via The Hindu:

Calling ecosystem services provided by biodiversity of great importance for the ‘GDP of the poor’, Dr. Singh told the high level segment of the CBD Plenary, which he inaugurated, that India was devoting large amount of funds to safeguard their sustenance through schemes such as the Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. The country had also passed the Biological Diversity Act in 2002 and the National Biodiversity Action Plan.

Despite global efforts, the 2010 global biodiversity targets set under the Convention on Biological Diversity could not be fully met. This situation must change. The critical issue is how to mobilise the necessary financial, technical and human resources necessary, particularly the incubation, sharing, and transfer of technology.

Protecting and promoting biodiversity has always been an integral part of the Indian ethos and culture. This can be seen from the thousands of sacred groves all over the country. Traditional system of agriculture and medicine in India has depended on plant and animal biodiversity, and protecting the wild relatives of these resources that we use today is of paramount importance.

Since it has been a matter of concern that the public knowledge represented by biodiversity may be restricted in the regime of modern intellectual property rights, India has created a digital library of traditional knowledge. This is in a format that is easily accessible to patent examiners and had been able to avert over a thousand cases of bio-piracy. Also, 105 claims were cancelled or dropped by Patent Offices. India was offering its assistance to the World Intellectual Property Organisation to set up other similar facilities.

The treasure trove of traditional knowledge should be used for the benefit of all humanity, rather than for profit, he said.