Scientist Nirmal U Kulkarni Discusses India's Low Ranking On The 2024 Nature Conservation Index

On October 24, 2024, India was ranked as 176 out of 180 countries on the Nature Conservation Index (NCI), an assessment tool that evaluates conservation efforts using four parameters—land management, threats to biodiversity, capacity and governance, and future trends. The country received a score of 45.5 out of 100, mainly due to inefficient land management and rising threats to its biodiversity. With about seven to eight per cent of the world’s documented species spread over only 2.4 per cent of total land area, the NCI highlighted multiple threats to India’s biodiversity, including habitat loss and fragmentation caused by agriculture, urbanisation and infrastructural development, with climate breakdown posing an additional risk.Outlook Traveller spoke with Nirmal U Kulkarni, a herpetologist and conservationist with roles at the Goa State Biodiversity Board, the Mhadei Research Center and the IUCN Viper Specialist Group about India’s ranking and what needs to be done to preserve its biodiversity.India ranked 176 out of 180 in this year’s NCI due to “rising threats to biodiversity and the inefficient management of land.” Is this warranted?I have seen this, and in a way agree to ranking on the individual (25) indices that have been collated. But, how India has been overall ranked at 176 is not crystal clear to a field ecologist and lesser-known species biodiversity conservationist like me. From what I have read and understood, the fulcrum of weightage for the 25 indicators were based on expert consultation, and that is a bit confusing to me.Also, documenting India’s biodiversity is still an ongoing task, and so is ascertaining impacts as well as current status. While I agree that there are certain threats, especially due to linear projects, rapid industrial development, etc, I do not agree that we can be ranked at 176 out of 180 countries.The index revealed that the high use of pesticides was eroding soil health in India. What can Indian authorities do to ensure high-yielding crops while simultaneously preserving soil health?India has had a rich tradition of organic agriculture since historical times. We hold the soil as our goddess, as Bhu Devi, in almost all cultures across the state. It is time to think of natural regenerative and organic-based solutions for high-yield crops that impact soil as well as our water resources. This will be the right step and reap public health as well as environmental health benefits for our agricultural sector in the long run.Another important aspect that surfaced in the assessment is marine conservation, with only 0.2 per cent of India’s national waterways covered by protected areas and none within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). What can India do to make progress on this front? Community-owned and conserved OECMs (other effective area-based conservation measures) have always be in [the] limelight since the past few years. These are key to conserving our marine resources as well as supporting communities that depend on them for their livelihoods.In order to make progress for [the] conservation of important marine areas, the PA definition of these areas need to be redefined, with communities, government agencies and other stakeholders taking equal measures to arrive at long-term plans for sustainable use and conservation of our EEZs as well as our national waterways. Traditional fishing communities have played a key role in managing and protecting marine areas for eons now. It is imperative that India must learn from these past treasure troves of Indigenous knowledge hubs and create newer ways of marine conservation areas to make progress and lead the world for sustainable fisheries as well as marine megafauna conservation, amongst others.Is the NCI a reliable source of information? Do you think the way it analyses risk needs improvement?Yes, I think it needs improvement as well as reevaluation in the way it analyses risk. I think a broader, more transparent approach and better ground datasets will bring more reliability. I do not agree to India being ranked at 176 out of 180 countries on the NCI.What is India getting right when it comes to biodiversity conservation and land management?For few indicators, as one can observe, India has been ranked in a better way, eg, [in] representation of key biodiversity areas in the protected area indice, where India ranked 1, and also in the policy indice, where India ranked 33 or something.Indices showing habitat connectivity is poor in our country and I agree this is partly true. However, the attempts made to improve connectivity as well as strengthen existing corridors must be acknowledged as much as the large population of the country. This is essential and must be noted.In your view, what needs to be done to improve India’s record on biodiversity, land management, and governance and capacity parameters? 1. India must rediscover age-old systems of management of land of commons and sharing of natural resources with communities acquiring centre stage in policy implementation.2. Realign and rethink land use changes and [the] role of biodiversity governance vis-à-vis public health and loss of wild biodiversity due to current development goals.3. Strengthen grassroots biodiversity management committees in [the] conservation of key biodiversity habitats across the country, including urban and agri diversity. Finally, in your view, what conversations are we overlooking or not having about the threats to India’s natural and living resources?1. Biodiversity conservation and Indigenous communities are connected in the most intrinsic of ways. This needs to be acknowledged now, more than ever, and implemented in our planning and policies.2. Ecologically important marine zones are also important fishing zones. There needs to be reforms and regulations to conserve these areas as a priority. Indian marine zones are data deficient and a focused look is the need of the hour.3. Even after COVID-19, India has not taken the biodiversity loss and health angle as seriously as it should. The need to understand and curb zoonotic diseases and understand [the] delicate biological services that our habitats provide is crucial. 4. Wildlife protection and coexistence with communities residing near PAs must go hand in hand now, at a stage when human-wildlife conflicts are on the rise. This is an issue that will be the centre of all biodiversity conservation discussions in the next few years. We are, even today, overlooking and undermining the scale of conflicts across the country.