16th National Meet of State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils held at Chandigarh

Key Highlights:

• The 16th National Meet of State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs) was held in Chandigarh.
• Organized by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), the meet focused on effective implementation of India's biodiversity governance framework.
• Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, presided over the inaugural session.
• States and UTs were urged to align their rules with the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023 and Biological Diversity Rules, 2024.
• India has submitted its 7th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and 1st National Report on the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing.
• Over ₹200 crore in Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) funds has been shared by NBA with communities and stakeholders.
• Emphasis was placed on making 2.76 lakh Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) functional and People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) dynamic planning instruments.

Detailed Insights:

• The two-day meet provided a platform for SBBs and UTBCs to share experiences, innovations, and challenges in biodiversity governance.
• Governor of Punjab highlighted the link between ecological security and food, water, livelihoods, and sustainable development.
• The Union Minister cited initiatives like Mission LiFE, Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam, Amrit Sarovar, and the Green Credit Programme in India's conservation journey.
• The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023 and Biological Diversity Rules, 2024 have strengthened the biodiversity governance framework.
• India's conservation efforts follow a 'Whole of Government' and 'Whole of Society' approach, aligning with international protocols.
• India's Updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2024–2030 is aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
• States and UTs were encouraged to contribute to the global 30-by-30 conservation target for ecosystem restoration and species conservation.
• Haryana's Environment Minister highlighted the state's efforts and the importance of training and capacity building for BMCs.

Key Concepts Involved:

• National Biodiversity Authority (NBA): A statutory autonomous body established under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, to implement its provisions.
• Biological Diversity Act, 2002: An Act of the Parliament of India for the conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits.
• Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs): Local bodies constituted by local self-governments to promote conservation, sustainable use, and documentation of local biodiversity.
• People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs): Documents prepared by BMCs containing comprehensive information on local biodiversity resources and associated traditional knowledge.