Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

[Ajay Thakur]

Ajay Thakur

The origins of life on earth some three and a half billion years ago are vague. Life was probably initiated as a product of organic reactions in the Earth’s primeval seas. Once life took hold on the planet, it began gradually to diversify. Biological diversity is the term given to the variety of life on Earth, including plants, animals and micro-organisms, as well as the ecosystems of which they are part. Biodiversity includes genetic differences within species, the diversity of species and the variety of ecosystems. It is the result of the interaction of species, including humans, with one another and with the air, water and soil around them. This combination of life forms ecosystems, species and genetic varieties has made Earth a uniquely habitable place. The International Day for Biological Diversity was proclaimed in December of 2000 by the United Nations General Assembly. It is celebrated annually on May 22, a day that commemorates the adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1992.

The Earth's biological resources are vital to humanity's economic and social development. As a result, there is a growing recognition that biological diversity is a global asset of tremendous value to present and future generations. At the same time, the threat to species and ecosystems has never been so great as it is today. Species extinction caused by human activities continues at an alarming rate. In response, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) convened the Ad Hoc Working Group of Experts on Biological Diversity in November 1988 to explore the need for an. international convention on biological diversity. Soon after, in May 1989, it established the Ad Hoc Working Group of Technical and Legal Experts to prepare an international legal instrument for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. By February 1991, the Ad Hoc Working Group had become known as the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee. Its work culminated on 22 May 1992 with the Nairobi Conference for the Adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Convention was opened for signature on 5 June 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (the Rio "Earth Summit").The Convention represents a dramatic step forward in the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources (https://www.cbd.int).

However, biodiversity is currently being lost at unparalleled rates due to human activities that degrade or encroach on habitats, increase pollution, and contribute to climate change. The Convention on Biological Diversity, also known as the CBD, addresses this problem. This legally binding treaty seeks to preserve the diversity of life forms through conservation and sustainable use. In so doing, it contributes to the overall objective of sustainable development. In ratifying, the 188 Parties to the Convention have committed themselves, in general terms, to undertaking national and international measures aimed at achieving three explicit objectives: the conservation of biological diversity; the sustainable use of its components; and the equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. The great variety of life on earth has provided for man’s needs over thousands of years. This diversity of living creatures forms a support system which has been used by each civilization for its growth and development. Science has attempted to classify and categorize the variability in nature for over a century. This has led to an understanding of its organization into communities of plants and animals. This information has helped in utilizing the earth’s biological wealth for the benefit of humanity and has been integral to the Process of ‘development’. This includes better health care, better crops and the use of these life forms as raw material for industrial growth which has led to a higher standard of living for the developed world. However this has also produced the modern consumerist society, which has had negative effect on the diversity of biological resources upon which it is based. The diversity of life on earth is so great that if we use it sustainably we can go on developing new products from biodiversity for many generations. Biological diversity deals with the degree of nature’s variety in the biosphere. This variety can be observed at three levels; the genetic variability within a species, the variety of species within a community, and the organization of species in an area into distinctive plant and animal communities constitutes ecosystem diversity.

Value of Biodiversity
Environmental services from species and ecosystems are vital at global, regional and local levels. Production of oxygen, reducing carbon dioxide, maintaining the water cycle, protecting soil are important services. The world now acknowledges that the loss of biodiversity contributes to global climatic changes. Forests are the main mechanism for the conversion of carbon dioxide into carbon and oxygen. The loss of forest cover, coupled with the increasing release of carbon dioxide and other gases through industrialization contributes to the ‘greenhouse effect’. It is causing major atmospheric changes, leading to increased temperatures, serious droughts in some areas and unexpected floods in other areas. Biological diversity is also essential for preserving ecological processes, such as fixing and recycling of nutrients, soil formation, circulation and cleansing of air and water, global life support
India as a Mega Diversity Nation
India, with 2.4% of the world's area, has over 8% of the world's total biodiversity, making it one of the 12 mega diversity countries in the world. This status is based on the species richness and levels of endemism recorded in a wide range of taxa of both plants and animals. This diversity can be attributed to the vast variety of landforms and climates, resulting in habitats ranging from tropical to temperate and from alpine to desert. The India’s special geographical position between three distinctive centres of biological evolution and radiation of species is responsible for our rich and varied biodiversity. India occupies only 2.4% of the world's land area but accounts for 7-8% recorded species of global biodiversity, including over 45,000 species of plants and 91,000 species of animals. Being one of the 17 identified mega diverse countries, India has 10 biogeographic zones and is home to 8.58% of the mammalian species documented so far, with the corresponding figures for avian species being 13.66%, for reptiles 7.91%, for amphibians4.66%, for fishes 11.72% and for plants 11.80%. Four of the 34 globally identified biodiversity hotspots, namely the Himalaya, Indo-Burma, the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka and Sundaland are represented in India (Dr Rajendra Singh Associate Professor | Bareilly College, Bareilly Zoology).

The 2018 theme for International Day for Biological Diversity is Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity. 2018 marks the 25th anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Since entering into force, the Convention has been implemented through the vision and leadership displayed by countries, non-governmental and inter-governmental organizations, indigenous peoples and local communities, the scientific community and individuals alike.The results are considerable: the development of scientific guidance for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity for biomes around the world, the entry into force of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization and the creation and implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans. After adopting the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, Parties have made significant headway in the achievement of a number of its Aichi Biodiversity Targets.The Strategic Plan is comprised of a shared vision, a mission, strategic goals and 20 ambitious yet achievable targets, the Aichi Targets. The Plan serves as a flexible framework for the establishment of national and regional targets and it promotes the coherent and effective implementation of the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The mission of the new plan is to: "take effective and urgent action to halt the loss of biodiversity in order to ensure that by 2020 ecosystems are resilient and continue to provide essential services, thereby securing the planet's variety of life, and contributing to human well-being, and poverty eradication. To ensure this, pressures on biodiversity are reduced, ecosystems are restored, biological resources are sustainably used and benefits arising out of utilization of genetic resources are shared in a fair and equitable manner; adequate financial resources are provided, capacities are enhanced, biodiversity issues and values mainstreamed, appropriate policies are effectively implemented, and decision-making is based on sound science and the precautionary approach. “The 25th anniversary of the Convention presents a unique opportunity to highlight the achievement of its objectives at national and global levels. It also provides an opportunity to look towards the future. (United Nations, International Day for Biological Diversity).