SPECIAL SECTION: MICROBIAL DIVERSITY CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 89, NO. 1, 10 JULY 2005 151 † Based on a national document prepared and submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Forests through Biotech Consortium India Ltd for acceptance and adoption. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors. *For correspondence. (e-mail: bhavdishnjohri@rediffmail.com) Microorganism diversity: Strategy and action plan † Bhavdish N. Johri 1, *, B. N. Ganguly 2 , S. K. Goel 3 , J. S. Virdi 4 , A. K. Tripathi 5 , R. K. Jain 6 , D. N. Kamra 7 and Ashish Bhatnagar 8 1 Department of Microbiology, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar 263 145, India 2 Agharkar Research Institute, Agharkar Road, Pune 411 004, India 3 Pocket B-3, Flat No. 13-A, Keshavpuram, New Delhi 110 035, India 4 Department of Microbiology, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi 110 021, India 5 School of Biotechnology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India 6 Institute of Microbial Technology, Sector 39-A, Chandigarh 160 036, India 7 Division of Animal Sciences, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar 243 122, India 8 Department of Microbiology, MDS University, Ajmer 305 009, India Preamble Microorganisms, being the pioneer colonizers of this planet, have come to stay as a cosmopolitan conglomerate of highly compatible organisms. They abound in habitats with ex- tremes of temperature, pH and water and salt stress. The recognition of ‘deep hot biosphere’ with unique micro- bial–animal assemblages and nutrient dynamics, speaks of versatility and importance of microbes in sustaining the life. Bestowed with remarkable inherent physiological and functional diversity, microbes have found application in agriculture, industry, medicine and environment. Much better known and exploited microbial activities are aug- mentation, supplementation and recycling of plant nutri- ents, so vital to sustainable agriculture. The ‘small is not only beautiful but also selfless’. Perfection of microbes- mediated protocols for liquid and solid waste management and scavenging carbon dioxide from the air has attained pivotal importance in environmental protection. They form easily manipulated sources of value-added products like drugs, therapeutic proteins, antibiotics, vaccines and diagnostic tools. Easy manageability of microbes has been utilized in preparing food products like cheese, butter milk, youghart, idli and a variety of beverages. Notwith- standing the existing knowledge of microbes and microbial processes, we are still at the base of microbial diversity, which needs to be explored, investigated and exploited. Judicious and gainful utilization of this nature’s treasure however, depends on the mankind. In India, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, em- barked, in 2001, on the preparation of a National Biodi- versity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) with support from UNDP and Global Environmental Facility (GEF). With the involvement of Technical and Policy Core Group (TPCG), coordinated by Kalpavriksh (Pune) and adminis- trative support extended by Biotech Consortium India Limited (BCIL, New Delhi), this exercise was undertaken on a country-wide basis. The main plan document has drawn inputs from the action plans at local (sub-state), state, ecoregional and thematic levels besides draft sub- thematic reviews commissioned or voluntarily offered during the NBSAP process. In addition, inputs generated through a decentralized process that operated from the grass roots level upwards, have made preparation of this document and the process itself, a land mark in the plan- ning process. The basic premise revolved around biodiversity as per- ceived from the point of view of ecological and liveli- hood security, which are severely eroded and remain threatened. Reversal of this trend requires conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of biological resources, and equity in conservation and use. As a preamble, a thematic Paper on Microorganism Diversity: Strategy and Action Plan has been prepared by the Thematic Working Group (TWG) comprising practising microbiologists drawn from various universities and research institutions across the country. The TWG derived inputs from a workshop convened at G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, involving students, researchers, school children, farmers, NGOs, teachers and extension workers. Concept notes on the subject material prepared by TWG Members, a survey questionnaire responded by microbiologists, proceedings of a debate on biodiversity organized for school students, suggestions received from the industrial partners and practising microbiologists, feedback from other workshops and inputs received from the TPCG members and peer reviewers 1 , formed the ad- juncts. The goals and objectives embodied in the proposed Microorganism Diversity: Strategy and Action Plan are as follows: