capacity building

Target 17 - By 2015 each Party has developed, adopted as a policy instrument, and has commenced implementing an effective, participatory and updated national biodiversity strategy and action plan.

Target 18 - By 2020, the traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and their customary use of biological resources, are respected, subject to national legislation and relevant international obligations, and fully integrated and reflected in the implementation of the Convention with the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities, at all relevant levels.

Target 19 - By 2020, knowledge, the science base and technologies relating to biodiversity, its values, functioning, status and trends, and the consequences of its loss, are improved, widely shared and transferred, and applied.

Target 20 - By 2020, at the latest, the mobilization of financial resources for effectively implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 from all sources, and in accordance with the consolidated and agreed process in the Strategy for Resource Mobilization, should increase substantially from the current levels. This target will be subject to changes contingent to resource needs assessments to be developed and reported by Parties.

9.0 UN DECADE ON BIODIVERSITY 2011-2020

In October 2010, at the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya, Japan, governments agreed to the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets. This plan provides an overarching framework on biodiversity, not only for the biodiversity-related conventions, but for the entire United Nations system and all other partners engaged in biodiversity management and policy development.

To build support and create momentum for this urgent task, the United Nations General Assembly at its 65th session declared the period 2011-2020 to be the “United Nations Decade on Biodiversity, with a view to contributing to the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity for the period 2011-2020”.

The goal of the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity is to support the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and to promote its overall vision of living in harmony with nature.

At the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in October 2014, this sense of urgency and a renewed enthusiasm helped lead to the adoption of decisions to further help implementation of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Likewise, members of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets Task Force (ABTTF) strengthened its commitment towards action for living in harmony with nature.

Now, more than ever, it is time for all of us to start living in harmony with nature.

10.0 AGENDA 21 AND EARTH SUMMIT RIO 1992

The Agenda 21 is a non-binding action plan of the United Nations with regard to sustainable development. It is a product of the Earth Summit (UN Conference on Environment and Development) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. It is an action agenda for the UN, other multilateral organizations, and individual governments around the world that can be executed at local, national, and global levels.

The "21" in Agenda 21 refers to the 21st century. It has been affirmed and had a few modifications at subsequent UN conferences. Its aim is achieving global sustainable development. One major objective of the Agenda 21 initiative is that every local government should draw its own local Agenda 21. Since 2015, Sustainable Development Goals are included in the Agenda 2030.

The full text of Agenda 21 was made public at the UN Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit), held in Rio de Janeiro on June 13, 1992, where 178 governments voted to adopt the program. The final text was the result of drafting, consultation, and negotiation, beginning in 1989 and culminating at the two-week conference.

Rio+5 (1997) - In 1997, the UN General Assembly held a special session to appraise the status of Agenda 21 (Rio +5). 

Rio+10 (2002) - The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, agreed to at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Earth Summit 2002), affirmed UN commitment to "full implementation" of Agenda 21.

Agenda 21 for culture (2002) - The first World Public Meeting on Culture, held in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in 2002, came up with the idea to establish guidelines for local cultural policies, something comparable to what Agenda 21 was for the environment.

Rio+20 (2012) - n 2012, at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development the attending members reaffirmed their commitment to Agenda 21 in their outcome document called "The Future We Want". Leaders from 180 nations participated.

Sustainable Development Summit (2015) - Agenda 2030, also known as the Sustainable Development Goals, was a set of goals decided upon at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in 2015.

MEGA DIVERSE COUNTRIES

Only 17 countries collectively claim more than two-thirds of the Earth's biological resources within their borders. This makes these nations' conservation efforts extremely critical for the survival of -most of the world's plant and animal species. The US and Australia are the only developed nations on the list. Othes are - Brazil, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Papua New Guinea and Venezuela. This list was compiled from the global total of more than 200 nations. Just as the G-7 countries concentrate a major portion of the planet's economic wealth, the B-17, or Biodiversity-17, have within them most of the planet's biological wealth.

Conference of the Parties (COP) - CBD

The Conference of the Parties is the governing body of the Convention, and advances implementation of the Convention through the decisions it takes at its periodic meetings. To date the Conference of the Parties has held 13 ordinary meetings, and one extraordinary meeting (the latter, to adopt the Biosafety Protocol, was held in two parts). From 1994 to 1996, the Conference of the Parties held its ordinary meetings annually. Since then these meetings have been held somewhat less frequently and, following a change in the rules of procedure in 2000, will now be held every two years. The agenda of the meetings of the Conference of the Parties is very wide-ranging, reflecting the programme of work the Conference of the Parties has established for itself. 

• COP 14 - Fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity - Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, 17 - 29 November 2018
• COP 13 -Thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity - Cancun, Mexico, 4 - 17 December 2016
• COP 12 -Twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity - Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea, 6 - 17 October 2014
• COP 11 -Eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity - Hyderabad, India, 8 - 19 October 2012
• COP 10 -Tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity - Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, 18 - 29 October 2010
• COP 9 -Ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity - Bonn, Germany, 19 - 30 May 2008
• COP 8 -Eighth Ordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity - Curitiba, Brazil, 20 - 31 March 2006
• COP 7 -Seventh Ordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 9 - 20 February 2004
• COP 6 -Sixth Ordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity - The Hague, Netherlands, 7 - 19 April 2002
• COP 5 -Fifth Ordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity - Nairobi, Kenya, 15 - 26 May 2000
• EXCOP 1 -First Extraordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity - Cartagena, Colombia & Montreal, Canada, 22 - 23 February 1999 & 24 - 28 January 2000
• COP 4 -Fourth Ordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity - Bratislava, Slovakia, 4 - 15 May 1998
• COP 3 -Third Ordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity - Buenos Aires, Argentina, 4 - 15 November 1996
• COP 2 -Second Ordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity - Jakarta, Indonesia, 6 - 17 November 1995
• COP 1 -First Ordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity - Nassau, Bahamas, 28 November - 9 December 1994

National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)

• The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) was constituted by the Central Government under Section 5 A of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WLPA). The National Board may, at its discretion, constitute a Standing Committee under sub-section (1) of Section 5B. The NBWL is chaired by the Prime Minister. It has 47 members including the Prime Minister. Among these, 19 members are ex-officio members. Other members include three Members of Parliament (two from Lok Sabha and one from Rajya Sabha), five NGOs and 10 eminent ecologists, conservationists and environmentalists.
• The Standing Committee shall consist of the Vice-Chairperson (Union Minister in charge of Forests and Wildlife) the Member Secretary and not more than ten members to be nominated by the Vice-Chairperson from amongst the members of the National Board. Since it is impractical for all 47 NBWL members to meet frequently, the standing committee (SC-NBWL) meets every three months. The law mandates a majority of expert independent members of the board to enable its independence. However, its negligible rejection rate has “converted the NBWL into a project-clearing house”, as former NBWL member Praveen Bhargav wrote in The Hindu in September 2016.
• It is a “Statutory Organization” constituted under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, with an “advisory” role, and advises the Central Government on framing policies and measures for conservation of wildlife in the country.
• Primary function of the Board is to promote the conservation and development of wildlife and forests. It has power to review all wildlife-related matters and approve projects in and around national parks and sanctuaries. No alternation of boundaries in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries can be done without approval of the NBWL.
• The WLPA mandates that without the approval/recommendation of the NBWL, construction of tourist lodges, alteration of the boundaries of PAs, destruction or diversion of wildlife habitat and de-notification of Tiger Reserves, cannot be done.
• Several proposals seeking statutory approvals for such projects come up before the Standing Committee which meets once every three months to deliberate and grant or reject approvals. Every proposal requires to be submitted by the State Government in the approved format with complete details.
• One of the most important provisions of the WLPA (Section 29 for Sanctuaries and sub-section (6) of Section 35 for National Parks) is that no person can destroy wildlife or divert the habitat of any wild animal without a permit and no such permit can be granted unless it is considered necessary for improvement and better management of wildlife therein. Government projects also come within the ambit of this provision.
• Most of the proposals that come up before the Standing Committee are for dams, highways, mines, power lines and such other projects that destroy wildlife or involve diversion of habitat. It is therefore mandatory for the Standing Committee to adjudicate every such proposal strictly in conformity with Section 29 or sub-section (6) of Section 35. Every decision must be backed by clear reason(s), in writing, as to how the project or the decision to approve it ensures improvement and better management of wildlife therein.
• However, a careful perusal of most of the decisions of the Standing Committee posted on the website of the Ministry of Environment & Forests does not disclose any details on how compliance of Section 29 or Section 35(6) of the WLPA has been ensured. 
• Specific provisions in the WLPA include:

1. S 33 (a): No construction of commercial lodges, hotels… shall be undertaken except with the prior approval of the National Board
2. S 35(5): No alteration of the boundaries of a National Park except on a recommendation of the National Board;
3. S 35(6): No destruction, removal of wildlife or forest produce from a National Park or diversion of habitat unless State Government in consultation with the National Board authorizes the issue of such permit
4. S 38-O (g): Ensure Tiger Reserves and areas linking one protected area with another are not diverted for ecologically unsustainable uses except in public interest and with the approval of the National Board
5. S 38-W(1) & (2): No alteration or denotification of Tiger Reserves without the approval of the National Board for Wildlife

• Sadly, many of these clearances are often given without scrutiny and in violation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, because the law only provides for any diversion of land in in a national park, sanctuary or reserve if it benefits wildlife or for its better management. The minutes of 17 meetings (accessed by an NGO IndiaSpend over four years to 2018) reveal that the SC-NBWL has, on average, placed about more than 40 proposals on the table in a meeting that typically lasts a few hours. The average number of proposals cleared was 28.  
• Activists argue that such hasty, ill-thought decisions speak of a lack of concern for wildlife and place at risk a variety of endangered species, including tigers, elephants, leopards, vultures, flamingos, hornbills, gharials and dolphins. Only 1.1% projects in sensitive habitats rejected!

UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (UNEP) - UN ENVIRONMENT

• The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.
• Its mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
• Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, it works through our divisions as well as some regional, liaison and out-posted offices and a growing network of collaborating centres of excellence. It also hosts several environmental conventions, secretariats and inter-agency coordinating bodies. UN Environment is led by an Acting Executive Director. 
• It categorizes its work into seven broad thematic areas: climate change, disasters and conflicts, ecosystem management, environmental governance, chemicals and waste, resource efficiency, and environment under review. In all of our work, we maintain our overarching commitment to sustainability.  It depends on voluntary contributions for 95 per cent of income.
• UNEP hosts the secretariats of many critical multilateral environmental agreements and research bodies, bringing together nations and the environmental community to tackle the greatest challenges of today. These include the following:

1. The Convention on Biological Diversity 
2. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
3. The Minamata Convention on Mercury
4. The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
5. The Vienna Convention for the Protection of Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol
6. The Convention on Migratory Species
7. The Carpathian Convention
8. The Bamako Convention
9. The Tehran Convention  

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