There has been only limited uptake of agri-environment payments that could support more environment-friendly farming practices. Given the environmental and economic significance of biodiversity, establishing an inter-ministerial commission for biodiversity along the lines of the one for climate change could support a more focussed and coherent approach for promoting its conservation and sustainable use. It ranks first in biodiversity in reptiles with 804 known species, second in mammals with 535 species, fourth in amphibians with 361 species and fourth in flora with 26 000 species.