By IANS,
New Delhi : With India accounting for nearly 7 percent of the world’s biodiversity, the environment ministry is planning to include biodiversity assessment as part of its green clearance process for infrastructure projects.
“No biodiversity clearance is needed till now, but efforts are on to include biodiversity assessment as part of environment and forest clearance,” Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan said Friday.
At present, only socio-economic impact on displaced people and impact on forest is looked at while according green clearance to any infrastructure project.
There have been demands by environment groups to include biodiversity assessment in the process to know the loss caused to flora and fauna by these projects.
Explaining the importance of biodiversity, Natarjan said: “India is a recognised mega-diverse country rich in biodiversity and associated traditional knowledge. With just 2.4 percent of land area, India accounts for nearly 7 percent of the recorded species even while supporting almost 18 percent of human population as well as cattle population.”
India is also hosting the Conference of Parties (CoP 11) on Biodiversity from Oct 1-19 in Hyderabad.
“The event provides India with an opportunity to consolidate, scale-up and showcase our initiatives and strengths on biodiversity. India with a strong institutional, legal and policy framework, has the potential and capability to emerge as the world leader in conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity,” she said.
The high-level segment starting Oct 16 will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and several ministers and ambassadors are likely to attend.