Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve - Equitable Tourism Options

II. National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAPJ of India
Background ofthe NBSAP Process
The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) of India is one
of the world's largest environment/development planning exercises. A
project of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), the
ongoing NBSAP aims to produce a series of planning documents relating to
ecological security and livelihoods of people most dependent on natural
resources. The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility
through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The
project is undertaken as a commitment under the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD).
The Convention on Biological Diversity was negotiated between 1987 and
1992 under the supervision of the United Nations Environment
Programme. The preparatory work for formulating the Convention was
done by IUCN The World Conservation Union and the Food and
Agricultural Organisation. The Convention was formally adopted by the
member states on 22 May 1991 in Nairobi and it was opened for signature
at the United Nations' Conference on Environment and Development (Rio
Summit) held at Rio de Janeiro between 3'd and 14th June 1992. The
Convention was first signed by 157 states at the Rio Summit and then by
another nine states. As per Article 36 of the Convention, thirty ratifications,
acceptances, approvals or accessions wre needed for the Convention to
be enforced and this took place on 29 December 1993. By 31 January
1995, 179 states had signed the Convention and 102 states have ratified,
acceded or approved it. India ratified the Convention in 1994. The primary
focus of the Convention is to provide a broad global framework for
developing measures for the conservation of biodiversity_ The Convention
expects the signatory states to develop necessary measures within this
framework, which will facilitate the achievement of the objectives that the
Convention sets out. The states are to design and develop a national
strategy for the conservation of biodiversity and suitable use of biological
resources.
Article 6 of CBD stipulates that each Contracting Party develops National
Strategies, Plans and Programmes forthe conservation and sustainable
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N'ilagiris : Fading Glory 50