The Third Regional Consultation Meeting on the Updation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) and adoption of National Biodiversity Targets (NBTs) in alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) was held at the Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal under the aegis of National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) on February 26, 2024.
C Achalender Reddy, IFS (Retd.) Chairperson, National Biodiversity Authority inaugurated the consultation meeting and delivered the keynote address. He underlined the importance of having the updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and the process involved in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted at COP15 on the Convention of Biological Diversity.
K Ravichandran, Director, IIFM discussed the 2008 National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan as well as the 2014 addendum. He mentioned the need for holding such consultation meetings for the purpose of updating the National Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan in accordance with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Raghu Kumar Kodali, Advisor, MoEF&CC laid emphasis on the strategies for reducing threats to biodiversity, ensuring sustainable utilization and equitable benefit sharing to meet the needs of communities, and exploring tools and solutions for effective implementation and mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation efforts.
VN Ambade, PCCF & Member Secretary, Madhya Pradesh State Biodiversity Board in his special address highlighted the biodiversity wealth of Madhya Pradesh on the importance of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and National Biodiversity Targets. B Balaji, IFS, Secretary, National Biodiversity Authority delivered the welcome address and set the context for the two-day deliberation.
In this two-day meeting from 26-27 February, 100 delegates from 10 States and 4 UTs, representing State Biodiversity Boards, State Forest Departments, National Institutions specializing in Natural Resource Management, Subject Matter Specialists, International Organizations like UNDP, WWF and IUCN, officials of MoEF&CC, Community-based organizations, Biodiversity management committees and others are participating in the discussions and deliberations aimed at updating the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and adoption of national biodiversity targets.
