India’s Seventh National Report to CBD: Biodiversity Targets, Progress and Challenges

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has submitted India’s Seventh National Report (NR-7) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) In accordance with CoP Decision 15/6.

• The report finds only two of 23 national biodiversity targets are clearly on track, despite policy alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
  • Of the 23 national biodiversity targets, only two, NBT1 (biodiversity-inclusive land and sea-use planning) and NBT2 (ecosystem restoration), are identified as being on track.

About India’s Seventh National Report (NR-7)

• About: The NR-7 presents a comprehensive, indicator-based national assessment aligned with India’s updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP 2024-2030) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). 
• Prepared by: The report was prepared by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change with inputs from 33 ministries, coordinated technically by the National Biodiversity Authority.
  • Support was provided by the United Nations Development Programme under the Global Environment Facility, with progress tracking by the Wildlife Institute of India.
• Parameters: The Report is based on 142 national indicators mapped against 23 National Biodiversity Targets (NBTs).
• Government Approach: It emphasizes a “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” approach, reflecting long-standing practices in India’s biodiversity conservation efforts. 
• Tracking Progress: 
  • National Biodiversity Target 1: It focuses on biodiversity-inclusive land and sea-use planning, the report describes steady progress. 
    • India’s forest and tree cover now stands at 827,357 square kilometres (sq km), representing 25.17 per cent of the country’s geographical area, according to the latest assessment. 
    • Between 2021 and 2023, forest and tree cover increased by 1,445.81 sq km.
  • National Biodiversity Target 2 (NBT2):  It focuses on ecosystem restoration, the report provided mixed findings. 
    • According to the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas, about 29.77 per cent of India’s geographical area, roughly 97 million hectares, is currently undergoing degradation.
  • National Biodiversity Target 3 (NBT3): It addressed conservation across land, inland waters and marine ecosystems, in line with the global “30×30” goal of conserving 30 per cent of the planet by 2030.
    • India reports continued expansion of its protected area network, along with regular management effectiveness evaluations for national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. 
    • At present, a little over 5 per cent of India’s geographical area is designated as formal protected areas. Additional forest categories contribute to broader conservation coverage.
• Trees outside forests (TOF): It examines progress in integrating biodiversity into agriculture and production landscapes. 
  • Trees outside forests (TOF) now make up a significant share of India’s total tree cover, while agroforestry occupies about 8.65 per cent of the country’s geographical area
• Strengthened Framework Amid Persistent Ecological Pressures: India has developed a stronger policy and monitoring framework for biodiversity conservation, it also acknowledges continuing pressures on ecosystems, including land degradation and biodiversity loss outside protected areas.

Challenges

• Financial and Technical Constraints: The report highlights inadequate funding and limited technical capacity as key structural challenges, alongside increasing climate change impacts such as floods, droughts and forest fires on ecosystems.
• Agriculture and Invasive Species Gaps: Although agroforestry covers 8.65% of the country, the report provides limited quantitative assessment on crucial issues like pesticide use, nutrient runoff and management of invasive species, which significantly drive biodiversity loss.
• Monitoring biodiversity is complex and expensive, and several new indicators still lack standardised protocols.
• Different ministries collect data at varying intervals, while rapid improvements in satellite technology can make comparisons across years difficult.
  • These factors can affect the consistency of datasets and the long-term comparability of trends.

Significance

• By Submission, India reaffirms its commitment to the three objectives of the Convention: conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources.

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