Chairman of National Biodiversity authority Dr P. Balakrishna said that there is need to involve the communities for the development of protected areas in order to conserve biodiversity. Addressing a press conference on occasion of the release of UN report protected planet -2012, he said the livelihood of communities has a direct link with biodiversity. He said incentives have to be given to the communities in order to promote protected areas.

He said protected areas not only enhance biodiversity but also help to create livelihood. He said management and governance of the protected areas have to be decentralized. India has 20 percent protected area which is more than 17 per cent protected area as stipulated by the UN. India is trying to achieve 10 per cent protected areas in marine areas. India has 668 protected areas. The UN report says that protected areas have increased by 60 percent but, the protected areas are poorly managed.