As we approach the International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22, the 2025 theme, “Be Part of the Plan,” resonates deeply with India’s ongoing efforts to safeguard its extraordinary natural heritage. As one of the world’s 17 mega-diverse countries, India is home to over 45,000 plant species and 91,000 animal species, many of which are endemic. This rich biodiversity underpins our ecological stability, cultural identity, and economic prosperity. Drawing from my experience as PCCF & Chief Wildlife Warden of Haryana and former IUCN Country Representative, I am proud to share how India aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) to lead global conservation efforts.
Adopted at COP15 under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the GBF sets four global goals and 23 targets to be met by 2030. India played a pivotal role in shaping this framework and is now integrating it into our National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). Our priorities — sustainable agriculture, water security, climate resilience, and disaster risk reduction — are seamlessly woven into this plan, with a strong focus on the 30x30 target (protecting 30% of terrestrial and marine areas), equitable genetic resource access, and enhanced biodiversity financing.
A Unified Conservation Strategy
India’s strength lies in its “whole-of-Government and whole-of-society” approach. We are converging sectoral schemes like MGNREGA, the National Mission for Clean Ganga, Jal Shakti Abhiyan, the National Bamboo Mission, and PM Kusum with biodiversity goals. In Haryana, the Aravalli Green Wall Project is a testament to this synergy. By uniting the Forest Department, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj Institutions, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) support, we are restoring degraded Aravalli landscapes with native flora, enhancing water recharge, and boosting carbon sequestration.
Preserving Agro-Biodiversity and Empowering Communities
Our agricultural legacy, with over 160 cultivated species and thousands of climate-resilient landraces, is a treasure we are determined to protect. Through the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, and Plant Genetic Resources Conservation, we are safeguarding indigenous varieties and traditional farming systems. State Biodiversity Boards and over 2.7 lakh Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the Panchayat level are documenting this knowledge in People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs). With over 2.9 lakh PBRs, India leads the world in community-based biodiversity documentation.
In states like Maharashtra, Kerala, and Odisha, BMCs are driving conservation reserves, sacred grove restoration, and marine biodiversity monitoring by local fisherfolk and coastal communities. This grassroots momentum embodies the spirit of “Be Part of the Plan.”
Restoring Ecosystems for a Sustainable Future
To meet the GBF’s Target 2-restoring 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030 — India is scaling up forest landscape restoration, wetland rejuvenation, and coral reef revival. The Namami Gange Programme is a global benchmark, integrating fish diversity monitoring, turtle nesting conservation, and riverine ecosystem restoration. The National Wetland Mission and MISHTI scheme for mangrove plantations further protect ecologically sensitive habitats, ensuring community participation and climate resilience.
Reviving Wildlife and Engaging Youth
Our flagship species recovery programs — Project Tiger, cheetah reintroduction in Kuno National Park, vulture conservation in Pinjore (Haryana), and blackbuck protection in Gujarat and Haryana — demonstrate targeted action. The expansion of Protected Areas, Eco-Sensitive Zones, and Conservation Reserves balances conservation with community livelihoods.
The youth are our future stewards, and the National Green Corps (NGC) Eco-Clubs, active in over 1 lakh schools, are proof of this. These clubs lead plantation drives, cleanliness
campaigns, and biodiversity documentation. Digital platforms like iNaturalist India and the India Biodiversity Portal empower citizens to contribute to science and climate action.
Innovative Financing and Global Leadership
India is pioneering biodiversity financing with Green Bonds, Payment for Ecosystem Services, and CSR partnerships. The National CAMPA Authority directs funds toward restoring degraded ecosystems, while the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism ensures communities benefit from biological resource use. Globally, India leads the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund and shares expertise in community forestry, medicinal plant conservation, and biodiversity law with Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Call to Collective Action
“Be Part of the Plan” is more than a slogan — it is a responsibility. Whether you are a policymaker crafting biodiversity-friendly laws, a student planting trees, a farmer cultivating indigenous seeds, or a forest officer patrolling a sanctuary, every action counts. As India links biodiversity conservation with climate action, health, and sustainable development, we set a global example. This International Day for Biological Diversity is a moment to commit — a collective pledge to protect our planet’s living legacy. Will you join us?
(The writer is IFS, is the PCCF & Chief Wildlife Warden of Haryana and a former IUCN Country Representative. Views expressed are personal)