Indian Measures on Conservation and Biodiversity Promotion

Indian Measures on Conservation and Biodiversity Promotion

In India, various ex-situ and in-situ measures have been taken. It is a signatory of IUCN, CITES, CBD, Cartagena Protocol, Ramsar Convention etc. At local level, it has taken following steps –

1. It enacted Wildlife Conservation Act 1972 as a first step towards conservation and promotion of biodiversity
2. Protected area network in form of Sanctuaries, National Parks and Biosphere Reservesunder Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

• India became a member of CITES in 1976. Species listed in CITES are regulated through Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and Customs Act.

1. India is a member of Ramsar Convention since 1981 and has been implementing the conservation programs for wetlands, mangroves and coral reefs.
2. It has also launched species-specific projects like – Project Tiger, Project Elephant etc in in-situ mode and Vulture Conservation and Breeding in Pinjore, Haryana, Crocodile Park in Chennai in ex-situ mode.

1. 
2. Project Tiger, 1973 – It was launched in 1973 when population of tigers reached critically low level under this tiger reserves have been set up. As a result population of Tigers has slowly improved. Today there are more than 40 tiger reserves. National Tiger Conservation Authority was set up in 2005. It is the apex body that works towards conservation of tigers. The National Tiger Conservation Authority was established in December 2005 following a recommendation of the Tiger Task Force, constituted by the Prime Minister of India for reorganized management of Project Tiger and the many Tiger Reserves in India.

• Seeds and semens of critical species are preserved in seed banks to preserve them from extinction. Techniques like cloning can also be helpful in saving the species from
• According to CBD guidelines, it has formulated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSP).

1. It has enacted Biodiversity Act 2002 in wake of implementing guidelines and protocols of CBD and has also established National Biodiversity Authority which is responsible for promotion of biodiversity and look into issues related to benefits arising out of use of genetic resources of ecosystem of India. The Act seeks to give effect to two key principles of CBD – the sovereign rights of countries of origin over their genetic and biological resources and the need to share the benefits flowing from commercial

utilization of biological resources with the holders of indigenous knowledge.

*Water Conservation

National Mission on Monsoons– It is a project that aims to improve the forecast of monsoon. It involves a new ‘comprehensive dynamic forecast’.

National River Conservation Plan – It includes work in 190 towns along polluted stretches of 39 rivers in 20 states. Sewage treatment capacity of about 4064 million liters per day has been created. River conservation activities such as creation of civic infrastructure for sewage management and disposal are also being implemented under other central schemes, such as Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns, as well as under state schemes.

National Water Policy – The salient features of the Draft National Water Policy (2012) are presented below –

1. Emphasis on the need for a national water framework law, comprehensive legislation for optimum development of inter-State rivers and river valleys, amendment of Irrigation Acts, Indian Easements Act, 1882, etc.
2. Water, after meeting the pre-emptive needs for safe drinking water and sanitation, achieving food security, supporting poor people dependent on agriculture for their livelihood and high priority allocation for minimum eco-system needs, be treated as economic good so as to promote its conservation and efficient use.

• Ecological needs of the river should be determined recognizing that river flows are characterized by low or no flows, small floods (freshets), large floods and flow variability and should accommodate development needs. A portion of river flows should be kept aside to meet ecological needs ensuring that the proportional low and high flow releases correspond in time closely to the natural flow regime.

1. Adaptation strategies in view of climate change for designing and management of water resources structures and review of acceptability criteria has been emphasized.
2. A system to evolve benchmarks for water uses for different purposes, i.e., water footprints, and water auditing be developed to ensure efficient use of water. Project financing has been suggested as a tool to incentivize efficient & economic use of water.
3. Setting up of Water Regulatory Authority has been

• Incentivization of recycle and re-use has been
• Water Users Associations should be given statutory powers to collect and retain a portion of water charges, manage the volumetric quantum of water allotted to them and maintain the distribution system in their jurisdiction.

1. Removal of large disparity in stipulations for water supply in urban areas and in rural areas has been recommended.
2. Water resources projects and services should be managed with community
3. Wherever the State Governments or local governing bodies so decide, the private sector can be encouraged to become a service provider in public private partnership model to meet agreed terms of service delivery, including penalties for failure.

• Adequate grants to the States to update technology, design practices, planning and management practices, preparation of annual water balances and accounts for the site and basin, preparation of hydrologic balances for water systems, and benchmarking and performance evaluation.
•