Biodiversity action plan set to get Cabinet nod

Between eight and 14 million species — animals and plants put together — are estimated to exist in the world, of which only 1.7 million have so far been identified and described. India is known to have 46,000 species of plants and 89,000 species of animals that have been documented so far.

The proposed action plan will strengthen India’s strategy of according special status and protection to biodiversity-rich areas by declaring them as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves and ecologically fragile and sensitive areas. It will also focus on diverting pressure on reserve forests by supporting alternative measures for meeting fuel wood and fodder needs of people.

Afforestation of degraded areas and wastelands, and creation of ex situ conservation facilities like gene banks would also be institutionalised under this action plan. Among the other proposals likely to come up before the Cabinet is the setting up of a National Wine Board on the lines of boards for tea and coffee.