WORLD MEET IN HYDERABAD, FOR BIODIVERSITY

What is biodiversity...?

Biological diversity (biodiversity)- is a term we use to describe the variety of life on Earth. It refers to the wide variety of ecosystems and living organisms: animals, plants, their habitats and their genes.

Biodiversity is the foundation of life on Earth. It is crucial for the functioning of ecosystems which provide us with products and services without which we couldn’t live. Oxygen, food, fresh water, fertile soil, medicines, shelter, protection from storms and floods, stable climate and recreation - all have their source in nature and healthy ecosystems. But biodiversity gives us much more than this. We depend on it for our security and health.It strongly affects our social relations and gives us freedom and choice

What they discuss...?

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) - Opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, and entering into force in December 1993, the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty for the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of the components of biodiversity and the equitable sharing of the benefits derived from the use of genetic resources. With 194 Parties, the Convention has near universal participation among countries. The Convention seeks to address all threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services, including threats from climate change, through scientific assessments, the development of tools, incentives and processes, the transfer of technologies and good practices and the full and active involvement of relevant stakeholders including indigenous and local communities, youth, NGOs, women and the business community. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is a subsidiary agreement to the Convention. It seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology. To date, 159 countries plus the European Union have ratified the Cartagena Protocol. 

Hyderabad Modifications During Biodiversity 

Hyderabad was chosen over Delhi due to the better conferencing facilities and Hyderabad International Convention Centre, HICC was chosen as the venue for the Conference. Being organised at the cost of about Rs.87 crores, It was a matter of great pride that India will be hosting such an international event for the first ever in the last 60 years. Further, the Conference would benefit the State

(a) creating major impetus of tourism
(b) provide opportunities for exhibition of forest based products,
It will put Hyderabad on international map as the declarations would be known after the city.

In this meet  10,000 delegates from 193 countries, including heads of states and governments are participating.Andhra pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy,Greater Hyderabad mayor Majid Hussain, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) commissioner Krishna Babu and other senior officials are personally reviewed the arrangements for the mega event. It started on October 1st and ends on October 19th. The event comprises of two events - the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Bio-safety October 1-5 and the 11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity on October 8-19.

During the conference, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will lay foundation stone for national museum on bio-diversity. A bio-diversity park is also coming up on 15-acre land on Gacchibowli-Mehdipatnam Road. The officials said 500 rare and endangered species would be planted in the park. A similar park is also coming up in Dulapally reserve forest on the city outskirts. A sculpture park is being developed at Shilparamam.

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