New bio-diversity models could emerge from India: UNDP

The UNDP report calls for adopting a "landscape approach" to bio-diversity governance which will allow a range of ecosystems and not just the smaller protected parts of it to thrive.

On the basis of a detailed review of prevalent bio-diversity management models in India, the report concludes that solutions to conservation challenges require a variety of approaches instead of isolated conservation approaches, a press release issued by the UNDP said.

'Conservation Across Landscapes: India's Approaches to Bio-diversity Governance' outlines five models of bio-diversity governance and explore their effectiveness.

Two models, namely protected areas and territorial forests, fall within the protected area stream of bio-diversity governance.

Three other models, namely autonomous community efforts, co-management of forests and decentralised governance of bio-diversity, are more closely aligned with community-based conservation.

The report explains how India's extraordinary biological diversity and variety of resource use patterns have given rise to a range of approaches to conserve India's natural landscapes.

The release quoted UNDP resident representative Lise Grande as saying, "India's approach to balancing conservation and development has immense relevance for the world. Key to this approach is using the economic potential of natural resources to reduce poverty and accelerate inclusive growth".