Lok Sabha Question No. 162 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-25
Subject: Biodiversity loss due to Urbanization and Industrialization
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Shri Rajesh Verma, Smt. Shambhavi, Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 162

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.11.2024

## Biodiversity loss due to Urbanization and Industrialization

162. SMT. SHAMBHAVI: SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE: DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI RAJESH VERMA:

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

- (a) the details of the measures inducted by the Government to address the challenges of biodiversity loss due to urbanization and industrialization during last five years;
- (b) the amount of budget utilized on such steps/measures;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps to protect endangered species and their habitats in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps/  measures  to  promote  sustainable practices in agriculture to mitigate climate change impacts, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the  details  of  the  steps  undertaken  by  the  Government  for  enhancing  public awareness and involvement in environmental conservation efforts?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH))

- (a) to (c) The Government of  India has  enacted  the  Wild  Life  (Protection)  Act,  1972 which provides  for  diligence  to  be  taken  before  approval  for  any  activity  is accorded by the State Government  within a protected area to ensure conservation and protection of biodiversity. For ensuring protection of flora and fauna within protected areas, management plans are prepared by State Forest Departments, which inter alia include a schedule of activities to be taken up over a period of ten years.

Furthermore, the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and its amendment, has also been enacted with the aim to conserve biological resources of the country and regulation of access to these resources to ensure equitable sharing of benefits arising out of their use, under which a National Biodiversity Authority and State

Biodiversity  Boards  in  all  States  have  been  set  up  for  implementing  the provisions of the Act.

The Biological Diversity Rules, 2024 has been notified under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 for regulation of access to biological resources to ensure equitable sharing of benefits arising out of their use.

The  Government  of  India  provides  financial  assistance  to  States  and  Union Territories  under  species-oriented  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  such  as Integrated Development  of  Wildlife  Habitat, Project Tiger and Project Elephant. Further, organizations including the Botanical Survey of India and Zoological Survey of India aid in survey, inventorization, taxonomic validation, threat assessment of floral and faunal resources along with ex-situ conservation.

Some of the measures taken towards implementation of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 include - formation of State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity  Councils  in  all  States  and  Union  Territories,  declaration  of  47 Biodiversity Heritage Sites, establishment of Biodiversity Management Committees and preparation of People's Biodiversity Registers in 28 States and 5 Union Territories. Under this Act, this Ministry, in consultation with the State Governments concerned, has also notified threatened species in 18 States and 2 Union  Territories.  This  notification  confers  power  to  the  State  Biodiversity Boards and Union Territories Biodiversity Councils to regulate access to the notified species and to take measures to preserve those species.

Further,  the  Government  of  India  has  taken  several  steps  to  address  the challenges of biodiversity loss in the country which includes implementation of National  Mission  on  Sustainable  Habitat;  National  Water  Mission;  National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem; Green India Mission; National Plan for  Conservation  of  Aquatic  Ecosystems;  Amrit  Dharohar;  Water Resources programme for Repair, Renovation and Restoration of Water bodies; Nagar Van Yojana; Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes; and Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management. These initiatives promote afforestation, tree planting, ecological restoration and ecodevelopment  activities  and  wetlands  conservation  in  the  country,  including biodiversity conservation.

In  addition,  the  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has released and uploaded the India's updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action  Plan  and  National  Biodiversity  Targets,  aligned  with  the  KunmingMontreal Global Biodiversity Framework, on the dedicated portal of Convention on Biological Diversity.

- (d) Towards promoting sustainable agriculture practices to mitigate climate change impacts, the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture and National Mission for  Sustaining  Himalayan  Ecosystem,  under  the  National  Action  Plan  for Climate Change, are being implemented. Under these Missions, research on climate resilient agriculture is being promoted and the technologies are being

demonstrated in farmers' field for developing the climate resilient agricultural villages. Efforts to develop climate resilient agriculture are also being taken by various State Governments.

- (e) The Government of India has launched the National Green Corps (Eco-Clubs) to  engage  school  students  in  activities  such  as  tree  plantation  and  waste management. Further, various campaigns are being taken up including Swachh Bharat  Abhiyan and Namami Gange which  emphasize  the  importance  of public  involvement in sanitation and river conservation efforts.  In 2022, the Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  launched Mission Sahbhagita as  an  essential  step  towards participatory  conservation and wise use of wetlands and in 2023 the Save Wetlands Campaign was launched to sensitize people about wetlands values. Environmental education is incorporated into school curricula, and awareness is further fostered through national observances like World Environment Day. The Green Skill Development Program is also being implemented by the Government of India which  equips youth  with  vital  conservation skills  and  encourage  local communities to participate in forest management practices.

During  the  updation  of  National  Biodiversity  Strategy  and  Action  Plan,  the Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  conducted  several National  and  Regional  workshops  with  relevant  stakeholders,  ministries  and departments.

In addition, the Government of India has also launched Mission Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) and a Campaign 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' that are aimed at improving public awareness and participation in environmental conservation activities.

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