Hectic negotiations are underway among member countries mainly over fund mobilization for achieving global biodiversity targets at the ongoing International Biodiversity Conference in Hyderabad. The conference which began on 1st of this month is inching towards a close tomorrow. With eluding consensus over fund mobilization between the member-countries, various aspects relating to it are being reworked for the consideration of the Special Group to facilitate broader consensus over the issue. UN spokesperson David Ainsworth told reporters this morning that the New Paper is being prepared over the Fund Mobilization so that the Special Group sort out the differences of opinion among the countries and find a way out.
Meanwhile, the Working Groups have finalized documents to be adopted by the conference with respect to the Ecological Systems and Invasive Alien Species. The Working Groups are also finalizing the Conference Reports by taking up for discussion certain concerns raised by member countries on a number of issues including Climate Change, Ecosystem restoration, Sustainable use of the Biodiversity and Geo-Engineering.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Development Programme -UNDP has recognized India’s Biodiversity Governance Models as base for evolving next generation models for Biodiversity conservation across the world. Calling upon the member Countries to adopt wholesome approach, the UNDP stressed the need for thriving upon a range of ecosystems and not just smaller parts for it. Acknowledging the value work being done at the grass roots level to protect and conserve biodiversity by individuals as well as institutions in India, four projects have been honoured with first India-UNDP Biodiversity awards. Union Minister of Environment and Forest Jayanthi Natarajan presented these awards to PirJahania Jungle Surksha Samiti of Odisha, Shankarpur Village Gram Panchayat of Maharastra, Van Uttam Samsthan of Rajasthan and Periyar Tiger Reserve of Kerala.