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Vice President Shri Venkaiah Naidu has said, preservation of nature and culture is the only way to ensure a sustainable future. He was participating in the International Day of Biodiversity celebrations organized by the National Biodiversity Authority in Chennai .
Shri Naidu observed that inclusive growth contributes immensely to preservation of nature. He urged for the development process to be in harmony with preservation of nature.
The Vice President noted that nature plays a critical role in providing food, energy, medicines and genetic resources. He took pride in the fact that India has a long tradition of frugality and simple living. However, he noted that symbiotic relationship of man with nature gets debilitated as societies develop.
The Vice President said deforestation, urbanization, industrialization, and pollution lead to loss of trees at an unbelievable pace.
He said the forest cover in India stands at 21% against global standard of 33.3%. He underscored that the average abundance of native species in most land-based habitats has fallen by at least 20%, mostly since 1900.
He added, more than 40% of amphibian species, almost 33% of reef-forming corals and more than a third of all marine mammals are threatened. Shri Naidu asked for diversification of food crops and to ensure nutrition security.