7th National Report (NR7) On Biological Diversity:
India has officially submitted its 7th National Report (NR7) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), marking the first comprehensive assessment since the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
- The NR7 is a mandatory periodic submission by member nations of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
- It serves as a national report card to track progress toward the 23 global biodiversity targets set for 2030. In India, this report was coordinated by the MoEFCC and the National Biodiversity Authority, utilizing 142 national indicators to assess ecosystem health, species recovery, and policy alignment.
- According to the report, India has shown robust progress in planning and specific ecological recoveries:
- Policy Alignment: India has successfully updated its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) to fully align with global 2030 goals.
- Land-Use Planning (NBT1): This target is officially on track, with forest and tree cover reaching 25.17% of India’s total geographical area.
- Ecosystem Restoration (NBT2): Also on track, India has restored or put under restoration 24.1 million hectares of land, nearing its 26-million-hectare Bonn Challenge pledge.
- Flagship Species Recovery: The tiger population has reached 3,167, alongside increases in Asiatic lions and stable one-horned rhino populations.
- Carbon Sequestration: Forest carbon stock increased by 81.5 million tonnes, showcasing the role of biodiversity in climate mitigation.
- Wetland Management: National-level inventories of wetlands are complete, providing a baseline for the conservation of Ramsar sites and local water bodies.
- Digital Governance: The launch of PARIVESH 2.0 has streamlined environmental clearances, integrating biodiversity data into infrastructure planning.
