As of March 2026, 7th National Biological Diversity Report (NR7) refers to the mandatory periodic report submitted by member countries to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) under the United Nations framework.
India’s 7th National Report (NR7) to the Convention on Biological Diversity, submitted in March 2026, details progress on the 2022 Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). While India has aligned its 23 National Biodiversity Targets (NBTs) with global goals and shown success in flagship species recovery (tigers, lions, rhinos), only two targets, biodiversity-inclusive planning and ecosystem restoration, are currently on track. The report highlights significant achievements in land restoration (24.1 million hectares) and forest cover (25.17%) while noting that roughly 30% of land remains degraded and the "30x30" protected area goal requires accelerated action.
What is the 7th National Biological Diversity Report?
India has submitted its 7th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Report mentioned a comprehensive assessment of the country's progress toward achieving 23 National Biodiversity Targets and 142 indicators which are aligned with the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The report acts as a comprehensive report card on India's progress in biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource use.
What is Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework?
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is a landmark international agreement adopted in December 2022 by 196 countries to reverse nature loss by 2030 and achieve a shared vision of living in harmony with nature by 2050. The framework serves as the primary global strategy to protect biodiversity which includes 4 goals for 2050 and 23 targets for 2030. As per the 7th National Biological Diversity Report only 2 out of 23 targets are on track in India.
Key Details of 7th National Biological Diversity Report
The 7th National Biological Diversity Report was submitted in March 2026 to the Convention on Biological Diversity which showcases progress toward the 2030 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Key findings indicate successful alignment of policies, mangrove forest cover reaching 25.17% and 24.1 million hectares of land restoration achieved. Let’s take a look at the 7th National Biological Diversity.
Context and Framework
The 7th National Biological Diversity Report evaluates progress across 23 national biodiversity targets aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The framework aims at halting biodiversity loss by 2030.
Important Trends
The report has also showcased important trends including increased mangrove cover, marine protection and species recovery. Let’s take a look at the important trends as per the 7th National Biological Diversity Report.
- Increased Mangrove Cover and Bamboo Areas: Modest increases in mangrove cover and a 1,540 Km² expansion in bamboo areas.
- Marine Protection: Marine protected areas have increased and the government is identifying Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures.
- Species Recovery: Positive trends in Asiatic lion and one-horned rhino populations, with the first national snow leopard survey completed.
Progress Include
The 7th National Biological Diversity Report evaluated 23 National Biodiversity Targets. The report increased forest cover, species recovery and land restoration. Let’s take a look at the progress covered in the report.
- Forest and Tree Cover: Forest area increased to 827,357 sq km which represents 25.17% of India's geographical area.
- Land Restoration: 24.1 million hectares of land is restored or is under restoration, approaching the 26 million hectares Bonn Challenge pledge.
- Conservation Areas: Expanded marine protected areas and identification of Other Effective Area Based Conservation Measures have been taken.
- Species Recovery: Positive trends in species recovery such as lions and one-horned rhinoceroses, with the first national snow leopard assessment completed.
- Policy and Monitoring: 142 national indicators used to track progress along with enhanced digital systems like PARIVESH 2.0 for environmental approvals.
Challenges Mentioned in the 7th National Biological Diversity Report
India's 7th National Biological Diversity Report highlights progress in ecosystem restoration but also highlights several challenges such as land degradation, monitoring gaps, agricultural issues and structural hurdles. Let’s take a look at the challenges mentioned in the 7th National Biological Diversity.
1. Land Degradation and Conservation
Approximately 29.77% of India's land is degraded which means a sum total of 97 million hectares. While marine protected areas are expanding, only 5% of land is under formal protection, making the 30% of land conservation challenging as per the 2030 goal.
2. Data and Monitoring Gaps
Biodiversity data is scattered across multiple departments with no standardized or uniform methods for new indicators. Also, differing data collection intervals make tracking long term trends very difficult.
3. Capacity and Structural Hurdles
The report highlights a lack in the necessary financial resources and technical capacity required to implement, monitor and enforce biodiversity policies effectively. Only two of the 23 national biodiversity targets are clearly on track.
4. Climate Change Impacts
As per the 7th National Biological Diversity Report, there has been an increase in floods, droughts and forest fires which are severely affecting ecosystems. These negative climate changes are also impacting the restoration efforts.
5. Agriculture Issues
The report highlights several agricultural issues such as limited data on pesticide reduction and nutrient runoff. While agroforestry and trees outside forests are growing, complete data on biodiversity-friendly agricultural practices remains limited
Conclusion
India has submitted its 7th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity which includes a comprehensive assessment of the country's progress toward achieving 23 National Biodiversity Targets and 142 indicators set by the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. As per the report we are witnessing some positive changes such as increased mangrove cover, bigger bamboo areas, species recovery, land restoration and conservation of areas. However, only 2 out of 23 targets are on track due to significant financial limitations and lack of reliable data.