MoEFCC and NBA Launch Five Year Project to Strengthen Grassroots Biodiversity Governance.
New Delhi:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) have launched a major five year project titled “Strengthening Institutional Capacities for Securing Biodiversity Conservation Commitments” to enhance biodiversity governance at the grassroots level.
The project will be implemented from 2025 to 2030 with financial support of USD 4.88 million. It is a joint initiative of the Government of India, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The initiative focuses on two ecologically important regions. In Tamil Nadu, it will cover the Sathyamangalam landscape, including the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, which form a vital wildlife corridor between the Western and Eastern Ghats. Local forest fringe communities will play a key role by integrating their traditional ecological knowledge into development planning.
In Meghalaya, the project will be implemented in the Garo Hills region, covering the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, Balpakram National Park, and Siju Wildlife Sanctuary. These areas offer strong potential for community led conservation through local governance institutions such as Village Employment Councils.
A key objective of the project is to integrate biodiversity conservation into Gram Panchayat Development Plans. It aims to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions and Biodiversity Management Committees by enabling them to prepare and implement community driven biodiversity plans.
The project will also promote coordination among various stakeholders including forest departments, local authorities, elected representatives, and civil society to ensure effective implementation.
Another major focus is on innovative financing mechanisms. These include Access and Benefit Sharing arrangements, corporate social responsibility support, and promotion of green micro enterprises that can provide sustainable livelihoods linked to conservation.
Capacity building and knowledge sharing form an important component of the initiative. Best practices and innovations from the project areas will be documented and replicated across the country. Special attention will be given to increasing the participation of women, Scheduled Castes, and tribal communities in biodiversity governance.
The project aligns with India’s national biodiversity and climate goals, including the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and international commitments under the global biodiversity framework and climate agreements.
With a strong emphasis on community participation and decentralized planning, the initiative is expected to significantly strengthen biodiversity conservation efforts while supporting sustainable development at the local level.
