'Will use bio-diversity Act to enforce Nagoya Protocol in India'

NEW DELHI: The Nagoya Protocol, which is a crucial feature of global attempts at conserving biodiversity, will be implemented in India through the Biological Diversity Act, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar told Rajya Sabha today.

Making a suo motu statement in the Upper House a day after he told Lok Sabha that the Protocol has received the required 50th instrument of ratification for its implementation, Javadekar said that, "The pivotal role played by India in achieving this remarkable feat once again showcases its leadership in biodiversity in the global arena."

India is currently the President of CoP after it hosted CoP-11 to the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) in Hyderabad in October, 2012. India's presidency will last till CoP-12 is held in South Korea's Pyeongchang in October this year.

Javadekar said that after having received the required 50th instrument of ratification on July 14, the Protocol on access and benefit sharing will come into force on the 90th day -- October 12, 2014.

He said that facilitating the early implementation of this landmark international treaty has been a priority of India as the CoP president. India had signed the Protocol on May 11, 2011, and ratified it on October 9, 2012.

The Protocol has been negotiated under the aegis of CBD and adopted by the 10th Conference of Parties (CoP) held in Nagoya, Japan, in October, 2010.