Environment Ministry today launched an interactive web-based database and information system on biodiversity called the Indian Biodiversity Information System (IBIS).

Speaking after inaugurating the portal, developed by Gujarat's Anand-based Foundation and Ecological Security, Environment Secretary Vijai Sharma said "it is an important initiative in the International year of Bio-diversity."

"FES (www.fes.org.in) is invovled in assisting the management and governance of Common Property Land Resources and works towards improving the livelihoods of the rural poor through the ecological restoration of degraded forests and village commons in about 112,000 hectares with 1800 village communities in six states in India," said a release issued after the launch of the website.

Stating that a fundamental prerequisite in the conservation of biological diversity is the availability of adequate and reliable information, which aids in developing conservation strategies, the statement said "FES has built upon IBIS so as to enable more people to access and build such information.