National Biodiversity Authority Disburses Rs. 10.40 Lakh Under ABS Framework to Support Biodiversity Conservation Across India.
New Delhi:
In a major step towards strengthening biodiversity conservation and empowering local communities, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released Rs. 10.40 lakh under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework to beneficiaries across the country. The initiative reinforces India’s national and global commitment to ensuring that communities conserving biological resources receive a fair share of benefits arising from their commercial utilization.
The current disbursement will benefit Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) in 24 districts across nine States and one Union Territory — Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Meghalaya, Gujarat, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Haryana. These BMCs represent diverse ecological landscapes, including rural villages, coastal areas, and urban local bodies, where communities play a crucial role in conserving and sustainably managing biodiversity.
Additionally, a dairy farmer in Haryana received ABS benefits for providing India’s renowned Murrah buffalo breed, recognizing the value of indigenous livestock resources and their contribution to the bio-economy.
The funds were generated through the commercial utilization of various biological resources contributing to India’s expanding bio-economic sector. These include beneficial microorganisms used in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, marine microalgae applied in nutraceuticals and sustainable bio-products, and seaweed increasingly used in agriculture, cosmetics, and food industries.
Among the bioresources accessed were tulsi (holy basil) leaves, drumstick (moringa) seeds, neem seeds, soapnut seeds, rosemary leaves, ashwagandha roots, mushroom-derived chitosan, and Pacific white shrimp. These examples underline the critical role of biodiversity not only in maintaining ecological balance but also in driving scientific innovation, industrial growth, and rural livelihoods.
Under the ABS mechanism, users of biological resources share a portion of their commercial benefits with the communities that conserve these resources. This system creates direct economic incentives for conservation while promoting the sustainable use of natural wealth.
Cumulative ABS disbursements at the national level have now surpassed Rs. 145 crore (approximately USD 16 million), reflecting the growing impact of India’s biodiversity governance framework. The NBA continues to play a key role in implementing India’s commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing, while contributing to national biodiversity targets and the global Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
