India is one of the world’s megadiverse countries, harbouring nearly 7–8% of global biodiversity despite occupying only 2.4% of the Earth’s land area. This paper examines the role of environmental management in preserving biodiversity in India, focusing on key issues, national initiatives, and future prospects. Using secondary data from government reports and international conservation agencies, the study analyses forest cover trends, protected area coverage, species conservation programmes, and community-based management practices. Findings reveal that although India has achieved a forest and tree cover of 25.17% (827,357 km²) and established over 1,000 protected areas, only 5.43% of the geographical area is under formal protection, leading to habitat fragmentation and limited ecological connectivity. The presence of more than 1,300 globally threatened species, rising human–wildlife conflict cases, and a global wildlife population decline of 73% since 1970 underscore the severity of biodiversity loss. The study highlights that legal frameworks, protected area management, flagship species programmes, and technological monitoring have contributed positively to conservation outcomes, but remain constrained by financial limitations, institutional gaps, and socio-economic pressures. The paper concludes that integrated environmental management—combining landscape-level planning, community participation, adequate financing, and technology-driven monitoring—is essential for achieving sustainable biodiversity conservation in India and aligning national efforts with global biodiversity targets.
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