New Delhi, October 30 (HS): Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, while addressing the United Nations Biodiversity Summit COP-16 on Wednesday, said that India is making a significant contribution towards achieving global biodiversity goals.

At the United Nations Biodiversity Summit COP-16 in Cali, Colombia, India informed the world about the program being run for the conservation and promotion of biodiversity. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is on the path of achieving biodiversity goals. Biodiversity has been India's heritage for centuries. Its conservation and promotion has always been an integral part of ethos and civilization.

He said India is one of the 17 mega-diversity rich countries in the world with four of the 36 globally recognized biodiversity hotspots in India. Prime Minister Modi launched a nationwide tree plantation campaign 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' 'Plant for Mother' on the occasion of World Environment Day this year. It is playing a vital role in protecting our biodiversity. It has become a mass movement in India. Peace with Nature has been a part of India's rich cultural heritage right from the ancient Vedic era. This theme matches India's mission 'Life for Environment', an India-led global mass movement to adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle.

He said India has taken a significant step in global wildlife conservation by establishing the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), which aims to protect the world's seven major big cat species, as their presence is a sign of a healthy ecosystem and rich biodiversity. India's efforts in reviving the holy river Ganga through the Namami Gange mission was recognized by the United Nations as one of the top 10 World Restoration Flagships for reviving river ecosystems. India's Ramsar sites have increased from 26 to 85 since 2014 and the number is soon going to reach 100.

The Union Minister of State also planted a sapling under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam Abhiyaan at the Valle University in Cali, Colombia.

Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar