It is now becoming more widely accepted that the conservation of biodiversity is the responsibility of all sectors of society, and action is required and expected from governments, conservation organizations, business community and wider society.

Finding innovative ways to link biodiversity conservation with development and growth is crucial to helping biodiversity conservation efforts succeed for ethical, cultural and economic reasons. Tools for mainstreaming biodiversity in impact assessment and also in development decisions can help to exercise best development options with due recognition of the conservation goals for safeguarding threatened bio-resources and critical ecosystem goods and services.

Wildlife Institute of India organised a training programme on Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Impact Assessment for the officers of the Indian Forest Service sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoE&F), Government of India, New Delhi. This course has a twin objective of improving the understanding of the mechanisms to mainstream biodiversity in the EIA framework for good reporting and sound decision making and to empower the natural resource managers for a careful review of proposals seeking diversion of forested areas for developments in economic sectors such as mineral extraction, dam building and linear alignments of roads and power grids through forested areas. The MoE&F has nominated 19 IFS Officers of varying seniority to attend this course.

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