International Efforts in Conserving Biodiversity

International efforts in Conserving Biodiversity

1. Convention on international trade in endangered species (CITES) on wild flora and fauna:

About : Convention also known as Washington convention is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals. It was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the IUCN. (International union for conservation of nature) It came into force in 1975 and now has 184 parties( include countries or regional economic integration organisations)

The convention is Binding on the parties in the sense that they are committed to implementing it; however,it  doesn’t take the place of national laws. The CITES Secretariat is administered by UNEP (The United Nations Environment Programme) and is located at Geneva ,Switzerland. It plays a coordinating, advisory and servicing role in the working of the convention. The conference of the parties to CITES, is the supreme decision making body of the convention and comprises all its parties.

World Wildlife Day has been celebrated every year on the 3^rd of March since 2013. The date chosen coincides with the day of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which was signed in 1973. The UNGA (General Assembly) resolution also designated the CITES Secretariat as the facilitator for the global observance of this special day for wildlife on the UN (United Nations) calendar.

Aim : Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species in the wild and it accords varying degrees of protection to more than 35000(> 5000 plants and >30 thousand animals ) species of plants and animals. In essence  ,CITES  ban hunting , capturing and selling of endangered or threatened species.

Categorization of species covered by CITES according to degree of protection they need:

• Appendix I : Species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
• Appendix II : Species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled to avoid utilisation incompatible with their survival.
• Appendix III : species that are protected in at least one country , which has asked other CITES parties for assistance in controlling the trade.

Significance : Even though enforcement is difficult, CITES has helped reduce trade in many threatened species including elephants, crocodiles and chimpanzees.

Note: The 19th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP19) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is being held at Panama City. CoP19 is also known as the World Wildlife Conference.

What are the Highlights of the Conference?

1. 52 proposals have been put forward that would affect the regulations on international trade for: sharks, reptiles, hippos, songbirds, rhinos, 200 tree species, orchids, elephants, turtles and more.
2. India’s Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo) is included in Appendix II of the convention, thereby requiring it to follow CITES regulations for the trade of the species.
3. A relief was provided by easing the CITES rules for export of Dalbergia sissoo based products. This is expected to boost Indian handicraft exports.
4. The Conference has accepted a proposal to include sea cucumbers (Thelenota) in Appendix II of the Convention.
5. An analysis published by the Wildlife Conservation Society-India (WCS-India) this September showed that sea cucumbers were the most frequently trafficked marine species in India from 2015-2021.
6. Tamil Nadu had recorded the highest number of marine wildlife seizures during this period, according to the analysis. The state was followed by Maharashtra, Lakshadweep and Karnataka.
7. India’s proposal for induction of fresh water turtle Batagur kachuga (Red Crowned Roofed Turtle) earned wide support of the parties in CoP 19 of CITES. It was widely appreciated by the parties and well accepted when introduced.
8. Operation Turtshield, India’s efforts to curb wildlife crime was appreciated.
9. India also highlighted that many of the species of turtles and freshwater tortoises which are recognized as critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or near threatened are already included in Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and given high degree of protection.
10. India has decided not to vote against a proposal to re-open the international trade in ivory at the ongoing conference.

 

2. TRAFFIC

TRAFFIC is an acronym for Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce . TRAFFIC is a wildlife trade monitoring network . Its mission is to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature. It is an non governmental organisation  

Headquarters: Cambridge ,United Kingdom.

It plays a pivotal role in tackling illegal wildlife trade through research and analysis, advocacy and awareness work and by supporting remedial action against illegal wildlife trade. It specialises in investigating and analysing wildlife trade trends , impacts and drivers; informing and supporting governments to enforce effective policies and laws; advising the private sector on mechanisms for sustainable sourcing of wildlife etc. It started as a specialised division of the IUCN’s Species Survival Commission. It was established in 1976 as a strategic alliance of IUCN and WWF.

TRAFFIC and CITES

One of the TRAFFIC priorities is to promote international cooperation to address wildlife trade issues , with particular emphasis on CITES. It provides information and assistance to help the decision making process of CITES supporting efforts to ensure that international wildlife trade is at sustainable levels and does not pose a threat to the conservation of species. In 1999,CITES and TRAFFIC signed an MoU to undertake joint activities for capacity building.

Campaigns of TRAFFIC GLOBALLY:

• Wildlife trade monitoring Network (WTMN)
• Global Shark and Ray Initiative
• Pangolin Conservation
• Timber Trade and Forest Crime
• Wildlife Cybercrime
• Ivory and Rhino Horn Demand Reduction

Campaigns of TRAFFIC in INDIA: TRAFFIC has conducted several campaigns in India to combat illegal wildlife trade .

• Operation Clean Art : Launched in 2017. It will combat the illegal trade in wildlife products, especially those made from endangered species like tigers and elephants made to be preserved.
• Monitoring Illegal Trade in Fresh Water Turtles : It has been researching and monitoring the illegal trade in fresh water turtles in India,study on leopard and Tiger poaching ,peacock feather trade ,owl trade ,dynamics of hunting community ,trade in medicinal plants , bird trade and more. It includes collecting data on the trade routes and markets and developing strategies to reduce demand for turtle products.
  
• Wildlife friendly farming

• Sustainable tourism

• Encouraging international collaboration to fight wildlife crime: It played a key role in bringing together the south Asian countries to form the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN). SAWEN was formally established at an inter-governmental meeting hosted in Paro(a town in Bhutan) by the Royal government of Bhutan in January 2011. The main aim of this initiative is to have the countries collaborate and cooperate to fight wildlife crime in the region.

 

3. CONVENTION ON CONSERVATION OF MIGRATORY SPECIES OF WILD ANIMALS (BONN CONVENTION – CMS)

The 13 th CoP of CMS was hosted during 15 th -22 nd Feb 2020 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. GIB(Great Indian Bustard) was the mascot for the CoP -13

 About:

Migratory species are those animals that move from one habitat to another during different times of the year , due to various factors such as food , sunlight,temperature,climate , etc.

The movement between habitats can sometimes exceed thousands of miles/ kilometres for some migratory birds and mammals.

A migratory route can involve nesting and requires the availability of habitats before and after each migration.

To protect the migratory species throughout their range countries,a convention on conservation of migratory species(CMS) , has been in force under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme. Initiated in Bonn,Germany in 1979 , it was officially enforced in 1983. It includes legally binding agreements as well as non-binding Memorandum of Understanding based on specific conservation needs.

Also referred to as the Bonn Convention, it provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats and brings together the states through which migratory animals pass, the Range states and lays the legal foundation for internationally coordinated conservation measures throughout a migratory range It is only global conservation specialising in the conservation of migratory species , their habitat and migration routes.

 Appendix I and appendix II : Migratory species threatened with extinction are listed on Appendix I of the convention. CMS parties strive towards strictly protecting these animals , conserving or restoring the places where they live, mitigating obstacles to migration and controlling other factors that might endanger them. Besides establishing obligations for each state joining the convention,CMS promotes concerted action among the Range states of many of these species. Migratory species that need or would significantly benefit from international cooperation are listed in Appendix II of the convention .For this reason, the convention encourages the Range states to conclude global or regional agreements

Members :

• Currently, there are 132 members to the convention
• India has been party to the CMS since 1983.
• COP is the decision making body of CMS.

Key highlights: 13th COP Summit,Gandhinagar Gujarat:

1. The Gandhinagar Declaration sends a strong message on the importance of migratory species for the new global biodiversity strategy.
2. The declaration calls for migratory species and the concept of ecological connectivity to be integrated and prioritised in the new framework.
3. The first ever report on the status of migratory species , presented to CMS COP 13 , shows that despite some success stories, the population of most migratory species covered by CMS are declining
4. CMS COP 13 has given a Clear mandate to prepare a flagship report on the status of migratory species which will give us a better idea of what is happening on the ground and also provide a much needed tool for understanding where we need to focus our work.
5. Great Indian bustard , Asian Elephant and Bengal Floridian have been classified as Endangered Migratory species (Appendix I) by CMS as per Indian proposal.
6. Other species added in Appendix I include jaguar, little bustard, Antipodean albatross and the oceanic white tip shark.
7. Some species added in Appendix II include The Urial , smooth hammerhead shark and the Tope shark.
8. Animal culture linked to conservation for the first time at the UN wildlife conference in India.
9. Seven Migratory species champions were recognised during the conference.
10. Under the champion program , Germany , India , Italy , Monaco , Norway, The European Commission and the environmental agency -Abu dhabi were acknowledged for their generous contributions to the CMS initiatives

 

Other Highlights :

1. This was the first CMS COP to be inaugurated by a host country’s Head of the Government. India, as COP 13 host, will assume the role of COP presidency for the next three years.
2. The theme of the 13 th session of the COP was “Migratory species connect the planet and together we welcome them home” India has also launched the National Action Plan for the conservation of migratory species under the Central Asian Flyway.
3. Insect Decline and its impact on migratory species feeding on them was discussed at CMS COP for the first time. According to CMS , around half of the insect species are declining.
4. The IPBES (intergovernmental platform on Biodiversity and ecosystem services) says that at the current rate ,40% of the world’s insect species will be extinct in the next few decades.
5. India also has non legally binding MoUs with CMS on the conservation and management of Siberian Crane (1998) , Marine Turtles (2007) ,Dugongs(2008) and Raptors(2016)
6. India is temporarily home to several migratory animals and birds . The important among these include Amur Falcons ,Bar headed Geese, Black necked cranes , Marine turtles , Dugong , Humpback whales etc.

 

4. Birdlife international

It is a global partnership of conservation organisations (NGOs) which work towards conservation of birds , their habitats and global biodiversity. Its priorities include preventing extinction of birds species, identifying,and safeguarding important sites of birds , maintaining and restoring key bird habitats and empowering conservationists worldwide.It is the world’s largest partnership of conservation organisations with over 121 NGO partner organisations. For e.g. in India, the partner organisation is Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) Birdlife International has so far identified 7500 important bird areas.

 Report released by it:

• It publishes a quarterly magazine, World Birdwatch, which contains recent news and authoritative articles about birds, their habitats, and their conservation around the world.
• It is the official Red List authority for birds, for the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
• It also published important bird areas (IBA) inventory.

Important bird and biodiversity areas

Introduction : An Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) is an area identified using an internationally agreed set of criteria as being globally important for the conservation of bird population. The program was developed and sites are identified by Bird life international

Since the late 1970s , the Bird life partnership has been working collectively to identify,document and protect all places on earth of greatest significance for the conservation of the world’s birds. As a result , over 13000 important bird and biodiversity areas have been identified. All of these sites are also ( key biodiversity areas) KBAs for birds at the global or regional level.

Significance :

• IBA recognition enhances the conservation attention of the bird species of the region.
• Some of the regions also get statutory protection.

Criteria to be identified as IBAs :

• Globally Threatened species
• The site qualifies if it is known, estimated or thought to hold a population of a species categorised by the IUCN Red list as Critically Endangered or Endangered or Vulnerable.
• Presence of CR or EN >= sufficient for qualification
• Presence of Vulnerable >= presence of more than a threshold is necessary to trigger selection.
• be one of a set of sites that together hold a suite of restricted-range species or biome-restricted species 
• Have exceptionally large Migratory or Congregatory birds.

How do Birdlife International work to protect these habitats?

Each of the Birdlife partners has responsibility for their national network of important Bird & Biodiversity Areas. The Birdlife Secretariat takes the lead on all international aspects as well as in some priority countries where Birdlife is not present and in the High seas.

Other important sub programs:

IBAs in Danger : These are IBAs under threat from damaging and development, the majority of which appears to be poorly planned and doesn’t take environmental values into account. The IBAs in Danger initiative provides an essential focus for governments, development agencies, the international environmental and conservation conventions, business and wider civil society to act to prevent the further damage or loss of the sites crucial to the survival of the worlds birds.

 Migratory birds and Flyways

Bird migration is one of the great wonders of the natural world. A huge variety of birds , millions of them , make the journey : the tiny Rufous Hummingbird migrates up and down the North American continent, while the Arctic Tern , wildlife’s emblem , migrates from pole to pole . In fact roughly one in five bird species migrate.

Flyways:

• Flyways are migratory path taken by birds every year between their summer breeding grounds and their wintering grounds.
• While taking the migratory routes, birds don’t change paths at random. They follow set routes which include habitats where they can rest and refuel along the way.
• Many different species share broadly similar routes , which have been loosely split into 9 (some sources mention 8) major flyways. They are like bird super highways across the sky.

Flyways and India

Major Bird flyway network through India. 370 species of birds visit India through three flyways.

• Central Asian flyway
• East Asian -Australasian flyway
• Asian -East African flyway

 Over 80 % of migratory birds through India come through CAF among which 87 species are of high conservation concern including two critically endangered, five endangered and 13 vulnerable species. India has also launched the National Action plan for conservation of migratory species under the central Asian flyway. Birdlife International’s flyway program focuses on protecting birds across all major flyways.

Key aims of the BI’s Flyway program :

• Save the threatened migratory species from extinction by addressing main threats and conserve key sites and habitats which will be beneficial to a wider set of migratory species.
• Address landscape scale barriers especially illegal and unsustainable killing of birds and proliferation of poorly planned energy and power transmission infrastructure.
• Conserve network of critical stopover sites through action on the ground by BI’s local conservation groups
• Strengthen local and national capacity in the stop over sites by strengthening the collaboration between Birdlife Partners.

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

What is a wetland?

A wetland is a transitional land between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. It is an ecosystem that is flooded either permanently or seasonally. UN Ramsar convention defines wetlands as areas of marsh, fen, peat land or water , weather natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing , fresh brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide doesn’t not exceed six metres.

Significance of wetlands: Wetlands provide a wide range of important resources and ecosystem services such as:

• Food: Rice cultivation, fishery etc.
• Water storage and groundwater recharge
• Water purification, flood moderation and erosion control
• Climate regulation
• Tourism is another area where Wetlands such as large lakes have played a crucial role.
• Biodiversity – wetlands are transition zones between two different ecosystems and thus are highly productive.
• Coastal Protection is ensured by Wetlands as they act as buffer zones.

Ramsar Convention: The convention on Wetlands of International Importance, called the Ramsar Convention, is the intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. It is the only global treaty that focuses on a single ecosystem (Wetlands).

The convention was adopted in the Iranian City Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975. Since than almost 90% of UN member states, from all the world’s geographic regions, have accepted and become contracting parties. Headquartered in Geneva.

The aim of the Ramsar list is “to develop and maintain an international network of Wetlands which are important for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life through the maintenance of their ecosystem components, processes and benefits”.

Concept of ‘Wise use’ is at the centre of Ramsar Convention. Through this, the convention continues to emphasise that human use on a sustainable basis is entirely compatible with Ramsar principles and wetland conservation in general. Application of the “wise use” concept is crucial to ensure that wetlands continue to support biological diversity as well as human well- being.

 The wise use guidelines emphasise on:

1. Adoption of national wetland policies, involving review of local legislation and institutional arrangements to deal with wetland matters.
2. Development of programs of wetland inventory, monitoring, research, training, education etc.
3. Take action at wetland sites, involving the development of integrated management Plans covering every aspect of the wetlands and their relationships.
4. The concept applies to all wetlands and water resources in contracting parties territories (not just to Wetlands of International Importance).

 

CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (CBD)

Introduction : The CBD is a legally binding multilateral treaty which was approved in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio and came into force on 29 Dec, 1993, for conserving the Biodiversity. The CBD Secretariat is based in Montreal, Canada.

Note: other two conventions finalised at Rio summit included UNFCCC and UNCCD.

It has 3 main objectives:

1. The conservation of Biodiversity
2. The sustainable use of the component of biodiversity.
3. The fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.

The Parties (Countries) under CBD, meet at regular intervals and these meetings are called Conference of Parties (COP).

Membership :

• As of Feb 2020, 196 countries were parties to convention.
• India ratified CBD in 1994.
• USA- signed the convention in 1993, but has not ratified it.

Key provisions:

• The convention requires governments to undertake to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity. They are required to develop national biodiversity strategies and action plans and to integrate these into broader national laws for environment and development.
• Identifying and monitoring important components of biological diversity.
• Establishing protected areas to conserve biodiversity while promoting environmentally sound development around the area.
• Rehabilitating degraded ecosystems and promoting recovery of threatened species in collaboration with local residents.
• Respecting, preserving and maintaining traditional knowledge of the sustainable use of biodiversity with the involvement of indigenous people and local communities.
• Preventing introduction of, controlling and eradicating alien species that could threaten ecosystems habitats or species.
• Controlling the risks posed by GM organisms.

• Promoting public participation, educating people and raising awareness regarding the significance of biodiversity.
• Reporting on how countries are meeting biodiversity goals.

 Some Limitations of the CBD :

• Doesn’t cover existing gene banks- thus millions of seeds having high biodiversity value are out of the CDB.
• Promotes bilateral treaty, in spite of biodiversity being a regional or global issue.
• Some poor countries have given away their rights over their biodiversity by signing agreements with rich countries or big corporations.
• Implementation has been slow and poor as the convention doesn’t provide for severe penalties and violations.

Meetings of the Conference of the Parties:

COP 1, 1994 : Nassau, Bahamas

• Proposed 29 December as International Day for Biological Diversity

EX COP 1

• 1st Extraordinary meeting of UN CBD COP
• At Cartagena,Colombia (feb 1999)& Montreal ,Canada (Jan 2000)
• Adoption of Cartagena protocol on Biosafety

COP 5 ,2000 : Nairobi, Kenya

• UNGA adopted 22 may as International Day for Biological Diversity.

COP 6 , 2002 : The Hague, Netherlands

• Global Taxonomy Initiative , Global Strategy for Plant Conservation adopted.

COP 8, 2006 : Curitiba, Brazil

• Global Biodiversity Outlook(GBO) Report 2 (GBO 1 in 2001)

COP 10, 2010 : Nagoya, Japan

• Nagoya Protocol (Access to Genetic Resources and Fair & equitable sharing of Benefits) adopted
• Strategic plan for biodiversity 2011-20 and Aichi Biodiversity Targets.

COP 11 ,2012  : Hyderabad, India

COP 15 : PHASE 1, THEME -Ecological Civilization:Building a Shared Future For All Life On Earth. Held in Kunming , China (October 2021)

• Kunming Biodiversity Fund

PHASE II, Held in Montreal , Canada

• Adopted post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework- 4 goals & 23 targets to be achieved by 2030.
• 30 by 30 Target – restore 30% degraded ecosystem and protect at least 30% 0f the world’s lands,oceans and coastal areas by 2030.
• No single country met all 20 Aichi targets (expired in 2020) within its own borders.

CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY TO THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY :

Introduction: It is an international agreement which aims to ensure the safe handling, transport and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health.

The protocol makes it clear that products from new technologies must be based on the precautionary principle and allow developing nations to balance public health against economic benefits.

It was the first international regulatory framework on safer transfer, handling and use of LMOs. It was adopted in 2000 and entered into force on 11^th Sep 2003.

The protocol promotes biosafety by establishing rules and procedures for the safe transfer, handling, and use of LMOs

Advanced Information Agreement :

• The Cartagena Protocol provides for an Advanced Information Agreement (AIA) producer for ensuring that countries are provided with the information necessary to make decisions before agreeing to the import of such organisms into their territory.
• Biosafety clearing house is established by the protocol to facilitate the exchange of information on LMOs and to assist countries in the implementation of the protocol.

NAGOYA- KUALA LUMPUR SUPPLEMENTARY PROTOCOL ON LIABILITY AND REDRESS TO THE CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY :

Liability and redress in the context of Cartagena Protocol concerns the question of what would happen if the trans- boundary movement of LMO has caused damage. It provides international rules and procedures on liability and redress for damage to biodiversity resulting from LMOs. India ratified in 2014.

NAGOYA PROTOCOL TO CBD : What is Nagoya Protocol and what is its objective?

The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilisation (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 utilisation of genetic resources. The Nagoya Protocol on ABS was adopted on 29 October 2010 in Nagoya, Japan and entered into force on 12 October 2014.

 Significance of Nagoya Protocol:

• Creates greater legal certainty and transparency for both providers and users of genetic resources by:
• Establishing more predictable conditions for access to genetic resources that are covered by CBD and the benefits arising from its utilisation.

Core Obligations of Nagoya Protocol WRT genetic resources:

• Access obligation
• Parties have to take domestic level access measures

Benefit sharing obligation: Domestic level benefit sharing measures are to provide for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources with the contracting party providing genetic resources.

Compliance Obligation:  Specific obligations to support compliance with the domestic legislation or regulatory requirements of contracting party providing genetic resources, compliance with mutually agreed terms.

What is the Access and Benefit- sharing clearing House?

• The ABS clearing house is a platform for exchanging information on access and benefit sharing established by Article 14 of the Protocol, as part of the clearing house of the convention.
• It is one of the key tools in facilitating implementation of the Nagoya Protocol, by enhancing legal certainty and transparency on procedures for access and benefit- sharing and for monitoring the utilisation of genetic resources along the value chain, including through internationally recognized certificates of compliance.

CBD’s STRATEGIC PLAN FOR BIODIVERSITY 2011- 2020 AND THE AICHI’s BIODIVERSITY TARGETS : In a decision, the 10^th meeting of CoP, held from 18 to 29 October 2010, in Nagoya, Aichi prefecture, Japan, adopted a revised and updated strategic plan for biodiversity, including the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, for the 2011- 2020

 Key elements of the strategic plan 2011-2020 including the Aichi’s biodiversity targets:

1. Vision : The vision of the new plan is: “living in harmony with Nature” where “by 2050, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for the people”

     2. Mission : The mission of the new plan is to take “take effective and urgent action to halt the loss of biodiversity in order to ensure that by 2020 ecosystems are resilient and continue to provide essential services, there by securing the planet’s variety of life, and contributing to human well- being, and poverty eradication.

Significance of AICHI Biodiversity Targets :

• These targets include raising awareness about the value of biodiversity, incorporating biodiversity values into local and national development and poverty reduction strategies, eliminating harmful incentives and subsidies, promoting sustainable production and consumption, and so on.
• These targets were developed with the underlying drivers of biodiversity loss in mind, with the goal of establishing benchmarks for improvements across drivers, pressures, the state of biodiversity, the benefits derived from it, and the implementation of relevant policies and enabling conditions.
• Meeting the Aichi Biodiversity Targets would make a significant contribution to the broader global priorities addressed by the post-2015 development agenda, which include reducing hunger and poverty, improving human health, and ensuring a sustainable supply of energy, food, and clean water.
• However, achieving these common goals will necessitate societal changes such as much more efficient use of land, water, energy, and materials, rethinking our consumption habits, and, in particular, major transformations of food systems.

Why the AICHI Targets Failed ?

According to the CBD’s Global Biodiversity Outlook 5 report, none of the 20 ‘Aichi Biodiversity Targets’ agreed upon by national governments through the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) have been met. At the global level, none of the 20 targets have been fully achieved, with six targets partially achieved.

• The previous failures are attributed to a general lack of investments, resources, knowledge, and accountability for biodiversity conservation.
• The national goals adopted by each participating country did not always align with the Aichi targets, and the sum of national successes was insufficient to meet the overall global targets.
• The Aichi targets did not fail solely because they could not be measured. They also failed because countries were not required to report on their progress.
• A lack of accountability was always there. Committing to the Aichi targets is voluntary and non-mandatory, and results are self-reported to the CBD by each party.
• As these agreements are not legally binding, it is unclear how to translate and implement targets into national legislation.
• There were gaps in scientific knowledge at the national and regional levels.
• The Aichi target review mechanisms have been criticised as it is difficult to link pledged national commitments to actual implementation in the absence of transparent and rigorous review systems.

 

Recently, at the 15^th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity “Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework” (GBF) was adopted. GBF includes 4 goals and 23 targets for achievement by 2030. The U.N. biodiversity conference concluded in Canada’s Montreal.

The first part of COP 15 took place in Kunming, China and reinforced the commitment to address the biodiversity crisis and the Kunming Declaration was adopted by over 100 countries.

What are the Key Targets of the GBF?

• 30×30 Deal:
  • Restore 30% degraded ecosystemsglobally (on land and sea) by 2030
  • Conserve and manage 30% areas(terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine) by 2030
• Stop the extinction of known species, and by 2050reduce tenfold the extinction risk and rate of all species (including unknown)
• Reduce risk from pesticides by at least 50% by 2030
• Reduce nutrients lost to the environment by at least 50% by 2030
• Reduce pollution risks and negative impacts of pollutionfrom all sources by 2030 to levels that are not harmful to biodiversity and ecosystem functions
• Reduce global footprint of consumption by 2030, including through significantly reducing overconsumption and waste generation and halving food waste
• Sustainably manage areas under agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries, and forestryand substantially increase agroecology and other biodiversity-friendly practices
• Tackle climate change through nature-based solutions
• Reduce the rate of introduction and establishment of invasive alien species by at least 50% by 2030
• Secure the safe, legal and sustainable use and trade of wild species by 2030
• Green up urban spaces

What are the Other Major Outcomes of COP15?

 Money for Nature : Signatories aim to ensure USD 200 billion per year is channelled to conservation initiatives, from public and private sources. Wealthier countries should contribute at least USD20 billion of this every year by 2025, and at least USD 30 billion a year by 2030.

Big Companies Report Impacts on Biodiversity : Companies should analyse and report how their operations affect and are affected by biodiversity issues. The parties agreed to large companies and financial institutions being subject to “requirements” to make disclosures regarding their operations, supply chains and portfolios.

Harmful Subsidies : Countries committed to identify subsidies that deplete biodiversity by 2025, and then eliminate, phase out or reform them. They agreed to slash those incentives by at least USD 500 billion a year by 2030 and increase incentives that are positive for conservation.

Monitoring and reporting progress : All the agreed aims will be supported by processes to monitor progress in the future, in a bid to prevent this agreement meeting the same fate as similar targets that were agreed in Aichi, Japan, in 2010, and never met. National action plans will be set and reviewed, following a similar format used for greenhouse gas emissions under U.N.-led efforts to curb climate change. Some observers objected to the lack of a deadline for countries to submit these plans.

How India Presented its Demands at the Conference?

• India called for anurgent need to create a new and dedicated fund to help developing countries successfully implement a post-2020 global framework to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.
• So far, the Global Environment Facilitywhich caters to multiple conventions, including the UNFCCC and UN Convention to Combat Desertification, remains the only source of funding for biodiversity conservation.
• India also said that conservation of biodiversity must also be based on ‘Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities’ (CBDR)as climate change also impacts nature.
• According to India, developing countries bear most of the burden of implementing the targets for conserving biodiversityand, therefore, require adequate funding and technology transfer.

COMMEMORATIVE PERIODS 2010: International year of biodiversity 2011 -2020: UN decade of biodiversity :  This was announced on recommendation of the CBD signatories during COP10 at Nagoya in October, 2010.   International Day for biological diversity: 22nd may  The UN has proclaimed May 22 as the international day for biological diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. This day was chosen as the convention on biological diversity was adopted by UN conference on this day.

 

BIODIVERSITY INDICATOR PARTNERSHIP

It is a global initiative to promote and coordinate the development and delivery of biodiversity indicators for use by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and other biodiversity related conventions, the Intergovernmental Science- Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and national and regional agencies.

BIP was initially established in 2006, to help monitor progress towards the CBD 2010 Biodiversity Targets. But, it has started contributing towards biodiversity measurement with other multi – lateral environmental agreements, national, regional governments and other sectors. The BIP website provides up to data information on global indicators brought together under the BIP umbrella to support global, regional and national use of indicators.

GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY OUTLOOK

It is the flagship report of the CBD. The report provides a summary of the status of biological diversity and an analysis of the steps being taken by the global community to ensure that biodiversity is conserved and used sustainably, and that benefits arising from the use of genetic resources are shared equitably. The fifth edition (GBO-5) is the final report card on progress against 20 global biodiversity targets agreed in 2010 with a 2020 deadline, and offers lessons learned and best practices for getting on track.

GLOBAL COALITION FOR BIODIVERSITY- “UNITED FOR BIODIVERSITY”

Global coalition for biodiversity launched on World Wildlife Day (March 3, 2020) by European Commission (march 2020). The European Commission (EC) launched the ‘United for biodiversity’ coalition of Zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, national parks, and natural history and science museums from around the world.

The coalition offered the opportunity for all such institutions to “join forces and boost public awareness about the nature crisis, ahead of the crucial COP-15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Kunming, China in October 2020 .” When nations will adopt a new global framework to protect and restore nature.

WORLD WILDLIFE DAY – 3rd March

Theme for 2023: Partnerships for conserving wildlife. UNGA in 2013 had passed a resolution for choosing 3 rd of March as the WWD. This day was chosen as on March 3, 1973, the convention on the international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora was adopted.

IPBES : INTERGOVERNMENTAL SCIENCE Policy PLATFORM ON BIODIVERSITY ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

It is an independent inter-governmental body established by states to strengthen the science policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long term human wellbeing and sustainable development. It was established in 2012 in Panama City.

It is not an UN body. However, at the request of the IPBES plenary and authorisation of the UNEP governing council, the UNEP provides secretariat services to IPBES. It currently has 134 member states. A large number of NGOs, organisations, conventions and civil society groupings also participate in the formal IPBES process as observers, with several thousand individual stakeholders, ranging from scientific experts to representatives of academic and research institutions, local communities and the private sector, contributing to and benefiting from our work.

The work of IPBES can be categorised in four complimentary areas :

1. Assessment : e.g. the assessment of pollinators
2. Policy support : Identifying policy relevant tools and methodology facilitating their use, and catalysing their further development.
3. Building capacity and knowledge.
4. Communication and outreach.

GLOBAL COALITION OF THE WILLING ON POLLINATORS

The coalition was formed in 2016 to follow up on the findings of IPBES assessment on pollinators, pollination and food production. The coalition has 28 signatories including 17 European countries, Latin America and the Caribbean and four from Africa.

Members are supposed to do the following:

• Taking action to protect pollinators and their habitats by developing and implementing national pollinator strategies
• Sharing experience and lessons learnt in developing and implementing national pollinator strategies, especially knowledge on new approaches, innovations and best practices.
• Reaching out to seek collaborations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders countries as well as business,NGOs , farmers and local communities
• Developing research on pollinators conservation

World BEE DAY : The world observes Bee day on May 20 to raise awareness about the importance of pollinators and how they contribute to our sustainable developments. The day has been designated by the UN. The sixth observance of world bee day was celebrated in 2023 with a event organised by the FAO under the theme Bee engaged in pollinator-friendly agricultural production”.

Significance of pollinators :

• 75% of world ‘s food crops depend at least in part on pollination
• 90% of the wild flowering plants depend on pollinators.
• 6 million Tonnes of honey production is from the western honeybee.
• Between US$235 billion to US$ 577 billion worth of annual global food production relies on direct contribution of pollinators.
• Volume of agri production dependent on pollinators has increased by 300% during the past 50 years.
• A number of pollinator species worldwide are being driven towards extinction. This is threatening millions of livelihood and 100s of billion dollars’ worth of food supply.

UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Program (MAB)

Introduction: MAB program is a major effort in biodiversity conservation, launched in 1971. It is an inter-governmental scientific program that aims to establish a scientific basis for improvement of the relationship between people and their environment. MAB combines natural and social science , economics and education to improve human livelihood, and the equitable sharing of benefits.

Implementation of the MAB program: For implementation of its interdisciplinary work on ground ,MAB relies on the World Network of Biosphere Reserves  and partnership for knowledge sharing, research and monitoring education and training and participatory decision making.

Characteristics of Biosphere reserves: The characteristics feature of biosphere reserves are :

• People are an integral component. Biosphere are protected areas of land and / or coastal environment wherein people are an integral component of the system.
• Remain under national jurisdiction but share their experience and ideas nationally , regionally and internationally within the WNBR
• Achieve three interconnected functions : conservation, development and logistics support.

• Zonation scheme.
• Multi stakeholder approach with particular emphasis on the involvement of local communities in management.
• Integrating cultural and biological diversity especially the role of traditional knowledge in ecosystem management.
• Fostering dialogue for conflict resolution in natural resource use.

Details about the zonation scheme: While countries maintain flexibility at the national levels with regard to the definition of zones, the zonation needs to ensure that biosphere reserves efficiently combine conservation, sustainable use of resources, and collaborative management.

Each biosphere reserves include three zones: (core, buffer and transition)

The Core Zone: Generally the strict nature reserves and wilderness portions are designated as core areas in a BR. It should be kept absolutely undisturbed.  (or minimally disturbed) Non-destructive research and low impact uses (e.g education) allowed.

The buffer zone usually surrounds or adjoins the core area: It is used for cooperative activities compatible with sound ecological practices Including, environmental education recreation, ecotourism, and applied and basic research. Other than its buffering functions related to core areas it has its own intrinsic stand- alone functions for maintaining anthropogenic, biological and cultural diversity.

They can also have important connectivity functions for maintaining anthropogenic, biological and cultural diversity. They can also have an important connectivity function is a larger spatial context as they connect biodiversity components within the core areas with those in transition areas. Human activities, if natural within BR, are likely to be permitted to continue if these don’t affect the ecological diversity

Transition Zone: Outermost part of Biosphere Reserve. It has a central function in sustainable development which may contain a variety of agricultural activities, settlements, and other uses and in which local communities, management agencies, scientists and non-governmental organisations, cultural groups, economic interests, and other stakeholders work together to manage and sustainably develop the area’s resources. Usually it is not delimited.

Designation of Biosphere Reserves : Article 5 of the 1995 statutory framework of the WNBR, states that biosphere reserves are designated for inclusion in the network by International Coordinating Council (ICC) of the MAB programme UNESCO in accordance with the following procedure:

• States through National MAB Committees where appropriate forward nominations with supporting documentation to the secretariat after having reviewed potential sites, taking into the account the criteria as defined in Article 4:
• Secretariat verifies the content and supporting documentation, asks for ,missing info if any.
• Nominations will be considered by the Advisory committee for BR for recommendation to ICC.
• ICC takes the decision on the nomination for designation.
• The Director- general of UNESCO notifies the state concerned of the decision of ICC. Proposal for extension follows the same procedure.

 

Biosphere Reserves and other Protected Areas
Relation Biosphere reserves don’t replace other protected areas but it further strengthens the protected area network.   Existing PAs can become part of BR without any change in their legal status.   Inclusion of such PA in BR will enhance their national value.   It doesn’t mean the BR are to established only around National Parks and WLS.	Differences Conservation of overall biodiversity rather than some specific flagship species.   Increases broad- basing of stakeholders, especially local people’s participation and their training, compared to the features of WLS and NPs.   BRs are internationally recognised within the framework of UNESCO’s MAB programme, after receiving consent from the participating countries.

 

Biosphere Reserves in India : The Indian government has established 18 biosphere reserves in India (categories roughly corresponding to IUCN category five protected areas), which protect larger areas of natural habitat ( than a national park or wildlife, sanctuary), and often include one of more national parks and or reserves along  buffer zones that are open to some economic uses).

A scheme called biosphere reserve is being implemented by GOL since 1986, which financial assistance is given to states for maintenance, improvement and development of certain items. (60: 40 general states, 90: 10- not Eastern and three himalayan states) The Indian national Man and biosphere committee constituted by the central government identify is new sites , advices, on policies and programmes, lay down guidelines, review, progress and guidelines in the light of evaluation, studies and feedback.

Management of the biosphere reserves is the responsibility of concerned state /UT with necessary financing assistance, guidelines for management and technical expertise provided by the central government.

WORLD NETWORK OF BIOSPHERE RESERVES

12 of the 18th biosphere reserves are part of the world network of biosphere reserves, based on the UNESCO, Man and biosphere (MAB) programme list.

1. Nilgiri (First to be included)
2. Gulf of Mannar
3. Sunderbans
4. Nanda Devi
5. Nokrek
6. Pachmarhi
7. Similipal
8. Achanakmar – Amarkantak
9. Great Nicobar
10. Agasthyamala
11. Khangchendzonga (Added under Man and Biosphere Reserve Program in 2018)
12. Panna,Madhya Pradesh (The latest included BR)

UNESCO World Heritage Convention

In 1972, UNESCO adopted the Convention concerning the protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. This convention seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world, considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.

Strategic Objectives (the Five Cs)

1. Credibility
2. Conservation
3. Capacity building
4. Communication
5. Communities

It came into force in 1975. India ratified the convention in 1977. The convention aims to promote cooperation among countries to protect heritage all over the world that is of such outstanding universal value that its conservation is important for current and future generations.

Currently, there are 194 State Parties to the convention.State Parties identify and nominate properties located in their countries to be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List.  They agree to protect, preserve and conserve the heritage properties in their national territories. They also have to present how they preserve the properties, provide a management plan for the upkeep of the inscribed properties and ensure to report periodically on their conditions.

The World Heritage Convention links together in a single document the concepts of nature conservation and the preservation of cultural properties. The convention acknowledges the manner in which people interact with nature and the basic need to maintain the balance between nature and humanity.

World Heritage Committee: The World Heritage Committee administers the World Heritage Convention. It is supported by UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the secretariat for the Convention, and three technical advisory bodies to the Committee: IUCN, ICOMOS, and ICCROM. The committee meets annually. It comprises 21 members who are elected from among the State Parties. They are generally elected for a period of six years (State Parties voluntarily choose to reduce their terms to four years).

 The functions of the World Heritage Committee are as follows:

1. Take decisions on adding new properties to the World Heritage List.
2. Discuss all matters relating to the Convention’s implementation.
3. Consider the various requests received for international assistance.
4. Advise State Parties on how they can satisfy their obligations under the Convention to protect the properties on the list.
5. Administer the World Heritage Fund.

 World Heritage Fund : Countries that have ratified the World Heritage Convention can get access to the World Heritage Fund to help them in identifying, preserving and protecting heritage sites. The Fund was established in 1977. The Fund is composed of assessed contributions of State Parties and voluntary contributions from governments, foundations, the public, etc.

World wildlife fund for nature (WWF)

The world wildlife fund for nature is an international NGO founded in 29^th April,1961, Switzerland working in the field of wilderness preservation and the reduction of human impact on the environment.

The founding document of WWF is known as Morges Manifesto because its first office was opened in Morges, Switzerland. Presently, the Headquarters of WWF is situated in Gland, Switzerland. The famous giant panda is the logo of WWF. It is considered the world’s largest privately financed conservation organisation,with over 5 million supporters worldwide working in more than 100 countries and on more than 3000 projects.

Important reports : The Living Planet Report has been published every two years since 1998.

Important campaigns by WWF :

• Earth Hour – Encourages everyone to switch off non essential electric lights, for one you, from 8:30 -9:30 , on a specific day towards the end of March.
• Debt for Nature Swaps are financial transactions in which a portion of a developing country’s foreign debt is forgiven in exchange for local investment in environmental conservation measures.
• Healthy GrownPotato.

What is the Living Planet Index (LPI) ? The Living Planet Index (LPI) is a worldwide biological diversity index based on changes in vertebrate populations from around the world. It is managed by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) in cooperation with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). This index is based on statistics generated from studies, online databases, and various government reports. According to Living Planet Index (LPI) 2022, the world’s vertebrate animal populations are declining at an alarming rate, particularly in tropical places.

 Living planet report : About – It is a flagship report of WWF which is published every two years (Biennial). It is a comprehensive study of trends in global biodiversity and the health of the planet. The report is published by World Wildlife Foundation and Zoological society of London. The Living Planet Index of LPI tracks more than 4000 species spread across nearly 17000 populations.

Risk index is another component of the Living planet report. It indicates threats from loss of above ground diversity , pollution , nutrient overloading , overgrazing, intensive agriculture, fire ,soil erosion , desertification and climate change. Global soil biodiversity Atlas has been prepared by WWF for nature.

WWF India

The WWF-India was established as a Charitable public trust on 27 November 1969 to protect and safeguard the natural heritage and ecology of India. The Secretariat of WWF India is situated in New Delhi. The Mission statement of WWF India is – 

• Conserving the world’s biological diversity.
• Ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable.
• Promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

The priority species of WWF India – 

• Tiger 
• Elephant
• Rhinos
• Red Panda
• Snow Leopard 
• Nilgiri Tahr

The priority landscape of WWF India –

• North Bank Landscape
• Kaziranga Karbi Anglong Landscape
• Terai Arc Landscape
• Sunderbans
• Western Arunachal

WWF India also works in increasing awareness related to the environment with the help of Nature Clubs of India and they are running five education programs across 16 states of India.

Global wildlife program (GWP)

The GWP is a world bank led, GEF funded global partnership that promotes wildlife conservation and sustainable development by combating illicit trafficking in wildlife.Its priority and immediate focus are combatting wildlife poaching, trafficking and demand.

Through it various global and country projects the GWP focuses on:

• Community based natural resource management and tourism development.
• Promotes landscape level management and human wildlife conflict mitigation tools.
• Improved law enforcement efforts in the country through improved legislation, judiciary and prosecution. It raises awareness of demand reduction through targeted campaigns that encourage behaviour change.
• GWP, works with the international consortium to combat wildlife crime (ICCWC) donors and conservation partners to implement an integrated approach for biodiversity conservation , wildlife crime prevention and sustainable development including CITES secretariat,IUCN, TRAFFIC,WWF,WILDAID,WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY.
• India is a partner country.

 Deforestation Fronts: Drivers and Responses in a Changing World

Key highlights : WWF analysed 24 Deforestation Hotspots across Asia, Latin America and Africa and found that 44 million hectares of forest were cleared on those areas between 2004 and 2017.i.e the world has lost tropical forests equivalent to the size of California over a 13 year period.

Around 8000 years ago, forests covered 50% of the earth’s land area. But now it has reduced to 30%. The deforestation was taking place at the fastest rate in the Brazilian Amazon and cerrado, the Bolivian Amazon, Paraguay, Argentina, Madagascar and Sumatra and Borneo islands in Indonesia and Malaysia. Most important factors include subsistence farming in Africa and plantation and commercial agriculture in Asia.

Key threats because of deforestation:

• Habitat destruction >= Biodiversity loss.
• Increased vulnerability to new zoonotic diseases >= like COVID 19.

International Convention for the control and management of Ballast water and sediments (Also known as Ballast water management convention) :

The Convention was adopted by the International Maritime Organization in 2004,by 74 countries ( now 79 countries are signatories ,2020).It is a maritime treaty which requires signatory states to ensure that ships flagged by them comply with standards and procedures for the management and control of ships ballast water and sediments.

Objective: Prevent, minimise and ultimately eliminate the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens through the control and management of ship’s ballast water and sediment.

Need of this kind of Convention :

• Invasive aquatic species present a major threat to the marine ecosystem, and shipping has been identified as a major pathway for introducing species to new environments.
• Problems have increased as trade and traffic volume expanded over the last few decades and with the introduction of steel hulls, allowing vessels to use water instead of solid materials in the ballast.

Main provisions :

• General Abilities: Ships must have facilities to treat the ballast water before releasing it in foreign waters.
• Reception facilities: Under Article 5 sediment Reception facilities parties undertake to ensure that ports and terminals where cleaning or repair of ballast tanks occur,have adequate reception facilities for the reception of sediments.

Research and Monitoring :

• Article 6 calls for parties individually or Jointly to promote and facilitate scientific and technical research on ballast water management and monitor the effects of ballast water management in waters under the jurisdiction.

Note : India is not participating in the convention.

 GLOBAL LAST PROGRAMME

This programme was started in 2000. Initiative of GEF, UNDP and IMO. Aim : Foster an unprecedented international and public private cooperation in the area of Ballast Water Management.

International treaty on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (ITPGRFA)

Introduction : This is a treaty which is aimed at: Conservation and sustainable use of all plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of their use, in harmony with the CBD , for sustaining agriculture and food security. It was adopted by the 31 st session of the conference of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN on Nov 3,2001.

Recognising the contribution of farmers to the diversity of crops that feed the world.Ensuring that the recipients share that benefit they derive from the use of genetic material with the countries where they have originated. Establishing a global system to provide farmers , plant breeders and scientists with access to plant genetic materials.

Main provisions :

Multilateral system :

• It is the treaty ‘s innovative solution to access benefit sharing
• It puts 64 of the world’s most important crops- crops that together account for 80% of the food we derive from plants- into an easily accessible global pool of genetic resources that is freely available to potential users in the Treaty’s ratifying nations for some uses.

Access and Benefit Sharing:

• Ratifying nations are provided facilities to access the genetic material for the 64 crops in the multilateral system for research , breeding and training for food and agriculture.
• Prevent the recipient of genetic resources from claiming IPR over those resources in the form in which they received them.
• Those who access genetic materials through the multilateral system agree to share the benefits from their use through the benefit sharing mechanisms established by the treaty.

 Farmer’s right:

• The treaty calls for protecting the traditional knowledge of these farmers , increasing their participation in the national decision making process and ensuring that they share in the benefits from the use of these resources.

Sustainable use :

• Most of the world’s food comes from four main crops -Rice, Wheat, Maize, and Potatoes.
• However, local crops , not among the main four , are a motmot food sources for hundreds of millions of people and has potential to provide nutrition to countless others.
• The treaty helps maximise the use and breeding of all crops and promotes development and maintenance of diverse farming systems.

World Seed Vaults

Introduction : Seed vaults are places where seeds of various plants are stored to ensure protection of genetic resources and diversity. They are stored at very low temperatures (at around -18 degree C). Even at this temperature, seeds have a shelf life and thus seed vaults are regularly updated with fresh , viable samples.

Svalbard’s Vaults , at Spitsbergen , Norway :

• It stores crop seeds.
• It is built inside a mountain on the remote Arctic Archipelago of Svalbard . It was opened in 2008 with the intention of being politically neutral and safe location to protect the world ‘s crop diversity. It is designed to survive nuclear war and world war.
• Samples went here are the duplicates from seed and gene banks , research facilities, and communities around the world, ranging from large institutions like ICARDA , to the Cherokee Nation, who in 2020, became the first tribe in the US to send important heirloom seeds to Svalbard.
• During the Syrian war, scientists duplicated and safely transported genetic resources from the international centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas facility in Tak Hadia.

Millennium Seed Bank at the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, UK is the world’s largest wild seed conservation project.

• It has recently completed 20 years of its formation.
• Its vault has been built to withstand booms,radiation and floods . It holds 2.4 billion seeds from 39681 species, coming from 190 countries and territories.
• The facility claims that they have contributed to protecting 16% of the world’s seed bearing plants.
• After the recent massive bushfire in Australia,the seed bank sent backup seeds of Clover glycine (Glycine Latrobeana) , a rare wild pea, to its partner in Australia so that the plant could be cultivated and used to restore the ecosystem.

Convention for the conservation of Antarctica Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)

About: It is part of the Antarctic treaty system. It was entered into force on 7 th April 1982 and is headquartered in Hobart city of Tasmania state,Australia. The immediate reason for the convention was the concerns related to increased Krill catches in the Southern ocean which could have had a serious impact on the population of other marine life which are dependent upon krill for food.

Antarctic krill is the keystone species of the Antarctic ecosystem beyond the coastal shelf, and provides an important food source for whales, seals (such as leopard seals, fur seals, and crabeater seals), squid, icefish, penguins, albatrosses and many other species of birds.

Krill are typically 1 to 6 centimetres in length and are known for their distinctive appearance, which includes large eyes, a translucent body, and long, feathery antennae.

Krill plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth’s climate by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in the deep ocean

It is aimed at preserving marine life and the environmental integrity in and near Antarctica. It thus wants to ensure sustainable utilisation of resources of the Southern ocean and regulate the use of resources in the region.

Note: India is a member state.

About The Commission: CCAMLR is an international commission with 27 Members (26 States and the European Union), and a further 10 countries have acceded to the Convention. Based on the best available scientific information, the Commission agrees on a set of conservation measures that determine the use of marine living resources in the Antarctic.

The key institutional components of CCAMLR are:

• The CAMLR Convention which entered into force on 7 April 1982.
• a decision-making body, the Commission
• a Scientific Committee which advises the Commission using the best available science
• Conservation measures and resolutions
• CCAMLR’s Membership and provisions for international cooperation and collaboration
• a Secretariat based in Hobart, Tasmania, that supports the work of the Commission.
• CCAMLR’s programs of research, monitoring and the application of conservation measures in the Convention Area make a valuable contribution to Antarctic conservation.

 

Antarctica Treaty System

Antarctica treaty : It is a treaty that was negotiated during the middle of the Cold War by 12 countries with Antarctica interests. It acts as a foundation for rule-based international order for a continent without a permanent population. It remains the only example of a single treaty that governs a whole continent.

It is a remarkably short treaty and contains only 14 articles. Key provisions include promotion of Freedom of scientific research, the use of the continent only for peaceful purposes and the prohibition of military activities, nuclear tests, and the disposal of radioactive wastes. The most important provisions of the treaty is Article IV , which effectively seeks to neutralise territorial sovereignty in Antarctica. This means that a limit was placed on making any new claim or enlargement of an existing claim .

Further, no formal recognition was given to any of the seven territorial claims on the continent, by Argentina , Australia, Chile, France, ,New Zealand ,Norway and the United Kingdom, Russia,USA and China – Who are signatory to the convention but have not made any formal territorial claims -are also bound by the limitations of Article IV.

Blue Flag Beaches

The iconic blue flag is one of the world’s most recognised voluntary eco labels awarded to beaches, marinas and sustainable boating tourism operators. The certification is provided by the foundation for environmental education (FEE). The blue flag program was started in 1985 and in areas out of Europe in 2001.

To get blue flag certification 33 stringent criteria under four major heads should be met and maintained.

1. Environment, Education and Information.
2. Bathing Water Quality.
3. Environment Management and Conservation.
4. Safety and Services.

Blue flag certification so far: 4820 Beaches , Marinas & Boats : 49 countries

Blue flag beaches in India : In Oct 2022, India secured blue flag certification for twelve of its beaches, when an international jury composed of member organisations UNEP, UNWTO, UNESCO, IUCN, ILS, FEE etc announced the award at Copenhagen.

• Golden Beach – Odisha
• Shivrajpur Beach – Gujarat
• Kappad Beach – Kerala
• Ghoghla Beach – Diu
• Radhanagar Beach – Andaman and Nicobar
• Kasarkod Beach – Karnataka
• Padubidri Beach – Karnataka
• Rushikonda Beach – Andhra Pradesh
• Kovalam Beach – Tamil Nadu
• Eden Beach – Puducherry
• Minicoy Thundi Beach –Lakshadweep
• Kadmat Beach –Lakshadweep

India started its journey of sustainable development for coastal regions on World Environment day in June 2018 by launching its beach cleaning campaign I Am Saving My Beach simultaneously at 13 coastal states and thereafter implementing ministry’s coveted program BEAMS (Beach Environment & Aesthetics Management Services)

What is being done?

• Beaches are being made plastic free, equipped with a waste management system.
• Clean water is being made available for tourists, apart from international amenities.
• The beaches are also being provided with facilities to study the environmental impact around the area.
• In Jan 2020 ,MoEF&CC relaxed CRZ rules that restrict construction near beaches to help the state construct infrastructure and enable them to receive ’Blue flag’ certification.

Why?

The blue flag certification requires beaches to create certain infrastructure-Portable toilet blocks, grey water treatment plants, a solar power plant, seating facilities, CCTV surveillance and the like. However, India’s CRZ laws don’t allow the construction of such infrastructure on beaches and islands. Via an order on January 9, the Environment ministry eased these restrictions for the purposes of blue flag certification.

About BEAMS : Beach Environment & Aesthetics Management Services comes under ICZM (Integrated Coastal Zone Management) project. This was launched by the Society of Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM) and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

The objectives of BEAMS program are to:

• Abate pollution in coastal waters,
• Promote sustainable development of beach facilities,
• Protect & conserve coastal ecosystems & natural resources,
• Strive and maintain high standards of cleanliness,
• Hygiene & safety for beachgoers in accordance with coastal environment & regulations.

It has helped in saving 1,100 ml/year of municipal water through recycling; educating around 1,25,000 beachgoers about responsible behaviour at the beaches; providing alternate livelihood opportunities to 500 fishermen families through pollution abatement, safety and services and has also increased footfall for recreation activities at the beaches by approximately 80% leading to economic development.

Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)

The FEE is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was founded in 1981 as the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe (FEE). Currently, it has 77 member countries.

Its other programmes include: Green Key, Eco Schools, Young Reporters for the Environment, Learning about Forests, Global Forest Fund.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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