India-Norway join hands for conservation, sustainable use of biodiversity

The Centre for Biodiversity Policy and Law (CEBPOL) recently organized a workshop with the title "Workshop on Synergies among Biodiversity related Multilateral Environmental Agreements" in Manesar, which is being pursued under the Indo-Norwegian cooperation.

When most people think of biodiversity, they think of verdant Amazonian rainforests or vibrant coral reefs in tropical seas. But even a typical house in the suburbs teems with an amazing diversity of life. The work on biodiversity is being further pursued under the Indo-Norwegian cooperation.

The National Biodiversity Authority of India (NBA) and the Norwegian Environment Agency (NEA) are involved in a bilateral programme on biodiversity with the aim to establish a Centre for Biodiversity Policy and Law (CEBPOL) as a centre of excellence focusing on biodiversity law and policy.

The topic of the workshop is especially relevant these days when funds are limited and the challenges faced in conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity are vast. Norway and India both have showed initiative internationally.

Now the countries pool resources, draw on each other's expertise, reduce duplication and make joint funding bids and thereby achieve enhanced implementation through strengthened cooperation.

The workshop included presentations on the ongoing work at the international level on synergies between the key multilateral biodiversity conventions.

Further, the representatives shared lessons about their work and all participants discussed possibilities and avenues of increased cooperation and synergies.

Deputy Minister Lars Andreas Lunde from the Ministry of Climate and Environment in Norway and Norwegian Ambassador Nils Ragnar Kamsvag participated in the workshop together with Additional Secretary Amita Prasad from the Indian Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.

The other participants were National Focal Points and associates for the conventions in India, national and international Non-Governmental Organisations in India.

Finally, potential areas of future support to be provided by CEBPOL in this field were discussed. The areas include access and benefit sharing, invasive alien species, nature index and biosafety.