Data regarding utilization of Bio-resources in Punjab

Out of the total 373 large/medium units (LMU) in Punjab, 310 units (83%) utilize bio-resources as major raw material. These include 142 units of food products & beverages (45%), 96 textile units of both, natural and synthetic fibre (31%) and 33 paper & paper products units (11%). The maximum bioresource based LMUs are located in district Ludhiana (77) followed by Patiala (59), and Mohali & Amritsar (32 each). And 13% (20,940) of the total Small Scale Units (SSU) are bioresource-based enterprises. These include food products & beverages (6081), leather & leather products (4263), textiles (1425 approx.), wood products (2783), furniture (2621), paper & paper products (754), rubber products (647), hosiery & garments 394), pharmaceuticals & botanicals (212) and tobacco products (7). Ludhiana (4292), Amritsar (2816), Sangrur (2803) and Jalandhar (1926) are leading districts for bioresources based SSUs in the state.

Source: (Jerath. N, 2012).

There are 255 registered herbal units operating in Punjab, besides many unregistered herbal units utilizing botanicals to prepare various product formulations. For the data available for 121 units, these units use 919.9 MT/annum of raw plant materials. The most used medicinal plants are Aloe barbadensis, Phyllanthus emblica and Terminalia chebula. Two plant species namely Tecomella undulata and Withania coagulans, being used by herbal units have been identified as threatened species in the state. Tecomella undulata has been identified as an 'endangered species' and Withania coagulans as 'vulnerable species'. Source: (Jerath N, 2012).

About 500 unregistered tiny and cottage units based on biological resources exist in the state with a large percentage occurring in the Shivalik area alone due to higher availability of non-timber forest produce (NTFP) and wild medicinal plants. These units provide livelihood to local communities in about 300 villages in the Shivalik area falling in five forest divisions namely, Ropar, Garhshankar, Hoshiarpur, Dasuya and Pathankot. The local populations access these bio-resources, both from the forests and uncultivated areas as raw material. (Source: Jerath. N, 2012).

Jerath, Neelima; Singh, Gurharminder & Sehgal, Dhiraj; 2012. Bioresources based Industry in Punjab: A Treatise. Punjab Biodiversity Board & Punjab State Council for Science & Technology, Chandigarh. P : 157

 Urban Biodiversity

 “Urban biodiversity” describes the variety and richness of living organisms and habitats found in and on the edge of human settlements, including remnants of natural landscapes, traditional agricultural lands and urban-industrial areas.

Biodiversity and Urbanization

Urbanization and urban development processes are often responsible for biodiversity loss but are an efficient organizing feature that characterizes human civilization.

·         They are the emblem of development as they contribute to almost 80% of the GDP across the globe. 

·         The cities today occupy 2-3% of the earth’s surface, but the inhabitants use 75% of the natural resources of the planet and emanate 50% of global waste and account for 60-80% of GHG emissions.

·         In 2010, The UN HABITAT estimated that 50.6% of the population lived in world’s urban areas and this would reach 70% by 2050.

·         In India, 30% of the Indian population resides in urban an areas and the figure is likely to escalate to 600 million in 2031. It is further projected that the country will be 50% urban by 2044.

·         In 2010, the 193 Parties (192 national governments and the European Union) who were signatories to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted Decision X/22 at the tenth meeting of the CBD Conference of the Parties in Aichi/Nagoya, Japan. Adoption of the Decision also meant endorsement of a “Plan of Action on Sub-National Governments, Cities and Other Local Authorities for Biodiversity (2010-2020)”. This momentous decision supports and recognizes the critical roles that local governments play in reducing biodiversity loss and improving ecosystem management.

The objectives of Convention:–

a) Conservation of biodiversity 

b) Sustainable use of all its components and

c) Equitable sharing of the benefits that arise from its genetic resources.

·         The City Biodiversity Index (CBI) is one of the tools that enable city administrators to manage and measure their biodiversity. The CBI also known as the Singapore Index on Cities Biodiversity, is a self assessment tool that has been used by 50 cities across the globe. The index comprises of two parts:

1.       Profile of the city which requires information such as location, climate , demographics, economic parameters physical characteristics and biodiversity features.

2.       The city’s Self Assessment of the 23 Indicators based on guideline and methodology provided in the manual.

The indicators are divided into three components:

1.       Native Biodiversity in the city  (Indicators 1- 10)

2. Ecosystem Services provided by Biodiversity (Indicators 11- 14)

3. Governance and Management of Biodiversity (Indicators 15 – 23)