The National Green Tribunal has recently extended the deadline for the creation of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) and for completing People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) due to the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic.
Understanding Biodiversity Management Committees
Biodiversity Management Committees (BMC) are set up as per the Biological Diversity Act of 2002. Their purpose is to promote the conservation, sustainable use, and documentation of biological diversity by local bodies throughout India. A BMC comprises a chairman and no more than six members, nominated by the local body. At least one-third of the members must be women and at least 18% must belong to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes. The BMC’s primary duty is to create a People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) in collaboration with local people.
People’s Biodiversity Registers: An Overview
People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) provide comprehensive documentation of the biodiversity found within a designated area, including plant life, food sources, wildlife, and medicinal resources. A well-maintained PBR can assist in tracking changes in habitats and estimating forest coverage. This indigenous and local community resource, grounded in traditional knowledge and practices, plays a crucial role in conserving biodiversity and supporting sustainable development.
The Role of PBR in Preventing Biopiracy
The PBR is also an essential tool in preventing biopiracy. As it reflects the overlap of cultural and natural biodiversity, PBRs represent a decentralized, inclusive approach to conserving biodiversity. This bottom-up approach helps protect intellectual property rights over biodiversity-related knowledge.
Biodiversity Governance in India
India’s Biological Diversity Act 2002 aligns closely with the Nagoya Protocol, implementing provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The Nagoya Protocol ensures that commercial and research utilization of genetic resources results in benefit sharing with the government and community involved in resource conservation. The Act is considered a significant step towards preserving India’s vast biodiversity as it recognizes countries’ sovereign rights over natural resources.
The Three Layered Structure of the BD Act
The Biological Diversity Act envisages a three-layered structure for managing bio-resources, with the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) at the national level, State Biodiversity Boards (SSBs) at the state level, and BMCs at the local level.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Implemented since 1993, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a legally binding treaty aimed at conserving biodiversity. It has three main objectives: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of the components of biological diversity, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.
