India spells out finance needs for biodiversity and conservation

India spells out finance needs for biodiversity and conservation

Sub: Env

Sec: Biodiversity

Context:

• India is ramping up efforts for biodiversity and conservation funding, especially over the 2025-30 period.
• As per India it is necessary to provide means of implementation, including financial resources, as laid down in target 19 of the KMGBF as well as from DSI, for implementation of the NBSAP

Details:

• Projected Funding Requirement (2025-2030): India anticipates spending approximately ₹81,664 crore on biodiversity and conservation.
• Previous Spending (2018-2022): India allocated ₹32,207 crore through various Ministries and statutory bodies solely from central government funds for conservation-related initiatives.
• Need for Additional Funding Sources:
  • Officials at the conference highlighted that India cannot meet these increased funding needs through government expenditure alone.
  • India emphasised the necessity of international finance and support for fulfilling these goals.

Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF):

• The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) is a landmark global agreement adopted to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.
• It was finalised during the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), held in two phases—first in Kunming, China, in 2021, and later in Montreal, Canada, in December 2022.

Goals of KMGBF by 2030:

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework has four long-term goals for 2050 related to the 2050 Vision for biodiversity.

1. Goal-A: Protect and Restore Biodiversity:
   • Aim to halt biodiversity loss and restore ecosystems.
   • Protect 30% of the planet’s land and marine areas by 2030, a target known as “30×30.”
2. Goal-B: Prosper with Nature:
   • The integrity, connectivity and resilience of all ecosystems are maintained, enhanced, or restored, substantially increasing the area of natural ecosystems by 2050;
   • Human-induced extinction of known threatened species is halted, and, by 2050, the extinction rate and risk of all species are reduced tenfold and the abundance of native wild species is increased to healthy and resilient levels;
   • The genetic diversity within populations of wild and domesticated species, is maintained, safeguarding their adaptive potential.
3. Goal-C: Equitable Sharing of Benefits:
   • Ensure fair access to genetic resources and share benefits from their use equitably.
   • Promote access and benefit-sharing through mechanisms like Digital Sequence Information (DSI), which involves sharing genetic data in global databases.
4. Goal-D: Invest and Collaborate:
   • Secure significant funding for biodiversity from both public and private sources.
   • Encourage countries to allocate 0.7% of GDP to biodiversity finance and mobilize an additional $200 billion by 2030 for conservation.
   • Establish mechanisms to aid low- and middle-income countries with implementation.

Key Targets of KMGBF:

The framework outlines 23 action-oriented targets across various aspects of biodiversity. A few examples:

• Target 1: Ensure all land and sea areas are under spatial planning to prevent ecosystem degradation.
• Target 3: Conserve at least 30% of terrestrial and marine areas by 2030 (30×30 goal).
• Target 9: Reduce pollution from plastics and excess nutrients by at least 50%.
• Target 16: Promote sustainable consumption by reducing overconsumption and food waste.
• Target 19: Enhance financial flows and mechanisms to support biodiversity conservation efforts globally.

Importance and Impact

• The KMGBF is often compared to the Paris Agreement for biodiversity. It emphasizes global cooperation, funding, and accountability, with regular monitoring and reporting mechanisms. The framework highlights the urgent need for a coordinated effort among nations to protect biodiversity, adapt to climate change, and promote sustainable development.

Monitoring and Accountability

• The agreement includes mechanisms for transparent monitoring and accountability to assess progress and provide guidance on how countries can meet these targets.

Digital Sequence Information (DSI):

• Digital Sequence Information (DSI) refers to the digital data representing the genetic makeup of organisms.
• DSI is derived from DNA, RNA, and other genetic material and is widely used in biodiversity research, agriculture, healthcare, and biotechnology.
• This information plays a crucial role in understanding and conserving biodiversity, as well as in developing new technologies and products based on genetic resources.

Key Aspects of DSI

1. Content:
   • DSI includes sequences of nucleotides (DNA/RNA) and proteins, which represent an organism’s genetic information.
   • It can also include related molecular information like gene functions, interactions, and biochemical pathways.
2. Applications:
   • Biodiversity Research: Helps scientists study species diversity, relationships, and adaptation mechanisms.
   • Conservation: Used to track endangered species, study genetic diversity, and support conservation efforts.
   • Agriculture: Enables crop improvement, pest resistance, and development of resilient plant varieties.
   • Healthcare and Biotechnology: Important for drug development, understanding disease mechanisms, and creating diagnostics.
3. Global Databases and Accessibility:
   • DSI is often stored in global databases like GenBank, EMBL, and DDBJ, which allow scientists worldwide to access genetic information.
   • Open access to DSI promotes collaborative research but raises concerns about fair and equitable sharing of benefits, especially for countries that provide genetic resources.
4. Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS):
   • DSI has led to debates within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Nagoya Protocol.
   • These agreements emphasize fair access to genetic resources and equitable sharing of benefits derived from their use. However, DSI data doesn’t currently fall under the Nagoya Protocol’s requirements, creating a gap in benefit-sharing.

Importance of DSI in Biodiversity and Conservation:

• DSI enables researchers to monitor biodiversity, understand genetic relationships, and develop conservation strategies.
• It allows countries to leverage their genetic resources for technological and economic benefits, provided that there is a fair system of access and benefit-sharing.

What is National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan ( NBSAP)?

NBSAP stands for National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. It is a policy instrument developed by countries as part of their commitment to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The NBSAP outlines a country’s strategic plans for the conservation, sustainable use, and equitable sharing of biodiversity resources.

Key Features of NBSAPs:

1. Conservation of Biodiversity: NBSAPs focus on preserving ecosystems, species, and genetic diversity.
2. Sustainable Use of Resources: Plans are made to use biological resources responsibly to ensure they remain available for future generations.
3. Equitable Sharing: Ensures fair access to genetic resources and the sharing of benefits derived from them.

Purpose

The NBSAP is tailored to each country’s unique biodiversity and socioeconomic context. It acts as a roadmap to meet national and global biodiversity targets, like the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

Article 6 of the Convention on Biological Diversity requires each Contracting Party to develop or adapt national strategies, plans, or programs for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, reflecting the Convention’s relevant measures. Additionally, it mandates the integration of biodiversity conservation into various national and cross-sectoral policies. Related articles, such as Article 26 and Article 10(a), support Article 6 by requiring countries to report on their biodiversity efforts and incorporate conservation considerations into national decision-making. Overall, Article 6 obliges nations to create and implement a national biodiversity strategy aligned with the Convention’s goals and tailored to their specific circumstances.