India's International cooperation in Environment & Biodiversity Conservation

India has participated in major international events on environment and biodiversity conservation since 1972. India has also contributed to developing the agreed texts, ratified, and complied with the commitments in various international conventions relating to biodiversity. These agreements are:

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Convention on International Trade in Wild Species of Endangered Flora and Fauna (CITES), Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, World Heritage Convention, and the Bonn Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS).

Note: CBD: The Convention on Biological Diversity, known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international treaty that was adopted in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. Its objective is to develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. It is often seen as the key document regarding sustainable development.The Convention was opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro on 5 June 1992 and entered into force on 29 December 1993.

Some other international agreements which have bearing on biodiversity to which India is a Party include UNFCCC, UNCCD, Commission on Sustainable Development, World Trade Organisation, International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for food and agriculture and UN Law of the Seas. Major multilateral environment agreements (MEAs) ratified by India

1. Convention on Wetlands of International Importance-1971 India ratified this convention in 1982. Issued covered in this convention were Conservation and wise use of wetlands,primarily as habitat for the water-birds.
2. Convention for the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage-1972 India Ratified this convention on 04.11.1977
3. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species-1973 India ratified this convention on 20.07.1976
4. Bonn Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals-1979 India ratified this convention on 01.11.1983 Issued covered were Conservation, management and wise use of migratory species of wild animals and their habitats.
5. Vienna Convention for Protection of the Ozone Layer-1985 India ratified this convention on 18.03.1991Issues covered were Protection of atmospheric ozone layer above the planetary boundary layer.
6. Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Laye-1987 India ratified this convention on 19.06.1992 Issues covered were Protection of atmospheric ozone layer above the planetary boundary layer
7. Basel Convention on Tran boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal-1989 India ratified this convention on 24.06.1992 Issued covered were Regulation of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal
8. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)-1992 India ratified this convention on 01.11.1993 The issues covered were Changes in the earth’s climate system due to anthropogenic interference
9. Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC-1997 India ratified this convention on 26.08.2002 Quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments for Annex I Parties
10. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 1992 India ratified this convention on 18.02.1994 Issues covered were Biological diversity and biological resources
11. Cartagena Protocol on Bio safety to the CBD- 2000 India ratified this convention on 11.09.2003 Issues covered were Regulation of trans boundary movement, transit, handling and use of living modified organisms (LMOs)
12. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification 1994 India ratified this convention on 17.12.1996 Issues covered were Combating desertification and mitigate the effects of drought, particularly in Africa
13. Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade-1998 India ratified this convention on 24.05.2005 Issues covered were Promote shared responsibility and cooperative efforts among the Parties in the international trade of certain hazardous chemicals, in order to protect human health and the environment from potential harm and to contribute to their environmentally sound use.
14. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants - 2001 India ratified this convention on 13.01.2006 Issues covered were Protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants.

A ‘Global Tiger Forum’ of tiger range countries has been created for addressing international issues related to tiger conservation. India has also actively supported numerous regional and bilateral programmes on biodiversity.

The MoEF, the nodal Ministry for the CBD and other biodiversity related conventions, is also the nodal agency in the country for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), SACEP, ICIMOD, and IUCN. It has institutionalized the process for developing country’s position on major issues for negotiations under different international conventions.

In this context, the MoEF is continuously taking steps to harmonise national policies and programmes in implementation of various multilateral environment agreements, based on active involvement of various stakeholders.

The MoEF functions in partnership with a number of institutions for developing and implementing national strategies on conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. These partners include Ministries, State Government departments, universities, other academic institutions, autonomous bodies, women’s organizations and NGOs.

Like- Minded Mega diverse Countries (LMMCs): India along with sixteen other mega diverse countries, rich in biodiversity and traditional knowledge, has formed a group known as the Like- Minded Mega diverse Countries (LMMCs). These countries are Bolivia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, South Africa and Venezuela. The LMMCs hold nearly 70% of all biodiversity. India chaired the

LMMCs for a two-year period from March 2004 to March 2006,and coordinated the activities of this group focusing particularly on access and benefit sharing issues under the CBD.

Various India Acts Related to Biodiversity Conservation:

Important Govt. of India Central Acts and Rules having Relevance to Biodiversity Conservation:

1. Fisheries Act, 1897.
2. Destructive Insects and Pests Act, 1914.
3. The Indian Forest Act, 1927.
4. Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marketing) Act,1937.
5. Indian Coffee Act, 1942
6. Import and Export (Control) Act, 1947.
7. Rubber (Production and Marketing) Act, 1947.
8. Tea Act, 1953.
9. Mining and Mineral Development (Regulation) Act,1957
10. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
11. Customs Act, 1962.
12. Cardamom Act, 1965.
13. Seeds Act, 1966.
14. The Patents Act, 1970.
15. Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
16. Marine Products Export Development Authority Act,1972.
17. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
18. Tobacco Board Act, 1975.
19. Territorial Water, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and other Maritime Zones Act, 1976.
20. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977.
21. Maritime Zones of India (Regulation and Fishing by Foreign Vessels) Act. 1980.
22. Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
23. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
24. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985/1986.
25. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
26. Spices Board Act, 1986.
27. National Dairy Development Board, 1987.
28. Rules for the manufacture, use/import/export and storage of hazardous microorganisms/ genetically engineered organisms or cells, 1989
29. Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992.
30. Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights (PPVFR) Act, 2001
31. Biological Diversity Act, 2002
32. Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003
33. Biological Diversity Rules, 2004
34. The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
35. Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.

Policies on environmental management include the National Forest Policy, the National Conservation Strategy and Policy Statement on Environment and Development, and National Policy and Macrolevel Action Strategy on Biodiversity.

Some other sectoral policies (e.g. National Agriculture Policy and National Water Policy) have also contributed towards environmental management.

As our development challenges evolved and understanding of the centrality of environmental concerns in development sharpened, the National Environment Policy was developed in 2006.

Bishnoi Tribe of Rajasthan - Committed to Nature Conservation:

Bishnoi tribe of Western Rajasthan has, over the centuries, protected commited to the conservation of forests, trees and wild animals in and around their villages. Bishnois do not cut trees for fuel and timber; they remove only the dead trunks and twigs. Spotted deer, black buck and blue bull can be seen foraging fearlessly in their fields. Even if the crop is consumed by herds of deer, the Bishnois do not chase away the animals

In 1730 A.D. Maharaja Abhaya Singh of Jodhpur ordered cutting of trees in large numbers to provide timber for building a fortress. He sent soldiers to Bishnoi villages to cut down khejari trees growing in the area. When soldiers applied the axe, the Bishnoi villagers pleaded to spare the trees., When the soldiers did not relent, they hugged the trees and as many as 363 of them laid down their lives to save the trees.

The Bishnois worship nature in all its manifestations, conserve trees and medicinal plants, provide food and water to animals, and are vegetarians in their diet, as advocated by their Guru Jambaji.

Jambaji or Guru Jambheshwar (b. 1451) had founded Bishnoi sect after a drought in the Marwar region of Rajasthan. He made a community having 29 principles to follow , which included worship of lord Vishnu (Bishnu) and ban on Killing animals and the felling of trees. One of his 29 principles states "jeev daya palni, runkh lilo nahi dhave" which means to protect trees and animals, thus trees and animals are considered to be sacred by the Bishnois.

Prof. M.S. Swaminathan Committe on Management of Coastal Zones:

MoEF (Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India) had constituted an expert committee under the chairmanship of Prof. M.S. Swaminathan in July, 2004, to review and make recommendations with regard to implementation and amendments if necessary, of Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 1991.

The Expert Committee submitted its report along with recommendations, which were accepted by the MoEF in April, 2005.

The major recommendations include:Implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan rather than uniform regulatory approach

1. Development along the coastal stretches based on the vulnerability of the coast, taking into account the natural and man made hazards
2. Inclusion of the ocean zone for regulation.
3. Setting up of an Institute for Coastal Zone Management to address the policy and legal issues.
4. Abatement of the pollution of coastal areas and marine waters in a time-bound manner. Identification and mapping of the coastal Eco-sensitive areas such as mangroves, corals, and turtle breeding areas.
5. Development of coastal bio-shield.

The MoEF has initiated steps for implementing the above recommendations which include:Preparation of a national action plan for control of pollution of coastal waters from land based activities.

1. Pilot scale studies for demarcation of vulnerability line along identified coastal stretches through scientific organizations namely, Survey of India, Dehradun, Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad and Centre for Earth Science Studies, Thiruvananthapuram.
2. Seeking technical and financial assistance from multilateral agencies for implementing the recommendations pertaining to mapping of ecologically sensitive areas along the coastline, control of pollution in the coastal waters from land based activities and capacity building and institutional development