World Nature Conservation Day is annually observed across the globe on July 28 to create awareness about the importance of protecting the natural resources and wildlives.
- The day also aims to educate the people about the necessity of conservation of natural resources, bio-diversity and ecology across the world and the challenges of climate change.
Impacts of Natural Imbalance:
i.In recent times, climate change and environmental degradation becoming a pressing issue and due to the careless use of natural resources and over exploitation, the consequence of global warming could be severe for the future generation.
ii.The species getting threatened, global warming, pollution are causing a huge imbalance in nature.
Some Environment Conventions and Protocols:
1.The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Water- fowl Habitat, also known as the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
- It was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975.
2.The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is the international legal instrument for the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.
- The CBD entered into force on 29 December 1993 and it has been ratified by 196 countries.
- It covers biodiversity at all levels: ecosystems, species and genetic resources.
3.Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) is a multilateral environmental agreement to protect human health and the environment from POPs.
- It was adopted in 2001 in Geneva, Switzerland and entered into force in 2004
4.Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that aims to reduce the emission of gases that contribute to global warming.
- It operationalizes the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change by committing industrialized countries and economies in transition to limit and reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions in accordance with agreed individual targets.
- It was adopted on 11 December 1997 and entered into force on 16 February 2005.
Some initiatives in India to conserve nature:
i.India’s Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides the legal framework for the protection of wild animals, birds and plants with an objective to ensure the ecological and environmental security of India. The Act was last amended in the year 2022.
ii.The Centrally Sponsored Schemes implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MOEF&CC) includes,
- National River Conservation Programme;
- Sub-schemes of Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems;
- Green India Mission and National Afforestation Programme;
- National Coastal Management Programme;
- National Mission on Himalayan Studies under Climate Change Program
iii.The MoEFCC also monitors the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and has been carrying out enabling activities and other obligations of the Convention.
