The Earth's natural and biological resources are extremely important for humanity's economic and social development. Biodiversity provides us the pool of genetic resources from which new seeds, new drugs, and new foods emerge as existing resources are threatened by climate, pests, and over-exploitation. Due to this, there is a growing recognition that biological diversity is a global asset of utmost value to the present and future generations. But having said that, the threat to species and ecosystems has never been so grave as it is today. Extinction of species caused by human activities continues at a disturbing frequency. Therefore, this worrying situation calls for an efficient agenda for biological conservation management.

With this context, the cover story in this issue examines that today, biodiversity in India is experiencing high levels of stress and conservation challenges due to demand for food, water, fuel, and raw materials from the burgeoning population. Halting the loss of biodiversity has become an urgent issue facing us in India. Our country is committed to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), to achieve a significant reduction in the current rate of biodiversity loss by 2020. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, has reformulated and renamed its scheme related to biodiversity conservation as 'Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH)' during the 11th plan. The MoEFCC, in consultation with many scientific institutions/organizations in India, has identified 16 terrestrial and seven marine species with an objective of saving critically endangered species/ecosystems, which cannot be covered under the components of conservation of protected areas (PAs) and protection of wildlife outside PAs across wider landscape/seascape.

Our cover story also highlights the fact that if we are to preserve the world's cultural and natural treasures, we must respect diversity and must look ahead rationally and behave ethically. People throughout the world have developed ways and means of conservation that are interwoven into their cultural fabric. Therefore, conservation of both cultural and biological diversity is crucial for India. Fortunately for us, the public, media, governments, and scientists are awakening to the losses and risks and the need to take apparent action. Conserving wildlife, calls for good science, upgraded technology, excellent management, and a broad constituency willing to make some recognitions to save it. Let us use this time to introspect our current actions and make decisions that affects the future of us all.

The special report provides a post analysis of the disturbing 'Delhi smog' that enveloped the entire Delhi-NCR region in the first week of November 2016. Perhaps to prevent the smog of the magnitude witnessed in this period, from recurring in future, the state government should collaborate with environmental and pollution think-tanks, and experts to implement long-term changes that reduce emissions, as well as short-term measures to address episodic spikes as and when they occur. While there are several causes that could be attributed to this spike in pollution, biomass burning in the city and of the agricultural waste in the neighbouring areas of Delhi needs to be addressed by encouraging green methods of waste disposal.