ABSTRACT
In the Convention of Biological Diversity, biotechnology is defined as “any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use’’. Biotechnology, includes genetic engineering, recombinant DNA technologies and molecular technologies. The Chapter 16 of UNCED Agenda 21 is devoted to biotechnology. It also makes a distinction between “modern’’ biotechnology (DNA manipulation) and “traditional’’ biotechnology practiced by the plant breeders. Various bio technology applications in biodiversity conservation are given in a diagrammatic form in Figure 5.1. Bio Technology is useful in biodiversity conservation in several ways as given
below:
• Increasing the availability of food, feed and renewable raw materials. • Improving human health. • Enhancing protection of the environment. • Enhancing bio safety and developing international mechanisms for co-operation. • Establishing enablingmechanisms for the development and environmentally sound
application of biotechnology.
