In freshwater conservation, the government has designated several wetlands as protected areas, enacted rules and launched the national plan for conservation of aquatic ecosystems to manage identified wetlands.

The Indian government has significantly bolstered its efforts to conserve threatened species and marine life, the minister of state for environment, forest and climate change, Kirti Vardhan Singh said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

The Botanical Survey of India (BSI) reports that of the 2,970 plant species found in India and assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), over 2,043 are classified as ‘Least Concern’ and do not require immediate intervention. However, 155 species are categorized as critically endangered, 274 as endangered, 213 as vulnerable, and 80 as near threatened – all of which are receiving targeted conservation efforts from BSI and other relevant institutions.

The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has identified 7,076 faunal species from India listed on the IUCN Red List. Among these, 3,739 species are protected under various schedules of the wildlife protection act, 1972, while the rest are safeguarded within the country’s protected areas network.

BSI conserves these species through ex-situ measures in its 16 botanical gardens across different phytogeographical regions of India. The Assistance to Botanic Gardens (ABG) scheme further supports the conservation of IUCN-listed threatened species across national botanic gardens.

Ramsar sites

Additionally, India has established 1,022 protected areas covering 178,640.69 square kilometers and designated 80 Ramsar sites to conserve wetlands. Other conservation measures include 45 Biodiversity Heritage Sites across 16 states, Coastal Regulation Zones, and habitat restoration projects for mangroves and degraded forest ecosystems.

Funding for these initiatives comes through various programs, including Project Tiger, Project Elephant, and other Ministry-funded schemes, although specific funds for BSI and ZSI are not separately allocated.

Marine Species Conservation

The government has also made substantial strides in conserving marine species, with a series of measures designed to protect and manage marine biodiversity. Key initiatives include:

1. Establishing a network of protected areas across coastal states and islands under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
2. Identifying and prioritizing 106 coastal and marine sites as Important Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Areas (ICMBAs).
3. Listing many threatened marine species under Schedule I and II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, for protection against hunting.
4. Amending the Wildlife (Protection) Act to empower Indian Coast Guards to enforce conservation regulations.
5. Launching the National Marine Turtle Action Plan to safeguard marine turtles and their habitats.
6. Issuing ‘Marine Megafauna Stranding Management Guidelines’ for managing the stranding and entanglement of marine mega fauna.
7. Implementing the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019, which focuses on managing Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) like mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reefs.
8. Providing financial assistance to states for coral and mangrove conservation and supporting research projects aimed at marine species preservation.

In freshwater conservation, the government has designated several wetlands as protected areas, enacted wetlands (conservation and management) rules 2017, and launched the national plan for conservation of aquatic ecosystems to manage identified wetlands. The “Wetlands of India Portal” has also been introduced to facilitate knowledge sharing.

As of June 2024, India has designated 82 Ramsar Sites of international importance, including six in Punjab, highlighting the country’s commitment to preserving its diverse aquatic ecosystems. World Wetlands Day is celebrated annually to raise awareness about the value of wetlands and their resources.

Image: World Animal Foundation