India Reaffirms Biodiversity Commitment on International Day for Biological Diversity 2026

Bhopal: Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav reaffirmed India’s commitment to biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration and community-led environmental action during the national-level celebrations of the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) 2026 held at the Indian Institute of Forest Management here on Friday.

The event, themed “Acting Locally for Global Impact”, was organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in collaboration with the Government of Madhya Pradesh, National Biodiversity Authority and International Big Cat Alliance.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who also addressed the gathering, said Madhya Pradesh has emerged as a major centre for biodiversity conservation and wildlife protection in India owing to its rich forests, wetlands and river ecosystems.

Highlighting Project Cheetah, the Chief Minister described the reintroduction of cheetahs in Madhya Pradesh as a landmark achievement in India’s conservation journey and a symbol of ecological restoration and biodiversity recovery. He said Project Cheetah has strengthened habitat conservation, scientific wildlife management and community participation in conservation efforts.

The event was also attended by Kirti Vardhan Singh, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Dileep Ahirwar, Minister of Forest and Environment (Madhya Pradesh) along with senior officials, scientists, forest officers, researchers and representatives of biodiversity management committees.

In his address, Bhupender Yadav said the 2026 theme underscores the importance of empowering local communities and institutions to achieve environmental sustainability and ecological security.

He noted that India, being one of the world’s megadiverse countries, possesses a vast range of ecosystems including forests, wetlands, grasslands, deserts, coastal and marine ecosystems. He also highlighted traditional community-led conservation practices such as sacred groves, folk varieties and local stewardship systems as examples of India’s deep ecological heritage.

The minister said biodiversity conservation has evolved from focusing on individual species to protecting interconnected ecosystems and ecological balance.

Bhupender Yadav reiterated India’s commitment to implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. He said the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 has established a decentralised institutional framework through the National Biodiversity Authority, State Biodiversity Boards and Biodiversity Management Committees.

Highlighting the progress under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism, the minister said nearly ₹145 crore has been released to beneficiaries across the country, benefiting around 11,000 Biodiversity Management Committees.

He also stated that Project Cheetah, launched in 2022 through the world’s first intercontinental translocation of a large carnivore, reflects India’s commitment towards ecological restoration, grassland conservation and long-term species recovery.

Kirti Vardhan Singh said biodiversity conservation is closely linked to food security, water security, livelihoods, climate resilience and sustainable development. He also underlined the importance of India’s traditional ecological wisdom and the Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) movement.

During the event, several publications and digital initiatives were launched, including India’s Biodiversity Report 2026, India’s first national report on the Nagoya Protocol, an ABS end-to-end portal and films related to biodiversity conservation and sacred groves in Madhya Pradesh.