Consider the following international agreements: Which of the above has/have a bearing on the biodiversity?

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

All three bear on biodiversity.

Statement by statement

1. ✓ YES The plant treaty (ITPGRFA, 2001) conserves crop genetic diversity and shares its benefits.

2. ✓ YES Fighting desertification protects dryland ecosystems and their species.

3. ✓ YES The World Heritage Convention protects natural sites like Kaziranga and the Western Ghats.

The idea

“Has a bearing on” is a wide phrase. It does not ask whether the treaty is about biodiversity, only whether it affects it. Any treaty that protects genes, species, habitats or land does.

Plant treaty → saves the genetic variety of crops → Desertification convention → saves dryland habitats → World Heritage Convention → protects natural sites → All three affect biodiversity

Why the others are wrong

(a) Drops the World Heritage Convention — it lists natural as well as cultural sites.

(c) Drops the UNCCD — drylands are ecosystems too.

The trap

World Heritage sounds cultural (Taj Mahal), but it covers natural sites too.

Also know

The plant treaty (FAO, 2001) recognises farmers’ rights and shares seeds of 64 major crops through a common pool. The World Heritage Convention (UNESCO, 1972) lists natural as well as cultural sites. India’s natural sites: Kaziranga, Manas, Keoladeo, Sundarbans, Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers, Western Ghats and Great Himalayan National Park; Khangchendzonga is a mixed site.