But this biodiversity is threatened by and large due to overexploitation, unsustainable use of resources and lack of access to alternative solutions. Loss of biodiversity is leading to environmental imbalance thus challenging the sustainability of the environment and mankind. Biodiversity serves as a protective shield for human beings which apart from offering various ecosystem services also helps in the fulfilment of basic needs for survival of human beings and makes the ecosystem less vulnerable to natural calamities.

A few decade ago the impact of biodiversity loss was not very visible but now the impact is obvious and is affecting mankind in the form of frequent natural calamities reduction in quality and quantity of basic ecosystem services like water, fertile soil, fresh air, varieties of crops etc. leading to food insecurity, diseases, poverty, migration, high mortality rate, increasing vulnerability to natural disasters, decreased quality of life, low social security etc.

It is essential to take steps and suggest measures towards biodiversity conservation. The suggested measures should be practical, participatory and consider the need of the community who are directly or indirectly dependent on natural resources to fulfill their basic needs and earn their livelihoods. It is essential to assess and promote the economic angle of biodiversity in addition to the environmental value and develop its linkage to sustained living. Sustainable Development should be all about "People Planet and Profit". Sustained practice and sustained institution is required for sustainable development.

The article shares some case studies from rural areas of India to demonstrate how rural communities are being trained and capacities built towards participatory biodiversity conservation and establishment of enterprise based business models on nature products. Training, capacity building and development of enterprises based on green products are coming as a new dimension towards biodiversity conservation. Such green enterprises follow a holistic and participatory approach towards conservation of biodiversity, economic empowerment and sustainable livelihood ensuring socioeconomic and environmental sustainability.

Lok Panchayat is a Non Government Organization (NGO) working with tribal population in Sangamner District of Maharashtra. The tribal population in this region is mainly dependent on agriculture and forests for livelihood. Excessive use of chemical fertilizer for cash crops, fragmentation of land, transition from mix cropping to mono-cropping, degradation of land and water quality etc. are some of the issues of the area.

This condition is leading to low quality of life, limited livelihood options, decreasing biodiversity, vanishing crop species, low economic returns and high rate of migration.

Lok Panchayat initiated a project with an aim to conserve agro-biodiversity and develop a business model based on indigenous crop varieties.

A producer company was developed as ‘Baliraj Krishak’, benefitting 203 farmers who are shareholders of the company. Farmers were exposed to successful producer companies functioning in different parts of India. Farmers were trained on the business model approach based on indigenous crop varieties grown with organic farming technology. A catalogue of product was developed on indigenous crop varieties. Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) members and farmers were also trained in production and value addition of organic products. Under the project an outlet named as Irjik Organic Spot has been established in Sangamner town for the sale of indigenous organic food and other products made by SHG groups. Places of local weekly markets and various fairs were also used as a platform for the sale of products. The NGO also involved the local media for promotion of the company and its green products. The focus is also on value addition of products from - rice, finger millet, wheat, chilli etc. and exposure visits of women to successful enterprises. Cultivation of black rice is also promoted in the area. Black rice is a traditional rice variety cherished by the Adivasi farmers of Western Ghats. Its unique quality of taste and fragrance along with nutritious value makes it a healthy and rich choice.

Vanitatai the director of the producer company and a SHG member was trained in organic cultivation of devthan bajara (a millet variety) in her farm. She promoted the same and invited other women to visit her farm to see bajra crops, as a result 70 more women are now cultivating devathan bajra through mix cropping system. She has become one of the shareholders of Baliraj Krishak company and has also inspired 34 other women to become shareholders of the producer company.

Sanio ka Sangathan a voluntary organization working in villages of Uttarakhand is working for the conservation of Ringaal (a variety of bamboo i.e., Dendrocalamus spp.), which is a prominent source of livelihood for the poor and marginalized in Baidi and Rudi villages of Uttarakhand. Restriction on Ringaal harvesting in 1983 by the Government led to limited livelihood option for the community, affecting the overall quality of life. Also the community started losing the entrepreneurs who had skills of producing Ringaal based craft items.

Sanio ka Sangathan took the initiative to conserve Ringaal in a participatory manner and convince the Government to lift the ban and permit Ringaal harvesting. Community in the area was trained in cultivation and sustainable harvest of Ringaal. Community started planting Ringaal in local forest and on village lands. SHG groups were formed and women trained in value addition of Ringaal based products. Community has been given direct access to market and links established with ecotourism units for the sale of products. Apart from this the community is also undertaking Natural Resource Management (NRM) practices. Seed banks are developed and people encouraged to use local seeds. With involvement of women, 20 Eco-development Committees are formed. Community is encouraged for traditional water use. Wasteland development provided additional livelihood benefits and regenerated new livelihood options. Rain water harvesting, installation of bio-gas plants, technical trainings towards NRM practices etc. is also added to the new list of activities. In all, the activities of the project community shares the costs (10-25% in cash/kind) and takes joint decisions in finalizing norms and modalities for developing sustainable approaches.

Dhriti is an NGO working in Assam for conservation of timber in 2 district of Assam (Borpeta and Baksa) working with 1000 families with a motive to replace timber with bamboo based products. The NGO’s vision is to create a replicable model for reducing deforestation in the North East through promotion of sustainable bamboo based livelihoods amongst marginalized communities. The project also aims for economic upliftment of communities residing near Manas Tiger Reserve, providing alternative sources of livelihood to generate sustainable livelihood for at least 1000 families in two clusters. It was assessed that there is a huge market for bamboo mat composites (bamboo ply, bamboo corrugated sheets etc.). Bamboo mat composites have a global market of Rs.50,000 crores pl chk fig annually. This is supposed to double by 2015. Presently Assam has an annual demand of about Rs.4000 crores, as per industry sources. The economics of scale and scope of this product gives wide opportunity for generating employment in rural and semi urban areas. There is an employment potential for more than 5 lakh artisans in bamboo mat composites. Looking at this opportunity the NGO has provided training to the community in bamboo mat composites merging traditional knowledge with new techniques. This initiative is helping in conservation of timber and forest as the community dependant on forest get alternative stable employment. Also alternative for plywood in market will lead to lesser consumption of timber.

Dalit Sangh is working with the tribal Pardhi Community in Hosangabad district of Madhya Pradesh. A large part of Hoshangabad district is within the Satpuda Tiger Reserve, Bori Wildlife Sanctuary and Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve. Tigers of the reserve are threatened with illegal hunting and the blame is placed often on the hunting tribe - the Pardhi community. This community has rich traditional knowledge on wildlife and animal behavior. The NGO conducted a study on the traditional knowledge and skills of the community in wildlife and biodiversity. Based on that, alternate, suitable and sustainable livelihood options were designed for wildlife conservation and alternate livelihood options for the community. Rapport building exercise, awareness programmes on conservation issues and meetings were carried out involving Gram Panchayat, community members, forest officials and other stakeholders. This was specially required to enhance the socialization and integration processes of the Pardhi families into the village community. Youths were trained as ecotourism guides. Training and Capacity building activities carried out for 107 households. Alternate livelihood options were created like poultry, apiculture and handicraft skills. Linkages were developed with Khadi Gram Udyog, banks, forest and other state departments. Community was trained on identification, conservation, processing and marketing of medicinal plants. The community was also exposed to local government schemes and programmes for alternate livelihood options and forest conservation.

To attain environmental sustainability it is important that we have a holistic and participatory approach towards conserving our natural resources and biodiversity. Socioeconomic and environmental dimensions should be considered for planning steps towards environmental sustainability. Alternate livelihood options, promotion of indigenous knowledge, research based action, need assessment, resource monitoring and mapping, training and capacity building are some of the key points to work upon towards developing participatory models for conservation of biodiversity. Such models should focus on issues including poverty reduction, biodiversity and livelihood. This would ensure long term socioeconomic and environmental sustainability. A paradigm shift is required towards green enterprises balancing social and environmental needs with business approaches while bringing in better management practices A business based on natural resources should also be clear on the access right i.e., how much resource could be accessed from the forest for a particular product.

Note: The shared case studies are experiences from some of the projects supported by Global Environment Facility (GEF) UNDP Small Grants Programme in India.