Lok Sabha Question No. 2792 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-21
Subject: Restoring and Conserving Nature
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: C. R. Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2792

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.03.2022

## Restoring and Conserving Nature

## 2792.   SHRI C.R. PATIL:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  plans  to  initiate  a  mass  movement  to  engage  massive population  to  feel  pride  in  our  natural  heritage  and  help  in  restoring  and  conserving nature, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has any plan to create solutions for challenges in agriculture, health and climate change by our rich environment diversity, if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government has initiated steps to rejuvenate agricultural production systems and  transform  biodiversity  science  based  agriculture  by  linking  it  to  the  people's economic prosperity, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE

## CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a)    The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest,  and  Climate  Change,  as  per  the  mandate  of Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), encourages ex-situ conservation of Rare Endangered Threatened  (RET) species  and  endemic  plants  through  botanic  gardens,  protected  areas  and biosphere  reserves.  Financial  assistance  for  conservation  is  extended  by  the  Ministry  under various schemes such as Assistance to Botanic Garden (ABG) scheme, Project Tiger scheme and Environment Education, Awareness and Training (EEAT) scheme. Under EEAT scheme, Ecoclubs in schools and colleges are supported to promote environmental awareness and mobilize students'  participation  for  environment  conservation.  Also,  the  Central  Zoo  Authority has flagged off the outreach campaign on 12 th March, 2021 entitled 'Conservation to Co-existence: the people connect' which is a 75-week long initiative where 75 conservation priority species and 75 zoos across India are highlighted (one species and zoo per week).

(b) & (c) As  per  information  provided  by  the  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research (ICAR),  the  research  at  ICAR  has  been  re-oriented  in  farmers'  participatory  mode  and developing  location  specific,  cost  effective,  eco-friendly,  and  socially  acceptable  scientific farming  practices  keeping  in  view  the  farmers'  resource  availability,  traditional  indigenous technology  knowhow  and  grass  root  farm  innovations.  ICAR  has  developed  technologies  for efficient  soil  health  management,  agricultural  water  management,  watershed  management, enhancement of  nutrient  and  water  use  efficiency,  resource  conservation,  crop  diversification, integrated  farming  system  including  agroforestry,  dryland  farming,  arid,  coastal  and  hill agriculture,  climate  resilient  agriculture,  etc.  Organic  farming  package  of  practices  for  62 crops/cropping  systems  have also  been  developed.  Under  the  National  Innovations  in  Climate Resilient  Agriculture  (NICRA),climate  resilient  technologies,  namely,  drought  tolerant  short duration  varieties,  crop  diversification,  integrated  farming  systems,  soil  &  water  conservation measures  etc.  have  been  demonstrated  in  151  most  vulnerable  districts  in  the  country  to minimize vulnerability  against  climate  change.  Agricultural  Contingent  Plans  for  650  districts have also been prepared to cope up with any climatic adversities. Further, benefits of successful research are popularized among the farmers throughout the country through training and Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs).

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