Consider the following international agreements: 1. The international Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture 2. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification 3. The World Heritage Convention Which of the above has/have a bearing on the biodiversity?
Contents14
- A1 and 2 only
- B3 only
- C1 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3
All three international agreements have a bearing on biodiversity:
(1) International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) — DIRECTLY about biodiversity; it deals with conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources (crop diversity, seed banks).
(2) UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) — land degradation and desertification destroy habitats, so combating it protects biodiversity. UNCCD itself states it 'collaborates closely with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).'
(3) World Heritage Convention — protects natural World Heritage Sites (like Sundarbans, Western Ghats, Kaziranga), which are biodiversity hotspots.
Think broadly: biodiversity is affected by agriculture, land degradation, AND habitat protection — all three conventions address one of these.
Biodiversity protection requires multiple approaches: conserving crop varieties (ITPGRFA), preventing habitat loss from land degradation (UNCCD), and protecting critical ecosystems (World Heritage Convention).
The trap is thinking biodiversity only relates to direct conservation treaties, but land degradation and heritage site protection are equally important for preserving species and ecosystems.
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources
Environment International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture ITPGRFA
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)
ITPGRFA focuses on conservation and sustainable use of crop genetic diversity
Creates multilateral system for access and benefit-sharing of plant genetic resources
India is a signatory and major contributor to global crop diversity
Entered into force in 2004 under FAO framework
The ITPGRFA is the primary global framework for conserving agricultural biodiversity — the genetic diversity within crops that feeds the world. It recognizes that crop varieties and their wild relatives are disappearing, threatening food security.
Key Provisions & Mechanisms
Aspect | What It Does | Biodiversity Impact |
|---|---|---|
Multilateral System | 64 key crops available for research/breeding | Maintains genetic diversity in food crops |
Benefit Sharing | Commercial users pay into funding mechanism | Funds conservation of crop varieties |
Farmers' Rights | Protects traditional farming practices | Preserves indigenous crop varieties |
Ex-situ Conservation | Supports seed banks and gene banks | Safeguards genetic material |
India's Role & Examples
India is home to 8 biodiversity hotspots and contributes significantly to crop genetic diversity
NBPGR (National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources) maintains India's seed banks under ITPGRFA framework
Traditional varieties like Basmati rice and indigenous wheat are protected genetic resources
India benefits from accessing international crop varieties for breeding programs
Trap: Don't think ITPGRFA is only about agriculture — it's fundamentally about biodiversity of crop species
Trap: ITPGRFA covers plant genetic resources, not animal genetic resources (that's a different convention)
Trap: It's under FAO, not UNEP or CBD — but still has direct biodiversity bearing
UN Convention to Combat Desertification
Environment United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification UNCCD
UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) & Biodiversity
UNCCD combats land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas
Land degradation destroys habitats — direct threat to biodiversity
UNCCD collaborates closely with CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity)
Entered into force in 1996, secretariat in Bonn, Germany
While UNCCD's primary focus is land degradation and desertification, it has a strong biodiversity bearing. Degraded land loses its capacity to support diverse species, making habitat restoration essential for biodiversity conservation.
Land Degradation → Biodiversity Loss Chain
%%{init: {"flowchart": {"wrappingWidth": 460}}}%%
flowchart TD
s1["`**Land Degradation**
Soil erosion, salinization, loss of vegetation cover`"]
s2["`**Habitat Destruction**
Loss of ecosystem structure and food sources`"]
s3["`**Species Migration/Death**
Animals and plants cannot survive in degraded areas`"]
s4["`**Biodiversity Loss**
Reduced species richness and genetic diversity`"]
s1 --> s2
s2 --> s3
s3 --> s4UNCCD-Biodiversity Linkages
UNCCD Action | Biodiversity Benefit | Example |
|---|---|---|
Soil conservation | Protects plant root systems and soil microorganisms | Maintaining soil bacteria diversity |
Sustainable land management | Preserves grazing lands and wildlife corridors | Preventing grassland ecosystem collapse |
Reforestation/afforestation | Restores forest habitats and carbon sinks | Rehabilitating degraded forest areas |
Water conservation | Maintains wetland ecosystems | Protecting water bodies in arid regions |
India & UNCCD Implementation
India has 69% of land area under arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid conditions
National Action Programme focuses on Rajasthan, Gujarat, and other drought-prone states
Desert National Park (Rajasthan) conservation efforts align with UNCCD goals
Links to Great Indian Bustard conservation in degraded grasslands of western India
Trap: UNCCD is not just about deserts — covers all dryland degradation including grasslands and croplands
Trap: Don't think land degradation is separate from biodiversity — habitat loss is the #1 threat to species
Trap: UNCCD works with CBD, not instead of it — they have overlapping biodiversity goals
World Heritage Convention
Environment World Heritage Convention
World Heritage Convention & Natural Site Biodiversity Protection
UNESCO World Heritage Convention protects sites of Outstanding Universal Value
Natural World Heritage Sites are often biodiversity hotspots
India has 40 World Heritage Sites including several natural sites
Adopted in 1972, covers both cultural and natural heritage
The World Heritage Convention protects natural heritage sites that represent the world's most important ecosystems and biodiversity. These sites often harbor endemic species and serve as critical refuges for threatened wildlife.
India's Natural World Heritage Sites
Site | State/Region | Key Biodiversity Features | Threatened Species |
|---|---|---|---|
Kaziranga National Park | Assam | Grassland ecosystem | One-horned Rhinoceros, Wild Buffalo |
Keoladeo National Park | Rajasthan | Wetland bird sanctuary | Siberian Crane (critically endangered) |
Sundarbans National Park | West Bengal | Mangrove ecosystem | Royal Bengal Tiger, Saltwater Crocodile |
Western Ghats | Multiple states | Biodiversity hotspot | Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Tahr |
Great Himalayan National Park | Himachal Pradesh | Alpine ecosystem | Snow Leopard, Himalayan Tahr |
India's Natural Heritage Sites
Source: Testbook — Natural World Heritage Sites in India - Check Complete List · testbook.com
Convention's Biodiversity Impact
Legal protection at highest international level — harder for governments to degrade these areas
Tourism revenue provides economic incentive for conservation and local community support
International monitoring through UNESCO ensures conservation standards are maintained
Research opportunities attract scientists studying biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics
Trap: World Heritage Convention covers both cultural AND natural sites — don't think it's only about monuments
Trap: Natural sites are chosen for biodiversity value — this directly bears on biodiversity conservation
Trap: India has 40 total sites but only 5 are natural — most are cultural heritage sites
Biodiversity Convention Interconnections
Environment biodiversity bearing on
How Multiple Conventions Address Different Aspects of Biodiversity
Biodiversity has 3 levels: genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity
Different conventions address different threats to biodiversity
Habitat loss is the primary cause of biodiversity decline globally
All three conventions in the question work together to protect biodiversity
Biodiversity Protection Framework
# Biodiversity Conservation
## Genetic Diversity
- Crop varieties (ITPGRFA)
- Seed banks
- Traditional varieties
- Wild relatives
## Species Diversity
- Protected areas (World Heritage)
- Habitat corridors
- Ex-situ conservation
- Breeding programs
## Ecosystem Diversity
- Land restoration (UNCCD)
- Wetland protection
- Forest conservation
- Marine ecosystemsConvention Approaches to Biodiversity
Convention | Primary Focus | Biodiversity Impact | Key Mechanism |
|---|---|---|---|
ITPGRFA | Agricultural genetic resources | Direct — conserves crop diversity | Multilateral access system |
UNCCD | Land degradation | Indirect — prevents habitat loss | Sustainable land management |
World Heritage | Outstanding sites | Direct — protects biodiversity hotspots | Legal protection status |
CBD (for comparison) | All biodiversity | Comprehensive — umbrella convention | National strategies & action plans |
The question tests understanding that biodiversity conservation requires multiple approaches. Think broadly:
Agricultural systems affect biodiversity (ITPGRFA)
Land degradation destroys habitats (UNCCD)
Protected areas preserve ecosystems (World Heritage)
All three conventions address different drivers of biodiversity loss.
Trap: Don't think only CBD deals with biodiversity — many conventions have biodiversity bearing
Trap: Agricultural biodiversity is still biodiversity — crop genetic diversity matters for food security
Trap: Indirect impacts count too — land degradation destroys biodiversity even if that's not the convention's main focus
Trap: UPSC tests broad thinking — habitat protection, genetic conservation, and ecosystem restoration all affect biodiversity