<span style="color: #222222;">Vice President Venkaiah Naidu has said, preservation of nature and culture is the only way to ensure a sustainable future. He was participating in the International Day of Biodiversity celebrations organized by the National Biodiversity Authority in Chennai today. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr Naidu observed that inclusive growth contributes immensely to preservation of nature. He urged for the development process to be in harmony with preservation of nature. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Vice President noted that nature plays a critical role in providing food, energy, medicines and genetic resources. He took pride in the fact that India has a long tradition of frugality and simple living. However, he noted that symbiotic relationship of man with nature gets debilitated as societies develop. </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' The Vice President said deforestation, urbanization, industrialization, and pollution lead to loss of trees at an unbelievable pace. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said the forest cover in India stands at 21% against global standard of 33.3%. He underscored that the average abundance of native species in most land-based habitats has fallen by at least 20%, mostly since 1900. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He added, more than 40% of amphibian species, almost 33% of reef-forming corals and more than a third of all marine mammals are threatened. Mr Naidu asked for diversification of food crops and to ensure nutrition security.</span><br />