India Submits 7th National Report to the CBD

7th National Report submitted to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Assesses progress on 23 National Biodiversity Targets (NBTs) and 142 indicators aligned with the Kunming‑Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
Only 2 targets (NBT1 & NBT2) are on track.
Forest & tree cover: 25.17% (827,357 sq km), increase of 1,445.81 sq km (2021‑2023).
Ecosystem restoration: 24.1 million ha restored vs. 26 million ha pledged under the Bonn Challenge.
Forest carbon stock: ↑ 81.5 million tonnes to 7,285.5 million tonnes.
Protected‑area coverage: just over 5% of India's geographical area.
Land degradation: 29.77% (≈97 million ha) of the country is degrading.
Key flagship species: Tigers (3,167), Asiatic lions, rhinos, snow leopards.

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): International treaty (1992 Rio Earth Summit) with three core objectives – conservation, sustainable use, and fair benefit‑sharing of genetic resources.
Kunming‑Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF): Adopted at CBD COP15 (Dec 2022). Sets 23 targets for 2030 and four long‑term goals for 2050, including the "30x30" target – conserve at least 30% of land and sea.
India’s role: As a megadiverse nation, India’s performance heavily influences global biodiversity outcomes.

Policy Integration: Report prepared by MoEFCC with inputs from 33 ministries, WII, NBA, and UNDP – reflects inter‑ministerial coordination.
Data‑driven monitoring: 142 indicators compiled via the digital NR7 data portal; however, gaps in uniform methodology persist.
Financial & technical constraints: Limited resources impede scaling up restoration, protected‑area expansion, and climate‑resilient management.
Sectoral challenges: Agriculture (pesticide use, nutrient runoff), invasive species, and climate‑induced disasters threaten biodiversity gains.

Article 48A of the Constitution – State shall protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forests and wildlife.
National Forest Policy (1988, revised 2019) – emphasizes afforestation, restoration, and community participation.
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 – legal framework for species protection and habitat conservation.
National Biodiversity Act, 2002 – establishes the National Biodiversity Authority and mandates biodiversity assessment.

Prelims: Factual recall of KMGBF, CBD, target numbers, current progress percentages, and key statistics.
Mains: Analytical questions on policy gaps, financing mechanisms, inter‑ministerial coordination, and strategies to achieve the 30x30 goal.
Essay: Discussing India’s biodiversity challenges in the context of sustainable development and climate change.

References: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) reports, UNDP technical support documents, CBD official publications.