India ranks 176th out of 180 countries in Global Nature Conservation Index
New Delhi: India has ranked 176th out of 180 countries in the 2024 Global Nature Conservation Index (NCI), scoring 45.5 out of 100, placing it among the world’s lowest-ranked nations in terms of environmental conservation. Released on October 24, 2024, the report places India alongside Kiribati (180), Turkey (179), Iraq (178), and Micronesia (177) in the bottom tier of the rankings.
The Nature Conservation Index (NCI) is the first-ever comprehensive report assessing countries’ conservation efforts and sustainable environmental practices. Developed by the Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change at Ben-Gurion University in collaboration with BioDB.com, the NCI evaluates four core pillars: Land Management, Threats to Biodiversity, Capacity and Governance, and Future Trends. These areas are measured through 25 performance indicators to gauge the effectiveness of each country’s efforts to protect its natural environment.
India’s low rank stems largely from challenges in land management and escalating biodiversity threats. Citing data from the IUCN Red List, the NCI report reveals that 15.9% of marine species and 13.4% of terrestrial species in India face extinction risks. The report highlights a drastic loss of tree cover, with 23,300 square kilometers (8,996 square miles) of forest area lost to deforestation between 2001 and 2019. The index underscores India’s need for stronger regulatory measures to protect biodiversity and calls for enhanced funding, policy implementation, and leadership commitment to conservation.
The report also stresses the need for sustainable fishing practices, noting that 34.5% of fisheries in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) are overexploited. Additionally, India ranks 122nd in terms of law and regulation effectiveness for safeguarding natural resources, a ranking impacted by recent policy changes, such as the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2023 (FCAA). This act facilitates commercial activities on forested lands and exempts certain infrastructure projects from environmental reviews, raising concerns about regulatory oversight.
India’s Environmental Performance Index (EPI) score has also declined over the past decade, indicating the urgent need for improved environmental policies and practices. The NCI highlights India’s struggles with climate change mitigation, habitat protection, and species conservation. Specific concerns include weak climate change mitigation efforts, limited strategic shifts toward renewable energy, and the absence of effective carbon pricing mechanisms. The report also calls for policies to enhance energy efficiency across industries, buildings, and transport, while maintaining and expanding carbon sinks like forests and wetlands.
The Great Nicobar Island Development Project, which involves substantial infrastructure expansion on a highly sensitive ecological site, is singled out as a significant conservation concern. Environmentalists have raised alarms about potential disruptions to the island’s unique wildlife, which includes 96 wildlife sanctuaries, 9 national parks, and a biosphere reserve.
To improve its conservation efforts, the report recommends India focus on robust conservation legislation, increased investment in its 55 tiger reserves, and the development of compensation programs to incentivize local involvement. It also stresses the importance of managing buffer zones around protected areas and strengthening habitat connectivity.
This ranking is not the first indication of India’s environmental challenges. The country has previously scored low on similar indices, including the 2024 Environmental Performance Index released by Yale’s Center for Environmental Law and Policy and Columbia’s Center for International Earth Science Information Network.
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
