Transcript PowerPoint Presentation - Prof. Palpu Pushpangadan

Conservation Policy on Floral Diversity of
South Asian Region with special reference
to India
Dr. P.Pushpangadan
Director
National Botanical Research Institute
Lucknow (India)
March 2003
Genesis of the Global Concern on
Biodiversity Conservation
• First discussed in 1972 U. N. Conference at
Stockholm
• U. N. General Assembly by a resolution on 15th
December 1972 established UNEP. .
• First Governing Council met in 1973 identified
Conservation of Nature, Wildlife and Genetic
Resources as Priority areas.
• The World Commission on environment and
Development (WCED) was constituted in 1983.
• WCED submitted its report ‘Our Common
Future’ in 1987 called for Conservation of
Biodiversity for Sustainable Development.
Genesis of the Global Concern on
Biodiversity Conservation
• UNEP constituted an ad-hoc. Working Group of
Technological and Legal experts to prepare an
international legal instrument for conservation
and sustainable use of Biodiversity which
resulted in ‘CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL
DIVERSITY’ (CBD).
–171 countries signed CBD in June1992
during the Earth summit at Rio de Janeiro.
• CBD came -into force as an International Law On
29th Dec. 1993.
Genesis of the Global Concern on
Biodiversity Conservation
• India ratified CBD on 18th February 1994 and
came into force from 19th May 1994.
• 186 countries are now parties to CBD (as on Feb
2003)
Biodiversity
According
to
Convention
on
Biological
Diversity (CBD), biodiversity is “the variability
among all living organisms from all sources,
including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and
other aquatic ecosystems and ecological
complexes of which they are part; this
includes diversity within species, between
species and of ecosystems”.
Biodiversity
Biological diversity is the central tenet of
nature, one of its key defining features.
Evolution has produced an amazing variety of
plants,
animals
and
micro-organisms,
intricately interconnected, and worthy of
respect and conservation in their own right.
Biodiversity is also the basis for the
continuous evolution of species. This diversity
is also the backbone of human societies and
cultures, in terms of the ecological functions it
provides and the myriad survival and livelihood
it meets.
Biodiversity
The term 'biodiversity' is being taken in its
holistic sense, to encompass all levels of
biodiversity, ecological and evolutionary
processes, including:
Natural
ecosystems:
e.g.
forests,
grasslands, wetlands, deserts, mountains,
coastal and marine areas, including the
historical changes taking place in such
ecosystems.
Wild species and varieties: species of
plants, animals, and micro-organisms
existing in their natural state and the
genetic variation within each of these
species.
Biodiversity
Agricultural ecosystems: e.g. farmlands,
pastures, capture fisheries, aquaculture,
including historical changes in land-use
patterns.
Domesticated species and varieties:
species of crops livestock (including
poultry), captive-bred fish, pets, and micro
organisms in ex-situ collection and the
genetic variation within each of these
species.
In general we may say that Biodiversity exist
at a various levels such as
species, genetic and habitat
Major events in Geological record
(the cosmic calendar)
Events
Years ago
Big bang & formation of Universe
4800 Million
Origin of life and evolution of biological cells
3500 Million
Evolution of Blue green algae
3200 Million
Filamentous algae
2000 Million
Eukaryotic cells and photosynthetic cells
400 Million
Photosynthetic organisms – Thallophytes &
fungi & land plants
320 Million
Bryophytes : Mosses & Liverworts
300 Million
Tracheophytes: Club mosses (Lycopodium,
Selaginella)
280 Million
Major events in Geological record
(the cosmic calendarContinue)
Events
Years ago
Gymnosperms : Cycadoides
280 Million
Ginkgos
250 Million
Conifers
250 Million
Angiosperms
100-125 Million
Ants
60 Million
Agriculture by Ants
50 Million
Homo habilis (Progenitor of humans)
2.5 Million
Homo sapiens (Humans)
1.5 Million
Agriculture by Humans
12000 Years
Reasons for Conserving
Biodiversity
Ethical
Ecological
Economic
Aesthetic
Evolutionary
Action Programme
Prepare -passport data of all important
and endemic biodiversity passport data
should cover morphological cytological
chemical
and
molecular
level
(DNA/gene level) information so as to
prevent bio/germplasm.
Identification
of
problems
and
solutions in conservation, threatened
status of species, ecosystems -with ca
uses of threats.
Identification
of
problems
and
solutions in conservation.
Conservation of Biodiversity
Strategies & Priorities
IUCN, UNEP & WWF 1980 came out with the
first global strategy for Conservation.
This strategy defined conservation as :
"Management of human use of biodiversity so
that it may yield the greatest sustainable
benefit to present generation while maintaining
its potential to meet the needs and aspirations
of future generation "
This definition involves two complementary
components , ‘Conservation' and sustainability
Conservation of Biodiversity Strategies
& Priorities
Primary Goal of World Conservation Strategy is:
Maintenance of essential ecological processes
and life support systems on which human
survival and economic activities depend
Preservation of species and genetic diversity
Sustainable use of species and ecosystems
which support millions of rural communities as
well as major industries.
Thus a logical strategy for conservation of
biodiversity should involve:
Protection, preservation, maintenance, exploitation,
conservation and sustainable utilization of
Biodiversity
Conservation of Biodiversity
Strategies & Priorities
Most widely accepted scientific methods of
biodiversity conservation are:
(i)In situ methods & (ii) Ex situ methods In situ
conservation
This is being done by effecting protection of
Natural habitat(s) as such so as the species or
stock of biological communities in their natural
state is protected from human intervention e.g.
Biosphere reserves, national Parks, wild life
sanctuaries, sacred groves or other protected
natural ecosystems or on farm agro diversity.
The idea of establishing protected areas & network
has been taken a central place in all policy
decision
process
related
to
biodiversity
conservation both at national and international
levels
R&D work on Plant Biodiversity Thrust
Areas & Future Strategies
 Complete survey, inventory, documentation and
preparation of digital database along with virtual
herbarium
 Identification of rare, endangered and endemic plants
 Bioprospecting of biodiversity and selection.
 Domestication, genetic enhancement and development
protocol for cultivation of selected wild plant.
 Development of package of practices for post harvest
management and processing.
 Development of location specific value added product
development from locally available bioresources that
convert the local biodiversity into economic wealth &
thereby generating gainful mass rural employment and
prosperity to the nation.
Strength of South East Asia in
Biodiversity
Rich in all levels of biodiversity species,
genes, habitat.
Rich in cultural diversity that generated
rich fund of indigenous knowledge
systems.
Humanity has tapped only a fraction of
this nature's vast genetic library.
Over 80-85% genetic resources of South
Asian countries are hitherto untapped.
Excellent opportunity for hunting novel
genes, drugs, pharmaceuticals, new
chemicals / raw materials for new
industrial ventures.
Action Programme
Important points that the biodiversity rich
third world nations should undertake:
Complete inventory & documentation of all
Biological
resources
including
the
microorganisms
Check list/database of the floristic wealth of
the nation along with the
associated knowledge system
Ground check to know the actual situation and
identify the gaps:
Study- genetic diversity, distribution pattern,
association pattern and gradients
Identify- rare, endemic and endangered status
of spp. , if any.
BIOPROSPECTING
Chemical prospecting
Drug and pharmaceuticals
Pesticides
Cosmetics
Food additives
Other industrially valuable
Chemical products
Gene prospecting
Genetic Engineering
Crop development
Fermentation
Cell culture
Bionic prospecting
Designs
Sensor technologies
Architecture
Bioengineering
Bio-modeling
BIOPROSPECTING : LINKAGES AND LEADS
Biodiversity
& IK / TK
Biotechnology
Information
Technology
Herbal
technology
Conservation
Sustainable
use
Benefit
sharing
Bioinformatics
IPR
Bioprospecting
Drug
development
Pharmaceuticals
Agro-chemistry
Cosmetics
Proteins
Enzymes
New crop
varieties
GMOs
GM foods
Designs, etc.
IPR Issues / Benefit Sharing Strategies
 Appropriate Procedures for IPR
Protection & Benefit Sharing
 Article 8(j) {CBD}
 National Biological Diversity Bill
(2002)
 Patent (II) Amendment Bill (1999)
 Plant Variety Protection and Plant
Breeders & Farmers’ & Rights Act
2001 of India.
IPR Issues / Benefit Sharing Strategies
(contd.)
 Documentation & Registration of TK
– Medicinal plant use & Conservation
at local , state and national level.
 Contribution to TKDL & TKRC
 Value addition to TK & Indigenous
Medicinal Plants – Scaling up IPRs
 Herbal drugs, Pharmaceuticals,
Natural products & Byproducts,
Nutraceuticals, Functional foods,
etc.
10000 plant species are used by tribes of India
8000
Medicinal
Total
10000
species
Pesticides
Gums, Resins &
Dyes
are used by
s
t
Tr
an
l
ib
P
l
700 sp.
600 sp.
a
250 sp.
Me
d
i
c
in
THE INDIAN FLORA (ca 17500 species)
900 sp.
8000 species
30 sp.
Ayurveda
Unani
Siddha
Amchi
Modern
INDIAN SYSTEMS OF MEDICINE
munities (oral
m
)
Co
l
a
Bioprospecting and the new IPR regime
Given the global trends in capturing the
intellectual property markets, the third world
nation like India now needs to look ahead for
the best possible ways and means by which
they can generate IPR and build up IPR
covered bioindustrial regimes.
Biotechnology (BT), Information Technology
(IT) and Herbal Technology (HT) are the three
fast emerging and powerful areas of R&D in
current century. The rich biodiversity,
associated knowledge systems and human
resources etc. are the strength of south asian
countries, and therefore have the best
opportunity.