Vandana Aggarwal, 
ENVIS Head
Economic Adviser
MoEF, GoI

Extending the Country’s support to the declared UN Decade on Biodiversity 2011- 2020, India announced an annual theme 2012-13 of “Biodiversity Conservation” under National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC), a sub-programme under the Ministry of Environment and Forests’ flagship Plan Scheme on Environment Education, Awareness and Training. Separately, a Science Express - Biodiversity Special train was flagged off from New Delhi on June 5, the World Environment Day, which in its seven-month journey so far has exhibited the rich and unique biodiversity of India across the country.


The year also marked the assumption of 2-year Presidency by India of the Conference of Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and India hosted the Eleventh Conference of Parties (COP-11) to CBD as also the sixth Meeting of the Parties (COP-MOP-6) to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety during October 2012.The concurrent event of ‘Interactive Fair for Biodiversity’ provided opportunity for presentation of projects, initiatives, ideas and issues related to bio-diversity as well as interaction among national and local governments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, non profit organizations, academic institutions, private enterprises, etc. from around the world.

The year also saw the declaration of Western Ghats as a natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO and their being recognized as one of the world’s eight ‘hottest hotspots’ of biological diversity.

For 2013-14 also, the theme has been retained under NEAC and increase in Plan allocation to the Environment Education, Awareness and Training Scheme for 2013-14 bears testimony to its importance.

Volume 18 Contents 


1.    Biodiversity COP 11: Key Outcomes Interview with Shri Hem Pande, MoEF

     Dr Erach Bharucha, BVIEER

3.    Environment Education at the Higher Secondary Stage in Maharashtra Interview with Dr Shivaji Shelke, Research Officer, MSBSHSE


                Dr Suhel Quader, Season Watch



                Dr Ganesh T and Abhisheka K, ATREE

9.    The Shikra
                Shatanik Kasab

Vanita Kommu and Indira Prakash, CEE

11. UNFCC’s Doha Climate Summit updates Rixa Schwarz and Praveen Prakash, CEE

12. Events







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