New Delhi, Jan 4 (IANS) India has 2.4 percent of the world’s land area but 7-8 percent of its plant and animal species, making it one of the 16 “megadiverse” countries. In this International Year of Biodiversity, the country is taking 11 steps to reduce species loss, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said here Monday.
The 11 steps are:

* Promote conservation of biological diversity of ecosystems, habitats and biomass;

* Promote conservation of species diversity;

* Promote conservation of genetic diversity;

* Promote sustainable use and consumption;

* Reduce pressure from habitat loss and degradation;

* Control threats from invasive alien species;

* Address challenges to biodiversity from climate change and pollution;

* Maintain capacity of ecosystems to deliver goods and services and support livelihoods;

* Protect traditional knowledge, innovations and practices;

* Ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of genetic resources; and

* Improve financial, human, scientific, technical and technological capacity to implement the Convention on Biodiversity.