National Mission on Biodiversity and Human Well-Being

The National Biodiversity Mission, also known as the National Mission on Biodiversity and Human Well-Being, is a significant government initiative aimed at highlighting the importance of conservation and biodiversity. This ambitious mission is designed to address key issues in these areas. In this article, we will delve into the details of the mission, providing valuable insights for those preparing for the UPSC exam.

Objectives

Discover and evaluate the diverse plant and animal life across India to better understand where they are located and how we can protect them.
Train a dedicated group of experts to manage and analyze large sets of environmental data. This helps us keep track of the well-being of our biodiversity.
Keep everyone in the loop about how our ecosystems are doing by regularly sharing information on our efforts to restore and maintain them.
Provide more options for farmers to grow crops and support livelihoods by integrating sustainable agricultural practices that consider biodiversity.
Develop a thriving economy rooted in biodiversity, supported by a reliable information system. This ensures that economic growth is sustainable and benefits our environment.
Involve the public in safeguarding our environment for the safety and well-being of our society as a whole. Everyone has a role to play in preserving our natural treasures.

Salient Features

The Mission aims to change how we understand and use biodiversity in India. The idea is to connect biodiversity with the well-being of people.

It wants to use India’s diverse plant and animal life to tackle problems in climate change, health, and agriculture. This means finding practical solutions from nature.
The government, NGOs, and other groups will team up. Their job is to make a list, evaluate, map, keep an eye on, and responsibly use India’s rich biodiversity.
The Mission plans to train a group of experts in biodiversity science. These professionals will help achieve the Mission’s goals.
A special part of the Mission is to make people proud of India’s natural riches. The idea is that if people feel connected to nature, they’ll be more likely to help protect and preserve it.

Mission

The National Biodiversity Mission is part of the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, Innovation, Advisory Council (PM-STIAC).

The mission aims to highlight the importance of conservation and biodiversity in Indian science, policy, and society.
The mission involves various activities such as restoring biodiversity in different habitats, creating an early-warning system for diseases that can pass from animals to humans, and filling knowledge gaps in biodiversity.
It is expected to contribute to conservation and sustainable development goals in multiple ways.
The mission’s activities are not limited to specific areas or protected regions; it’s a nationwide effort.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, the Department of Biotechnology, and the Department of Science and Technology are the key partners.
The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India catalogues and supports the mission.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is the hosting ministry.
The National Biodiversity Authority is the main agency overseeing the mission.
The mission involves a wide range of participants, including scientists, farmers, policymakers, students, and industrialists.
It engages government agencies, NGOs, and scientific institutions at national, state, and local levels.
This mission is crucial because biodiversity science is currently fragmented and neglected in India. The aim is to bring attention and action to this important field.

Significance

India’s National Biodiversity Mission (NBM) aims to make the country a global leader in showing how protecting nature connects with people’s well-being. Despite having only 2.3% of the world’s land, India houses a remarkable 8% of global biodiversity.

The NBM will boost the science behind restoring, conserving, and wisely using natural resources, potentially increasing India’s natural wealth significantly in terms of rupees.
This mission is crucial for India to meet its international commitments, aligning with agreements like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD), and others.
A noteworthy aspect of the mission is its focus on environmental DNA and barcoding, aligning with global initiatives like the Earth BioGenome Project.
Implementing NBM programs will help India tackle climate change and natural disasters, providing solutions for floods, pandemics, and more.
The mission is not just about protecting the environment; it’s also expected to boost India’s agricultural sector, increasing income in rural areas through biodiversity-based farming and creating jobs in restoration and nature tourism.
Efforts to restore degraded land under the mission will open up job opportunities and contribute to the overall well-being of the country.
NBM programs will address pressing issues like soil, land, forest, and river degradation, offering green solutions for a sustainable future.

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