Mains Practice Questions

Introduction

The 1972 Stockholm Conference marked a turning point in global environmental governance, shaping India’s environmental policies to prioritise sustainable development and biodiversity conservation.

• Over the decades, India’s environmental governance has progressed from establishing foundational laws to incorporating international agreements, community participation, and innovative conservation strategies.

Body

Evolution of India’s Approach to Environmental Governance

• 1970s-1980s: Foundation of Environmental Legislation
  • The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 established pollution control boards for managing water quality.
  • The Forest Conservation Act, 1980 imposed restrictions on deforestation and the diversion of forest land.
• 1990s: Strengthening Legal Frameworks
  • Following the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 empowered the government to regulate pollution across air, water, and land.
  • The Wildlife Protection Amendment, 1991 expanded the list of protected species and increased penalties for poaching.
• 2000s: Integration of International Conventions
  • The Biodiversity Act, 2002 regulated access to biological resources and promoted benefit-sharing with local communities.
  • The Forest Rights Act, 2006 recognized the rights of forest-dwelling communities, enabling their participation in conservation efforts.
  • The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), 2008 included initiatives like the Green India Mission for biodiversity conservation.
• 2010s: Community-Centric Governance
  • The National Green Tribunal (NGT), 2010 provided a platform for addressing environmental grievances and enforcing environmental protection laws.
• 2020s: Innovative, Climate-Responsive Strategies
  • CAMPA, 2020 directed funds from deforestation permits toward afforestation efforts.
  • The National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem focused on preserving the biodiversity of the Himalayan region.
  • The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act 2023 expands the scope of forest conservation, introduces exemptions for development and security projects, and empowers local communities through ecotourism and wildlife initiatives.

Impacts of Evolving Governance on Biodiversity Conservation:

• Expansion of Protected Areas and Biodiversity Hotspots: India has expanded its protected areas and has 998 Protected Areas, which constitutes 5.28% of the country's total geographical area.
  • Example: The establishment of the Western Ghats as a UNESCO World Heritage Site has enhanced efforts to conserve endemic species.
• Successful Species Conservation Programs India’s flagship conservation programs have helped revive the populations of endangered species like tigers, elephants, and rhinoceroses.
  • Example: Project Tiger, initiated in 1973, led to a rise in the tiger population and India is now home to more than 70% of the world's wild tigers.
• Promoting Traditional Knowledge and Community Conservation Biodiversity governance has increasingly integrated traditional knowledge and community participation in conservation practices.
  • Example: The Nagoya Protocol commitments and People’s Biodiversity Registers empower local communities to document and protect indigenous biodiversity, supporting the sustainable use of medicinal plants and local flora.
• Climate-Resilient Biodiversity Strategies: Integrating climate concerns into biodiversity conservation has enabled India to address the ecological impacts of climate change.
  • Example: The National Mission on Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystems has introduced adaptive conservation techniques for high-altitude species impacted by rising temperatures.
• Improved Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Mechanisms: Through the National Green Tribunal, environmental compliance has improved, enabling better protection of ecosystems.
  • Example: NGT interventions led to enhanced protection of the Aravalli Range in Rajasthan, home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, by halting illegal mining activities.

However, despite these advancements, issues persist like:

• Recent Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023 allows exemptions for infrastructure projects, threatening biodiversity.
• Biodiversity (Amendment) Act, 2021 removes the direct role of local communities in determining benefit sharing provisions and weakens local governance in conservation.
• Projects like the Char Dham Highway and mining in Hasdeo Aranya have led to habitat loss and species endangerment.

Conclusion

India’s environmental governance has evolved significantly since the Stockholm Conference. This evolution has positively impacted biodiversity conservation. However, to ensure long-term ecological sustainability, India must continue adapting its policies to meet emerging environmental challenges, particularly those posed by climate change and habitat loss.