Context:
India said it plans to present its National Biodiversity Targets before the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) following the guidelines from the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). The submissions will be done at the 16th Conference of the Parties to the CBD (CBD-COP 16) in Cali, Colombia with 23 specific biodiversity targets to be presented by the country.
Relevance:
GS III: Environment and Ecology
Dimensions of the Article:
- What is India Biodiversity Target Under CBD?
- Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)
- How can India reach the New Biodiversity Targets?
What is India Biodiversity Target Under CBD?
- Sets a goal that at least 30% of the areas shall have excellent capacity to conserve biodiversity.
- Halting the introduction and spread of invasive alien species shall have 50% reduction.
- Power to indigenous peoples, local communities, women, and the youth is equal in taking part in activities aimed at conserving biodiversity.
- Supports consumption patterns that are sustainable, as well as reducing international and national food losses by half.
- Ensuring that benefits related to genetic resources, digital sequence information, and associated traditional knowledge are fairly and equitably shared.
- Addressing pollution, thereby reducing nutrient loss and pesticide risk to half
- All areas must be managed to support the reduction in regions of high biodiversity importance loss.
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)
The Kunming-Montreal GBF was adopted during the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022.
Objectives:
- Aims to support the achievement of sustainable development goals and build on previous strategic plans.
- Sets a bold path towards global harmony with nature by 2050.
Implementation:
- All parties commit to setting national targets to implement the GBF.
- Consists of 23 targets (set for 2030) and four global goals (set for 2050) to preserve biodiversity for current and future generations.
Content:
- Targets address reducing threats to biodiversity.
- Emphasizes meeting people’s needs through sustainable use and benefit-sharing.
- IProvides tools and solutions for implementation and mainstreaming.
Legal Status:
- Non-binding: The GBF is not an international treaty and is therefore not legally binding on Parties.
- No Mandatory System: It also doesn’t require a mandatory system that forces parties to step up their efforts at a specific time.
Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal GBF:
- Objective:
- 30% Conservation: Ensure that at least 30% of the world’s land, waters, and seas are conserved by 2030.
- Current Status:
- Protected Areas: At present, protected areas (PAs) cover about 16%.
- Nickname:
- 30 by 30: This target is also known as the “30 by 30” target.
Controversies:
- Impact on Indigenous Communities:
- Southeast Asia Examples: In Indonesia’s Ujungkulon National Park and Cambodia’s Beng Per Wildlife Sanctuary, indigenous people lack basic rights and face unfair convictions.
- Private Sector Involvement:
- India’s Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act 2023: Includes zoos, safaris, and ecotourism facilities as forest activities, which some analysts view as detrimental to conservation efforts and indigenous rights.
- Historical Context:
- Colonial Origins: Protected areas were initially created for leisure and hunting by colonial elites.
- Modern Issues: Today, ecotourism projects often treat indigenous people as exhibits, showcasing their traditional culture in staged settings.
Implications of Kunming-Montreal GBF for India:
Concerns:
Impact on Indigenous Communities:
- National Parks: About 84% of India’s national parks (89 out of 106) are located in areas inhabited by indigenous peoples. Meeting GBF targets could threaten their existence and way of life.
- Specific Cases: Initiatives like upgrading the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary to a tiger reserve, expanding the Nauradehi Sanctuary, and the Barak Bhuban Wildlife Sanctuary have raised concerns about displacement of tribal villages.
Legal Issues:
- Gazette Notifications: The Barak Bhuban Wildlife Sanctuary gazette notification suggests no rights or concessions for people in the area, despite evidence of indigenous communities residing there since 1914.
How can India reach the New Biodiversity Targets?
- India must pay attention to neglected ecosystems, including grasslands, wetlands, and seagrass meadows.
- Linkages in larger landscapes and seascapes can further species movement and biodiversity.
- India has to continue to lobby for support from the developed world in order to fully enact its national biodiversity plans.
- The GBF encourages developed countries to raise at least USD 20 billion per annum by 2025 and USD 30 billion by 2030 to finance biodiversity action programs in developing countries
- Improved and concurrent support of community livelihoods can be achieved through the effective protection of protected areas through the inclusion of indigenous peoples and local communities’ co-management of the conservation process.
- Focus will be placed from traditional protected areas on other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) such that biodiversity conservation in less-restricted sectors of human activity is facilitated.
- It includes aiding traditional agricultural systems and privately owned lands as part of the conservation results.
- The incentives have to shift in India from the detrimental activities such as pesticide application towards healthy alternatives so as to foster ecosystem.
- It is going to give a coherent strategy in conserving the country based on the existing National Biodiversity Action Plan NBAP, alongside the new 23 targets of the GBF.
-Source: Hindustan Times
