Buoyed with the Conference of Parties (COP 11) to the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD), Hyderabad has taken up a lot of measures to increase the City Biodiversity Index (CBI).
In this regard, the GHMC has initiated certain activities like constitution of biodiversity management committee, developing partnerships on the biodiversity management with reputed institutions like universities, , etc.
In a study conducted by Greenleap, under the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, Hyderabad has been ranked the third greenest city in the country after Delhi and Bengaluru. The study also says that the City is close to the international standard of greenery which is 33 per cent and is one of the forerunners in topping the list.
Another good news is that from 36 points on the CBI in October 2012, the City is now at 59. “We will get official figures only by next year. But our constant assessment gave us this result,” said Chandramohan Reddy, Additional Commissioner, Biodiversity, GHMC. He said that the GHMC make efforts to increase the points further.
The GHMC latest initiative is to add 14 more biodiversity parks to the Twin Cities in areas including Mallapur, South End Colony, HUDA Colony, APIIC Colony, open spaces near the MCRHRD, Road No. 44 Jubilee Hills, Ashwini Layout, Nandagiri Hills, open space near Daspalla Hotel, Deepthisri Nagar, Kukatpally, Mayuri Nagar, Mullakathva Cheruvu and Gulmohar Colony.
Reddy said there was need to revive biodiversity, especially the native species which the Twin Cities had lost in the past few decades.
The CBI is a self-assessment tool that encourages cities to monitor and evaluate their progress in conserving and enhancing biodiversity. According to CBD, more than 50 cities around the world testing the CBI.
“We are consulting with the elders of the Hyderabad to know Hyderabad’s native flora and fauna and aquatic species. Once, the list is ready, we will try to revive them,” GHMC Commissioner MT Krishna Babu said.