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The country’s environmental protection efforts are being scrutinised after it ranked 176th.
India’s score of 45.5 out of 100 in this year’s Global Nature Conservation Index positions it among the worst-performing countries in the world.
The assessment, conducted by Ben-Gurion University and BioDB, looked at land management, biodiversity threats, governance capacity, and future trends.
India’s poor rating stems primarily from ineffective land management practices and escalating threats to its rich biodiversity.
The findings suggest a major disconnect between the country’s international environmental commitments and ground-level implementation.
This has raised concerns about the effectiveness of current conservation policies and the mechanisms in place to enforce them.
The most damning evidence of environmental degradation in India is the loss of 23,300 square kilometres of tree cover between 2001 and 2019.
This massive level of deforestation – driven by rapid urbanisation, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure development – has severely fragmented natural habitats.
Experts point out that this unprecedented loss of forest cover not only threatens countless species, but also compromises vital ecosystem services, including water security, soil conservation, and climate regulation. As they warn, India’s ranking should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers and citizens alike.
The situation is particularly alarming in biodiversity hotspots, where unique flora and fauna are increasingly struggling to survive under the pressure of human activity.
The index, developed by the Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change, says that immediate action is required to strengthen environmental governance and its enforcement.
With 15.9 per cent of marine species and 13.4 per cent of terrestrial species at risk according to the IUCN Red List, India will face significant challenges in balancing its developmental aspirations with environmental preservation.
It will need to comprehensively review current conservation policies and implement more effective strategies to protect its natural heritage.
Specialists recommend a multi-pronged approach that involves the stricter enforcement of environmental laws, increased funding for protected areas, enhanced community participation in conservation efforts, and better governmental coordination.
It will also be necessary to integrate environmental considerations into developmental planning and promote sustainable practices across all sectors of the economy.
