🗞️ Why in News The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) launched an internship programme for young researchers and students to work on biodiversity documentation, Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS), and conservation planning at the national and state levels.
The Editorial Argument
Down to Earth’s editorial argues that the NBA internship is a welcome but inadequate step. India’s biodiversity governance suffers from chronic institutional weakness: Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the local level — the most critical tier — remain largely non-functional. The editorial calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the three-tier structure with dedicated funding, technical capacity, and community engagement.
India’s Biodiversity Governance — Three-Tier Structure
The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 established a three-tier governance framework:
| Level | Body | Function |
|---|---|---|
| National | National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), Chennai | Regulate ABS, advise government, approve foreign access to biological resources |
| State | State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) | Regulate access by Indian nationals; advise state governments |
| Local | Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) | Document local biodiversity (People’s Biodiversity Registers); monitor conservation |
The BMC Problem
India should have 2.7 lakh+ BMCs (one per local body — gram panchayat, municipality, corporation). Reality:
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| BMCs required | ~2.7 lakh |
| BMCs constituted (on paper) | ~2.5 lakh |
| BMCs that have prepared People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) | ~1.2 lakh |
| BMCs that are actually functional (meet regularly, monitor biodiversity) | Estimated <10% |
| ABS agreements executed via BMCs | <500 nationwide |
The editorial argues that BMCs exist on paper but lack:
- Technical expertise: Members are elected panchayat representatives with no biodiversity training
- Funding: No dedicated budget line; dependent on state grants that rarely materialise
- Legal awareness: Most BMCs do not know they can charge access fees for commercial use of biological resources
- Data tools: PBRs are often incomplete, paper-based, and not digitised
The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023
Parliament amended the 2002 Act in 2023 with significant changes:
| Change | Implication |
|---|---|
| “Biological resources” access by AYUSH practitioners exempted from NBA approval | Reduces regulatory burden but also reduces ABS revenue for communities |
| “Bio-survey and bio-utilisation” replaced with “access” | Simplifies language but critics say it dilutes the scope of regulation |
| Penalties decriminalised (criminal → civil) | Reduces deterrence against biopiracy |
| Farmers, traditional practitioners, local communities further exempted | Protects traditional users but creates enforcement grey areas |
International Framework
India’s biodiversity law implements obligations under:
| Treaty | Detail |
|---|---|
| Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) | Signed at Rio Earth Summit, 1992; India ratified 1994 |
| Nagoya Protocol | Adopted 2010; entered into force 2014; ABS framework |
| Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework | COP-15, December 2022; 23 targets including 30x30 |
| 30x30 target | Protect 30% of land and sea by 2030 |
| India’s current protected area | ~5.3% of land (national parks + wildlife sanctuaries) |
India’s Megadiversity Status
India is one of 17 megadiverse countries (identified by Conservation International) hosting ~8% of global biodiversity:
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Recorded species | ~1,02,718 fauna; ~55,048 flora |
| Biodiversity hotspots (4 of 36 global) | Western Ghats, Eastern Himalayas, Indo-Burma, Sundaland |
| Endemic species | ~33% of plants, ~40% of amphibians |
| Protected areas | 1,000+ (national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation reserves) |
| Tiger reserves | 56 (as of 2024) |
| UNESCO Biosphere Reserves | 18 |
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: NBA headquarters, Biological Diversity Act 2002, CBD (1992), Nagoya Protocol, 30x30 target, megadiverse countries, India’s biodiversity hotspots
Mains GS-3: Biodiversity conservation governance; three-tier institutional structure; ABS mechanism; implementation challenges of environmental legislation
📌 Facts Corner — Knowledgepedia
National Biodiversity Authority (NBA):
- Established: 2003 under Biological Diversity Act, 2002
- Headquarters: Chennai
- Three-tier: NBA (national) → SBBs (state) → BMCs (local)
- Functions: Regulate ABS, approve foreign access to biological resources, advise government
Biological Diversity Act:
- Original: 2002; Amendment: 2023
- Implements: CBD (1992) and Nagoya Protocol (2010)
- 2023 Amendment: AYUSH exemption, decriminalised penalties, simplified access terminology
- BMCs: ~2.5 lakh constituted; <10% functional
International Biodiversity Framework:
- CBD: Signed Rio Earth Summit 1992; 196 parties
- Nagoya Protocol: ABS framework; effective 2014
- Kunming-Montreal GBF: COP-15, December 2022; 23 targets
- 30x30: Protect 30% land and 30% sea by 2030
Other Relevant Facts:
- India’s biodiversity hotspots: Western Ghats, Eastern Himalayas, Indo-Burma, Sundaland
- Megadiverse countries: 17 (India, Brazil, China, Australia, Mexico, Indonesia, etc.)
- India’s protected area: ~5.3% of land area
- Tiger reserves: 56; UNESCO Biosphere Reserves: 18
- PBR: People’s Biodiversity Register — local documentation of biodiversity by BMCs
Sources: Down to Earth, NBA, MoEFCC