PM Pledges India’s Commitment For Global Cause On Biological Diversity

New Delhi, Oct 17, IRNA - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday announced USD 50 million grant for conservation of biological diversity to strengthen the institutional mechanism for biodiversity conservation in the country as he pledged India's commitment for the global cause. Inaugurating a high-level segment meeting at the ongoing Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Hyderabad, capital city of Andhra Pradesh state, the PM said India was committed to work with all the parties to reach a consensus on biological diversity and sustainable growth. How to mobilize financial, technical and human resources for biodiversity conservation has become a critical issue, Singh pointed out. "On the occasion of this conference, I am pleased to launch the Hyderabad Pledge and announce that our Government has decided to earmark a sum of US$ 50 million during India’s presidency of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to strengthen the institutional mechanism for biodiversity conservation in India," he said, pti reported. The amount would be utilised for enhancing technical and human capabilities for biodiversity conservation. Developing new models of inclusive conservation was an important challenge, he noted and suggested that innovative approaches need to be adopted. "In India, there is a co-relation of efforts for biological diversity conservation and poverty alleviation," he added. Turning on the patents, the PM said India could win 105 claims on international patents due to its Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL). "We decided to build this knowledge database because of the patent on the use of neem extract in Europe and another patent on the use of turmeric as a healing agent. Since then, because of this database, over 1000 cases of bio-piracy have been identified and over 105 claims withdrawn or cancelled by patent offices," he said. India has tried a unique approach to protect its traditional knowledge by establishing a Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), which promoted the objectives of the Nagoya Protocol on the issue of protection of codified traditional knowledge systems such as Ayurveda, he said. The vast database created by India has 34 million pages of information in five international languages in formats easily accessible by patent examiners, he said. He said that the government of India would continue to work to strengthen its institutions to record this knowledge, to value its science and to provide benefits to its custodians. Multilateral agencies like the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and some countries have approached India for assistance in setting up such libraries and the government would be happy to provide assistance, he told delegates from over 190 countries attending the CoP-11 of which India assumed presidency during the ongoing convention. The UN biodiversity meeting kicked off Monday in Hyderabad, to discuss the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-20, its 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the status of biodiversity in world's oceans among others. The eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 11) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), kicked off on October 8, to review issues like the progress of the strategic plan, process of integration of biodiversity conservation in national policies by governments, the Aichi targets, resource mobilization, marine and coastal biodiversity and the ratification of Nagoya Protocol./end