India’s Fourth Nati<strong>on</strong>al Report to the <str<strong>on</strong>g>C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Biological</strong> <strong>Diversity</strong> 54
CHAPTER 2 THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN 2.1 INTRODUCTION Article 6(a) of the CBD calls up<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Part</str<strong>on</strong>g>ies to develop nati<strong>on</strong>al strategies, plans or programmes for the c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> and sustainable use of biological diversity or adapt for this purpose existing strategies, plans or programmes which shall reflect, inter alia, the measures set out in this <str<strong>on</strong>g>C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant to the C<strong>on</strong>tracting <str<strong>on</strong>g>Part</str<strong>on</strong>g>y c<strong>on</strong>cerned. At the Central Government level, MoEF is the focal point for biodiversity c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> as well as for all envir<strong>on</strong>ment and forest related matters. Biodiversity being a multi-disciplinary subject, several other Ministries/Departments and affiliated agencies at the Central and State levels are also undertaking biodiversity related programmes. At the Central level, the Ministries/Departments of Agriculture, Health, Water Resources, Rural Development, Power, Industry, New and Renewable Energy, Urban Development, and Science and Technology, and others have important programmes relating to biodiversity. India’s strategy for c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> and sustainable utilizati<strong>on</strong> of biodiversity has evolved through various initiatives addressing specific issues viz., Nati<strong>on</strong>al Forestry Acti<strong>on</strong> Plan, Nati<strong>on</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> Strategy, Nati<strong>on</strong>al Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Acti<strong>on</strong> Programme, NWAP, etc. In pursuance of Article 6 of the CBD, India within five years of ratifying the <str<strong>on</strong>g>C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>, had developed a Nati<strong>on</strong>al Policy and Macro-level Acti<strong>on</strong> Strategy <strong>on</strong> Biodiversity, in 1999 through an extensive c<strong>on</strong>sultative process. Thereafter, an externally aided project <strong>on</strong> NBSAP was also implemented in the country during 2000 – 2004, adopting a highly participatory process involving various stakeholders, under which several sub-nati<strong>on</strong>al level acti<strong>on</strong> plans were developed (Table 2.1). On the basis of these acti<strong>on</strong> plans, a final technical report of NBSAP was prepared. Table 2.1: Details of BSAPs S.No. Level Number of Purpose outputs 1. States and Uni<strong>on</strong> Territories 33 Status of knowledge, and strategies and priorities for acti<strong>on</strong> 2 Local (sub-state) sites 18 Status of knowledge highlighting unique features of biodiversity comp<strong>on</strong>ents 3. Eco-regi<strong>on</strong>s 10 Unique features of selected eco-regi<strong>on</strong>s and potential strategies for acti<strong>on</strong> 4. Thematic Working Groups 13 Covered all the aspects in tune with the objectives of the <str<strong>on</strong>g>C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> 5. Sub-thematic reviews 34 Included the areas of cross sectoral aspects such as mining, community c<strong>on</strong>served areas, tourism, dams, etc. 55