To mark the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) 2025, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), in collaboration with National Biodiversity Authority (NAB), Rajasthan Forest Department and the Rajasthan State Biodiversity Board, organised a National-Level celebration today at Udaipur, Rajasthan. The theme for IDB 2025 is ‘Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development’.

With this event, Shri Tanmay Kumar, Secretary (MoEFCC), also presided over the start of the fortnight-long campaign in the run-up to World Environment Day 2025, on the theme ‘Ending Plastic Pollution’. An exhibition on Biodiversity and Bioresources was inaugurated by Shri Tanmay Kumar, in the presence of Shri C. Achalender Reddy, Chairperson (NBA), Shri Sushil Kumar Awasthi, DG (Forest) and Special Secretary (MoEFCC), alongwith Shri Amandeep Garg, Additional Secretary, MoEFCC and other senior officials from the Government of Rajasthan.

Twelve State Biodiversity Boards, Forest Department of Rajasthan and NGOs exhibited indigenous biodiversity products, medicinal plants, different crop varieties, conservation measures on biodiversity and sustainable use of the same. Biodiversity Management Committee members from different States exhibited their products and interacted with the dignitaries. About 350 participants witnessed the event, comprising of State government officials, serving and retired senior forest officers, line departments, institutions, subject experts, Rajasthan state BMC members, college students, NGOs, CBOs etc.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Tanmay Kumar, Secretary, MoEFCC recalled the Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD-COP 16) held in Cali, Colombia in 2024, and highlighted India’s proactive role in advancing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). India demonstrated its commitment by submitting updated National Biodiversity Targets in September 2024 and a revised National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan on October 30, 2024, during COP 16. Shri Kumar emphasized India’s influence in shaping global biodiversity conservation discussions, advocating for simplified and reformed instruments to address the biodiversity finance gap. India’s conservation efforts include expanding wetland protection with 89 Ramsar sites covering 1.35 million hectares, and notifying 49 Biodiversity Heritage Sites under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, showcasing ecologically and culturally significant ecosystems.

In his concluding remarks, Shri Tanmay Kumar called for collective action inspired by India’s timeless ethos of ‘Prakriti Rakshati Rakshita’ – Nature protects if she is protected – and the philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family). He highlighted the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ (Plant4Mother) campaign, launched by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on World Environment Day 2024, which has resulted in 142 crore plantations, engaging citizens globally in biodiversity protection. These efforts underscore India’s dedication to sustainable development and global biodiversity goals, ensuring the preservation of its rich natural heritage for future generations.

During the event, a video on Other Effective area based Conservation Measures (OECM) was screened, release of publications on India’s Updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP 2024-2030) in English and Hindi, outlining a comprehensive roadmap for biodiversity conservation aligned with global commitments. Alongside, unveiling of  a brochure detailing the preparation of India’s Seventh National Report (NR7) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), a prospectus and curriculum for the MoEFCC-IICA-NBA-UNDP Certificate Programme in Business & Biodiversity Conservation, a compendium showcasing India’s Biodiversity Heritage Sites, and a brochure on The Biological Diversity-Access to Biological Resources and Knowledge Associated thereto and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Regulations, 2025, were done reinforcing India’s commitment to sustainable development and equitable resource sharing were also released.

Background

May 22^nd is celebrated as the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB), every year globally to create awareness among the citizens and stakeholders on the importance and need for the conservation of biological diversity. On this date in the year 1992, the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity was adopted by the United Nations.

India is one of the 17 mega-diverse countries in the world covering an area of 329 million hectares and is the ninth largest country. India is known for its rich biological diversity and accounts for more than 1,00,000 species of animals and 55,000 species of plants in ten bio-geographic regions. India is also rich in traditional and indigenous knowledge, both coded as in ancient texts of Indian systems of medicines.

  

 

 

***

VM/GS

(Release ID: 2130587)