Frozen Lines
India’s sharp rejection of the latest China-Pakistan joint statement on Kashmir was predictable.
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on Friday said that Project Cheetah, launched in 2022 through the world’s first intercontinental translocation of a large carnivore, reflects India’s strong commitment to ecological restoration, biodiversity conservation and the revival of grassland ecosystems.
He said the successful adaptation and breeding of cheetahs in India represent encouraging progress in long-term species recovery and habitat restoration efforts.
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Yadav was speaking at an event in Bhopal.
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The Union Minister, along with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, presided over the national-level celebrations of the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) 2026 and a special event on cheetah conservation at the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal.
The programme was organised around the theme “Acting Locally for Global Impact”, highlighting India’s commitment to biodiversity conservation, community participation and ecological restoration.
The event was organised by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in collaboration with the Government of Madhya Pradesh, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA).
In his address, Bhupender Yadav said conserving biodiversity strengthens nature’s resilience and adaptive capacity in the face of challenges such as climate change.
He noted that ecological scientists increasingly recognise that plants and animals cannot survive in isolation, but depend upon complex and interdependent ecological systems.
The minister said conservation thinking has evolved from focusing solely on individual species to protecting the entire spectrum of life and interconnected ecosystems.
Referring to the theme of International Day for Biological Diversity 2026, Yadav said “Acting Locally for Global Impact” underlines the importance of empowering communities and local institutions to achieve environmental sustainability and ecological security.
He stressed that meaningful global outcomes can emerge only through strong local action, community participation and sustainable lifestyles.
Highlighting India’s rich biodiversity heritage and traditional ecological knowledge systems, the minister said India, as one of the world’s megadiverse countries, possesses diverse ecosystems ranging from the Himalayas and forests to wetlands, grasslands, deserts, coastal and marine ecosystems.
He observed that community-led conservation traditions such as sacred groves, folk varieties, landraces and local stewardship practices reflect the deep cultural and ecological relationship between people and nature.
Addressing the gathering, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the state, widely recognised as the “Tiger State of India”, has emerged as a major centre for biodiversity conservation and wildlife protection in the country.
He highlighted the state’s rich ecological diversity, including forests, wetlands and river ecosystems that support livelihoods and ecological security.
The Chief Minister described the reintroduction of cheetahs in Madhya Pradesh as a landmark achievement in India’s conservation journey and a symbol of ecological restoration and biodiversity recovery.
He said Project Cheetah has strengthened habitat conservation, scientific wildlife management and community participation in conservation efforts.
Mohan Yadav further stated that Madhya Pradesh has taken significant steps to strengthen biodiversity governance through Biodiversity Management Committees and the preparation of People’s Biodiversity Registers, thereby empowering local communities to conserve traditional knowledge and biological resources.
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