Union Minister Bhupender Yadav Advocates for Conservation of Natural Resources

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav stressed the importance of conserving flora and fauna, warning against the reckless use of natural resources for development. Speaking at the 109th foundation day event of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Yadav praised the organisation's pioneering work in taxonomy and raising awareness about faunal species.

He highlighted that the environment ministry has been actively working to preserve biodiversity in sensitive areas such as Bhitarkanika in Odisha, Flower Valley in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan's desert landscape, and the Sundarbans' unique mangrove belt in West Bengal. Yadav described these regions as nature's finest gifts.

Conservation Efforts and Challenges

Yadav lamented that people often neglect their environmental responsibilities. He stated, "We take oxygen from the atmosphere but we pollute air in return. We get pure water from the environment but discharge industrial effluents in water. We use unadulterated natural resources but turn these into garbage."

He also pointed out that one significant big cat species, the Cheetah, had become extinct in India. However, the Centre has initiated a project to reintroduce the animal. "With the active involvement of forest employees, rangers, villagers and scientists, the project has become a success. We have launched such a project involving a big cat for the first time and we will take it forward," he said.

Global Commitments and Local Actions

As a signatory of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), India plays a crucial role in global biodiversity efforts. Yadav emphasised that organisations like ZSI and the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) are vital for knowledge sharing. He mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2050 vision for biodiversity conservation and assured support for ZSI and BSI to document unique biosphere areas.

Identifying climate change as humanity's biggest threat, Yadav noted that ZSI and BSI are crucial in combating global warming. The ministry is working on a geospectrum model and mapping biological corridors with these organisations' help to analyse landscape changes.

Achievements and Future Plans

Yadav launched the Fauna of India Checklist Portal, which details 1,04,561 species documented by ZSI scientists. He commended ZSI for its comprehensive list, noting that this year alone, 641 new species were reported. "The 109-year-old organisation makes us proud for its work of research, documentation and exploration," he said.

ZSI director Dhriti Banerjee shared that 153 experts prepared the checklist during 2022-23, presenting a detailed fact sheet of species from amoeba to elephants across India's diverse topographies. She also mentioned an upcoming Animal Taxonomy Summit from July 1-3, which will see participation from 1,700 delegates from countries including Zimbabwe, Rwanda, the UK, UAE, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

Yadav warned about a future where only humans might remain if natural resource exploitation continues unchecked. "If plundering of our natural resources continues, there will be a day in this world when only humans will be around - not animals, avian species and plants," he cautioned.

On the 50th anniversary of tiger conservation efforts in India, Yadav reiterated India's commitment to saving big cats. He acknowledged that with collective efforts from various stakeholders, significant progress has been made in wildlife conservation projects.

The minister concluded by urging everyone to think about future generations and work towards saving the planet. He highlighted that while we benefit from nature's resources, it is our duty to protect and preserve them for future generations.