Biodiversity is the variety of different types of life found on earth. It is a measure of the variety of organisms present in different ecosystems. This can refer to genetic variation, ecosystem variation, or species variation (number of species) within an area, biome, or planet.
South Asia is home to one of the oldest civilizations of the world. The Region includes the countries i.e. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. South Asia is famous for its spectacular natural beauty and biological wealth. The region’s geographical expanse and topography contains several diverse marine and terrestrial ecosystems that harbour a rich variety of faunal and floral species.
As biodiversity has no geopolitical boundaries and it is connected among all member countries of South Asia region by land or sea, the regional approach is necessary for conservation of biodiversity in a holistic manner. It is understood that the regional cooperation will help build harmonization, facilitate to mitigate adverse impact on biodiversity in the region, built capacity through exchange of information, technology and knowledge. SACEP being the regional intergovernmental environment body for South Asia is fulfilling the above need. Biodiversity conservation is one of the priority areas of SACEP since its establishment in 1982.
12thSACEP GC resolution ‘South Asia’s Biodiversity Beyond 2010’
