Bio-diversity

Sundarbans honey has also attracted global interest. Earlier efforts secured geographical indication (GI) recognition, highlighting its distinct origin and traditional knowledge.

According to PIB, India’s submission marks not just compliance but a strategic advancement in biodiversity governance – the country is demonstrating that conservation and economic development can go hand in hand when guided by principles of equity and sustainability.

Despite the optimism, experts warn of hurdles in ensuring equitable distribution and community access to funds. Past REDD+ pilots in Nepal have faced criticism for bureaucratic delays and inadequate consultation with marginalized groups, including indigenous Tharu and Chepang communities in the targeted provinces.

Experts emphasize the need for community involvement and habitat protection to ensure the project’s success. Local communities around Kuno have been engaged through awareness programs, highlighting the economic benefits of eco-tourism that cheetahs could bring.

Challenges remain, including funding constraints and implementation hurdles in remote areas. However, the commitment from top leadership signals optimism.

While the Sindh High Court’s directive to curb illicit trade is a step forward, conservationists stress community education and stricter monitoring of markets and borders. They say that without these steps, Pakistan risks losing its rich avian diversity, from parrots to migratory geese, to greed and negligence.

Horton’s final plea is therefore both scientific and moral: acknowledge the scale of the last disaster, confront the uncomfortable truths about how we live on this planet, and act before the next inevitable outbreak becomes the one we cannot contain.

The gulper shark controversy in the Maldives encapsulates a broader global tension: how to steward oceanic biodiversity amid competing economic interests. For a nation once celebrated as a conservation pioneer, the unfolding debate raises hard questions about identity, priorities and legacy.