India Launches Updated Biodiversity Strategy at COP 16, Aiming to Curb Environmental Loss by 2030

On October 30, 2024, at the 16th Conference of Parties (COP 16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Cali, Colombia, Union Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh, launched India’s Updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). This release was part of a special event titled “Roadmap for achieving the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) targets,” which focused on setting actionable steps toward global biodiversity goals.

The event witnessed the distinguished presence of Mauricio Cabrera, Colombia's Vice-Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development; Kandya Obezo, Vice-Minister of Multilateral Affairs; and Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the CBD, alongside Indian officials Tanmay Kumar and  C. Achalender Reddy.

India’s updated NBSAP aligns closely with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), a global commitment to halt biodiversity loss by 2030. Minister Singh highlighted the urgency of tackling biodiversity loss and achieving “harmony with nature by 2050.” The updated NBSAP reflects India’s “Whole-of-Government” and “Whole-of-Society” approach, encompassing ecosystem restoration, species recovery, and community-led conservation. Priority areas include restoring degraded ecosystems, protecting wetlands, and managing marine and coastal areas sustainably.

Special Secretary Tanmay Kumar highlighted India’s robust governance structure for biodiversity conservation, anchored in the Biological Diversity Act of 2002, recently amended in 2023. This framework operates through the National Biodiversity Authority, State Biodiversity Boards, and local Biodiversity Management Committees, ensuring comprehensive implementation. MoEFCC led the NBSAP’s update through a consultative process involving 23 ministries, state-level agencies, communities, and stakeholders.

The revised NBSAP establishes 23 national biodiversity targets, guided by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and Secretary Leena Nandan. It introduces transformative approaches to ecosystem management and mainstreaming biodiversity across sectors. Key elements include a bottom-up approach, biodiversity financing solutions, and enhanced inter-agency cooperation. The plan provides a detailed account of India’s current biodiversity status, policy framework, and potential financial solutions to support biodiversity initiatives.

India’s NBSAP represents a significant commitment to global biodiversity goals, setting an example of strategic planning, inclusivity, and sustainable development.