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50K wild species meet needs of billions worldwide: Report

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Billions of people, in developed and developing nations, benefit daily from the use of wild species for food, energy, materials, medicine, recreation, inspiration and many other vital contributions to human well-being.

The accelerating global biodiversity crisis, with a million species of plants and animals facing extinction, threatens these contributions to people.

A new report by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) on Friday offered insights, analysis and tools to establish more sustainable use of wild species of plants, animals, fungi and algae around the world.

Sustainable use is when biodiversity and ecosystem functioning are maintained while contributing to human wellbeing.

The IPBES Assessment Report on the Sustainable Use of Wild Species is the result of four years of work by 85 leading experts from the natural and social sciences, and holders of indigenous and local knowledge, as well as 200 contributing authors, drawing on more than 6,200 sources.

The summary of the report was approved this week by representatives of the 139 member states of IPBES in Bonn in Germany.

“With about 50,000 wild species used through different practices, including more than 10,000 wild species harvested directly for human food, rural people in developing countries are most at risk from unsustainable use, with lack of complementary alternatives often forcing them to further exploit wild species already at risk,” said Jean-Marc Fromentin (France), who co-chaired the assessment with Marla R. Emery (USA/Norway) and John Donaldson (South Africa).

“Seventy per cent of the world’s poor are directly dependent on wild species. One in five people rely on wild plants, algae and fungi for their food and income; 2.4 billion rely on fuel wood for cooking and about 90 per cent of the 120 million people working in capture fisheries are supported by small-scale fishing,” said Emery.

“But the regular use of wild species is extremely important not only in the Global South. From the fish that we eat, to medicines, cosmetics, decoration and recreation, wild species’ use is much more prevalent than most people realise.”

The use of wild species is an important source of income for millions of people worldwide.

Wild tree species account for two thirds of global industrial roundwood; trade in wild plants, algae and fungi is a billion-dollar industry; and even non-extractive uses of wild species are big business.

Tourism, based on observing wild species, is one of the main reasons that, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, protected areas globally received eight billion visitors and generated $600 billion every year.

The report identifies five broad categories of ‘practices’ in the use of wild species: fishing; gathering; logging; terrestrial animal harvesting (including hunting); and non-extractive practices, such as observing.

For each practice, it then examines specific auses’ such as for food and feed; materials; medicine, energy; recreation; ceremony; learning and decoration –providing a detailed analysis of the trends in each, over the past 20 years.

In most cases, use of wild species has increased, but sustainability of use has varied, such as in gathering for medicine and logging for materials and energy.

Speaking specifically about fishing as an example, Fromentin said: “Recent global estimates confirm that about 34 per cent of marine wild fish stocks are overfished and 66 per cent are fished within biologically sustainable levels — but within this global picture there are significant local and contextual variations.

“Countries with robust fisheries management have seen stocks increasing in abundance. The Atlantic bluefin tuna population, for instance, has been rebuilt and is now fished within sustainable levels.

“For countries and regions with low intensity fisheries management measures, however, the status of stocks is often poorly known, but generally believed to be below the abundance that would maximise sustainable food production.

“Many small-scale fisheries are unsustainable or only partially sustainable, especially in Africa for both inland and marine fisheries, and in Asia, Latin America and Europe for coastal fisheries.”

Illegal use and illegal trade in wild species are also addressed in the report — as this occurs across all of the practices and often leads to unsustainable use.

The authors find that illegal trade in wild species represents the third largest class of all illegal trade — with estimated annual values of up to $199 billion.

Timber and fish make up the largest volumes and value of illegal trade in wild species.

Business

Maruti Suzuki’s New Mid-Term Plan Aims To Make India An Export Hub, Launch More EVs

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New Delhi: The Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan, the parent company of Maruti Suzuki India, on Thursday announced a new mid-term plan with a “rethink” in its strategy as “the business environment has changed due to declining market share in India” and the growing electrical vehicles segment.

In its new mid-term plan for 2025-30, the company has identified India as its “most important market”. Maruti Suzuki aims to create a manufacturing capacity of producing 4 million cars annually to reclaim a 50 per cent market share in India and use the country as a global export hub as well.

The auto major plans to expand its EV lineup starting with the e-Vitara, and is aiming to launch four new EV models by FY30 in a segment where its rivals like Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra already have a varied EV portfolio in India.

“In India, we will promote further localisation in line with the growth of the electric vehicle market,” the company said.

Maruti Suzuki is currently exporting three lakh vehicles from India annually. By the end of this decade, it is targeting the export of 7.5-8 lakh units per year.

While the company noted it achieved revenue and profit targets ahead of schedule by improving sales mix and quality, its sales volume target could not be met.

It noted that the “competitive environment is becoming increasingly severe, and the quality of product functions, equipment and services required by customers is increasing”.

It aims to be India’s no.1 carmaker in terms of production, local sales and exports of electric cars. A total of six electric vehicles will be introduced by FY30, including four electric cars and two commercial vehicles.

Suzuki Motor plans to invest 1,200 billion yen (about Rs 7,000 crore) as capital expenditure towards production, new models, carbon neutrality and quality measures. A new plant in Haryana’s Kharkhoda and an assembly line in Suzuki Motor Gujarat will come onstream by 2030 for a total installed capacity of four million units.

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Business

India to transform into high-income country with GDP of $23–$35 trillion by 2047

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New Delhi, Feb 20: India is set to transform into a high-income country with a projected GDP of $23–$35 trillion by 2047, driven by sustained annual growth of 8-10 per cent, according to a report on Thursday.

This will be powered by India’s demographic dividend, technological innovation, and sectoral transformation, according to the report by Bain & Company and Nasscom.

With nearly 200 million individuals expected to enter the workforce in the coming decades, India has a unique opportunity to drive high-value job creation and unlock significant economic potential.

Five key sectors, including electronics, energy, chemicals, automotive, and services, would act as strategic growth levers due to alignment with global trends and scalability, with the potential to address India’s unique challenges and advantages.

Rising income, a growing pool of skilled workers, and continuous improvements in infrastructure are some of the key factors that can fuel this growth, said the report.

“By investing in digital and transport infrastructure, enhancing domestic manufacturing, and driving collaborative R&D, we can position India as a leader in future technologies and global trade. A multi-pronged, tech-driven approach will be key to unlocking inclusive and sustainable growth,” said Sangeeta Gupta, Senior Vice President at Nasscom.

Advances in AI-driven chip design, touchless manufacturing, and backward integration into component manufacturing and design could enhance cost competitiveness and innovation, driving the sector’s export share from 24 per cent to 45 per cent-50 per cent by 2047 and its GDP contribution from 3 per cent to 8 per cent-10 per cent.

India’s share of renewables in overall energy generation has the potential to rise from 24 per cent in 2023 to 70 per cent in 2047 backed by modernising energy infrastructure, and scaled investments in green energy. India is also likely to transition from a net energy importer to a net exporter.

“AI-powered molecular design and digital twin technologies, along with other tech-driven improvements can lead to a potential increase India’s share in global value chain from around 3 per cent to over 10 per cent in 2047,” said the report.

Auto-components exports sector are likely to reach $200–$250 billion (by 2047), driven by near-term share capture in ICE market and longer-term shift to EVs.

“Electronics is one of the key sectors instrumental in this journey and is poised to emerge as a global manufacturing hub expected to $3.5 trillion by 2047, contributing more than 20 per cent to global production,” said Lokesh Payik, Partner at Bain & Company.

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Business

India aims to triple its textile exports to Rs 9 lakh crore by 2030

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New Delhi, Feb 19: India’s textile exports have reached Rs 3 lakh crore and the goal is to triple this to Rs 9 lakh crore by 2030 by strengthening domestic manufacturing and expanding global reach, the government has said.

India is the sixth-largest exporter of textiles globally, contributing 8.21 per cent to the country’s total exports in 2023-24.

The sector holds a 4.5 per cent share in global trade, with the United States and European Union accounting for 47 per cent of India’s textile and apparel exports, according to the Ministry of Textiles.

The recently concluded ‘Bharat Tex 2025’ in the national capital served as a platform to accelerate the government’s “Farm to Fibre, Fabric, Fashion, and Foreign Markets” vision. The event demonstrated India’s leadership in the textile sector and its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and global collaboration.

Organised from February 14 -17, the event spanned 2.2 million square feet and featured over 5,000 exhibitors, providing a comprehensive showcase of India’s textile ecosystem.

More than 1,20,000 trade visitors, from 120+ countries including global CEOs, policymakers, and industry leaders, attended the event, according to the ministry.

“From an employment perspective, the textile industry provides direct employment to over 45 million people and supports the livelihoods of over 100 million individuals indirectly, including a large proportion of women and rural workers,” said the government.

The government’s focus on increasing textile manufacturing, modernising infrastructure, fostering innovation, and upgrading technology has strengthened India’s position as a global textile hub.

India is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of fabrics, catering to both domestic and international markets.

The sector is characterised by a mix of large-scale industrial manufacturing and small-scale artisanal production, reflecting a vibrant tapestry of innovation and tradition.

Major fabric hubs in the country include Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and West Bengal, each known for its unique textile specialties.

The apparel and fashion industry is a major economic driver, contributing significantly to GDP and employment.

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