National Biodiversity Authority: As part of its continued efforts to conserve biodiversity and ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of biological resources, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has disbursed Rs 45.05 lakh to benefit claimers through State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils.
The pay-outs will benefit more than 90 Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) across 10 States and two Union Territories, including Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union Territory of Ladakh, as well as to 15 farmers of Red Sanders from Andhra Pradesh. These BMCs represent a range of diverse ecological and institutional settings, including rural villages, urban local bodies, mangrove areas and industrial vicinities.
The benefit-sharing amount was generated from the use of various biological resources, including certain insects, microorganisms found in soil and water and cultivated Red Sanders. These resources were used to develop a range of products, showing how biodiversity supports scientific innovation and the bio-economy. Through the Access and Benefit-Sharing mechanism, a share of the commercial benefits gained by the companies is returned to the communities, helping improve livelihoods and encouraging communities to actively protect and conserve biodiversity.
In recent years, the NBA has put in place simplified regulations to improve transparency and promote ease of doing business, while continuing to safeguard communities’ interests and biodiversity. The NBA works closely with States, local bodies, researchers, industry and communities to spread awareness and build capacity for biodiversity conservation and its sustainable use. It supports the documentation of People’s Biodiversity Registers including traditional knowledge details and participatory approach in managing and protecting biodiversity at the grassroots level.
Collectively, these measures have resulted in cumulative ABS payments crossing Rs 145 crore (around USD 16 million). The NBA continues to play a key role in advancing India’s obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol on ABS at both national and international levels and also towards attaining the goals of the National Biodiversity Target’s and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
