Minister of state for science & technology and ocean development Kapil Sibal strongly advocated in-built legal checks to prevent degradation of the ecosystem at the convention on the role of the private sector in preserving biodiversity on Tuesday. The conclave was organised by CII in partnership with the ministry of commerce & industry and ministry of environment & forests.

Mr Sibal also said the main problem today is lack of knowledge about how our actions are going to impact the lives of generations to come. He said mining, agriculture, tourism, transportation, travel were some of the main sectors that are causing damage to natural resources and habitat loss, leading to confrontation with nature.

The very fact that the Convention on Biodiversity was signed in 1994 shows how new this subject is for scientists. The world community has not yet woken up to the degradation the exploitation of the natural resources is causing, he said.

Talking about the role of the private sector, he said it was key to protection of biodiversity and the breakdown of the ecosystem since it was playing a significant role in major developmental activities.