Hyderabad: The Conference of Parties (COP) to the Convention on Bio-diversity will be held in Hyderabad from October 1 to 19 to deliberate on issues concerning conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and regulated access to genetic resources. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the global meet to be attended by over 8,000 delegates from 193 countries which are parties to convention on bio-diversity. This is the first time that the bio-diversity convention is being organised in India. The key objectives of the bio-diversity convention are conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources. The agenda at the COP-11 meet includes consideration of the status of the Nagoya Protocol on access to genetic resources and implementation of the strategic plan 2011-2020. The city of minarets and pearls is being decked up to host the prestigious event which will see participation by the heads of countries, ministers and bio-diversity experts from across the globe. The arrangements are in full swing at the state-of-the-art Hyderabad International Convention Centre, the meeting venue. The Planning Commission has sanctioned Rs 300 crore for improving the city infrastructure ahead of the COP-11, while the state government is spending Rs 450 crore for the purpose. A Biodiversity Museum and Park is being established on a 15-acre site. About 400 saplings of rare and endangered species would be procured for getting planted by VVIPs in the proposed park. As part of measures related to biodiversity conservation, India was one of the first few countries in the world to enact a national legislation called the Biological Diversity Act in 2002 which contains provisions for access and benefit sharing. India has also created a database of traditional knowledge - called the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library - which is a computerised database of documented information available in published texts of the Indian systems of medicine. Plans are also on to set up a People’s Register of Biodiversity, so that traditional knowledge, which is not in texts but is passed down through the oral traditions, can also be documented and protected.. 193 nations, 8,000 delegates The Conference of Parties (COP) to the Convention on Bio-diversity will be held in Hyderabad from October 1 to 19 at International Convention Centre Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the global meet to be attended by over 8,000 delegates from 193 countries The objectives of the convention are conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources The Planning Commission has sanctioned Rs 300 crore for improving the city infrastructure ahead of the COP-11, while the state government is spending Rs 450 crore