The city's fall from grace has been dramatic. Experts point to the decade immediately after the economic liberalisation, especially between 1997 and 2001, when the city lost up to 99 per cent of its green cover in some parts. The built-up area in the city nearly doubled in that short period, show remote sensing satellite images.

P L Gautam, National Biodiversity Authority chairman, tells Kirtika Suneja about the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of genetic resources. Edited excerpts:

What are the major components of biodiversity?

Democratising joint forest management