Part 1 - English version (PDF) - Convention on Biological Diversity

India’s Fourth National Report to the <strong>Convention</strong> on Biological Diversity
The vision is to have at least one botanical garden per district. Also, Ethno Medical Garden
(EMG) at Bangalore, MPCAs in four States and 1,70,000 home herbal gardens in 10 States for
primary health care have been established. The ICAR has set up a number of gene banks for exsitu
conservation under the NBPGR, NBAGR, NBFGR and NBAIM.
Thirteen repositories for different components of biological diversity in India have been notified
in 2008 under the BDA.
The DBT implements focused programmes on biodiversity conservation through biotechnological
interventions since 1991, inter alia by developing techniques, tools and technologies for ex-situ
conservation. Many tissue culture protocols have been developed for regeneration of endangered
and threatened species. DBT has established a national facility “Laboratory for conservation of
species – LaCONES” jointly with the help of CZA, CSIR and Andhra Pradesh Government at
Hyderabad for the conservation of endangered animal species like tiger, lion, black buck, vulture,
etc. Some other programmes supported by DBT focus on animal biotechnology, medicinal plants
and aromatic grasses including societal programmes specifically for the cultivation of medicinal
plants/aromatic grasses and extraction of valuable chemicals/products for economic upliftment of
Schedule Castes (SC)/Schedule Tribes (ST) and other weaker sections.
Traditional Indian farming systems practiced under suitable situations in different States include,
among others, irrigated rice-fish farming by Apatani tribals of Arunachal Pradesh, rice cultivation
in hilly areas of Jeypore tract in Orissa and Chhattisgarh. These systems are characterized by
remarkable diversity owing largely to wide spectrum of agro-climatic situations and indigenous
cultivars and native breeds adapted to specific local conditions. Notable efforts to collect crop
diversity and documenting of livestock breeds notwithstanding, there is a need for on-farm
conservation providing appropriate incentives. ex-situ conservation is expected to provide a strong
backup to the efforts to facilitate access and meet unforeseen natural calamities.
Challenges and constraints
To arrest habitat loss and fragmentation.
To address adverse impact of developmental activities on biodiversity.
To mainstream biodiversity conservation into production sectors.
Expansion of PA network.
To secure sustainable financing for PAs and voluntary relocation of villagers from critical wildlife
habitats for enhancing the quality of habitat
for wildlife and also the quality of living for
villagers by facilitating better access to
resources need to be participatory at all levels
of implementation.
Conservation of traditional land races of
wild varieties.
Bioprospecting of native medicinal plants
(nearly 6,500 species), developing agro
techniques for endemic medicinal plants and
raising suitable medicinal plants in urban
lands.
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