The Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Mr Prakash Javadekar, has emphasised the need to work together to conserve biodiversity to ensure the future for the present generation and the coming generations.

In his message on International Day for Biological Diversity being celebrated today, Mr Javadekar said that this earth has been borrowed from children and not inherited from ancestors. The minister said that the imperative challenge before India is to imbibe and translate the theme of Biodiversity for Sustainable Development, due to its privileged status as a megabiodiverse country, past and projected demographic transitions and commitment to democracy as a political principle.

Explaining this in detail, the minister mentioned, "Today we celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity, to recognise the pivotal role of biodiversity to life on earth and human well-being. On this day in 1992, the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was adopted. To mark this, 22nd May has been proclaimed by the United Nations as the International Day for Biological Diversity, to increase awareness about the importance of and threats to biodiversity."

"The theme this year, 'Biodiversity for Sustainable Development' is very topical, as the international community accelerates its efforts to define the post-2015 agenda, including adopting a set of goals for sustainable development. This year's theme reflects the bigger and very crucial paradigm shift that the world has undergone from seeing 'development' and 'environment' as two ends of a spectrum, where one must be compromised in order to enhance the other, to having development while protecting environment," said Mr Javadekar, "The challenge before India to imbibe and translate the theme of 'Biodiversity for Sustainable Development' is imperative in the light of our privileged status as a megabiodiverse country, past and projected demographic transitions and commitment to democracy as a political principle. These three facets make it non-negotiable that we galvanise the political will, scientific and technological know-how and financial resources to contribute to the agenda set out in the outcome document from the Rio+20 Conference, 'The future we want'."