India's National Statement at CBD COP-17
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, delivered India's National Statement at the High-Level Segment of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP-17) in Yerevan, Armenia on October 27, 2026. The Minister reaffirmed India's commitment to conserving biodiversity and strengthening collective efforts to live in harmony with nature, while appreciating the Government of Armenia for hosting the conference.
Framework Implementation Requirements
Shri Yadav emphasized that implementation of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework must be aligned with national priorities, circumstances, and legislation, and supported by adequate and predictable finance, capacity-building, and technology transfer from developed countries. India supports benefit-sharing from digital sequence information on genetic resources through the multilateral mechanism, including the Cali Fund. The Minister advocated for a science-based, risk-proportionate, and precautionary approach to synthetic biology and biosafety.
India's Biodiversity Conservation Achievements
India has updated its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan to translate the Global Biodiversity Framework into 23 National Biodiversity Targets and 142 indicators. The country has established 1,134 Protected Areas, 103 Ramsar sites, 57 Biodiversity Heritage Sites, and 18 Biosphere Reserves, including 13 under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Network. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the International Big Cat Alliance is advancing international cooperation for conservation of the world's seven big-cat species and their habitats.
Conservation Initiatives and Programs
India is advancing biodiversity conservation through several key initiatives: the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) for mangrove restoration, Amrit Dharohar for wetland conservation, and the Soil Health Card Scheme for sustainable soil management and maintaining soil fertility. Mission LiFE and Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam further emphasize environmental stewardship and make biodiversity conservation a collective societal endeavor.
Legislative Alignment and Local Participation
India has aligned its legislation with the Convention and established village-level committees for decentralized access and benefit sharing, enabling local participation and benefits from sustainable biological resource use. The Minister reaffirmed India's commitment to multilateral cooperation, stating that India would continue to work with all Parties to advance the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in the spirit of "One Earth, One Family, One Future."