India’s biodiversity push: 2.76 lakh local panels power benefit-sharing under Nagoya Protocol

Grassroots Power: 2.76 Lakh Committees Transform Biodiversity Governance

|+ | India has rolled out an impressive network of over 2.76 lakh Biodiversity Management Committees across villages and local bodies, handing power directly to communities in managing their natural resources. These panels, set up under the Biological Diversity Act, play a key role in deciding how benefits from genetic resources and traditional knowledge are shared fairly. The first national report on the Nagoya Protocol, submitted by the Ministry of Environment and the National Biodiversity Authority, spotlights this achievement as a cornerstone of India's strategy. Covering the period from late 2017 to the end of 2025, the report shows how these committees strengthen local voices in conservation efforts, ensuring that farmers, indigenous groups, and knowledge holders get their due share. This grassroots approach not only protects ecosystems but also boosts rural economies by linking biodiversity to livelihoods.

|heading|Global Leadership Through Nagoya Protocol Compliance|heading| |+ | The Nagoya Protocol, an international pact under the Convention on Biological Diversity, aims to ensure fair access to genetic resources and equitable sharing of benefits from their use, like in medicines or crops developed from local plants. India is leading the charge, issuing 3,556 Internationally Recognized Certificates of Compliance on the ABS Clearing-House, which accounts for more than 60 percent of the world's total. This transparency milestone underscores the country's commitment to international standards. The report details how the Access and Benefit-Sharing framework has mobilized Rs 216.31 crore through approvals, with Rs 139.69 crore already disbursed to local committees and communities. State boards added another Rs 51.96 crore from commercial uses by Indian firms. Beyond cash, 395 approvals included training, tech transfers, and joint research, empowering locals further. Even foreign bioresources are tracked, with 41 declarations filed.|+ | |+ | |+ | |heading|Capacity Building and Real-World Impacts|heading| |+ | To make this system work, India ramped up awareness drives, training 2,56,393 people through 3,724 workshops and over 600 programs nationwide. These efforts target everyone from panchayat leaders to farmers, building skills in documenting biological resources and negotiating benefit deals. The results are tangible: funds support conservation projects, like protecting sacred groves or reviving traditional crops, while sustaining livelihoods. Traditional knowledge holders, often from tribal areas, now have a formal say, preventing exploitation by outsiders. This aligns with India's broader biodiversity goals, including forest cover reaching 25.17 percent of land area and successes in recovering tigers, lions, and rhinos. Though protected areas cover just over 5 percent, the committee model expands conservation beyond fences, involving whole communities in the 30x30 global target for 2030.|+ | |+ | The initiative ties into Target 13 of the updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, blending national priorities with global commitments. Monitoring foreign resources ensures reciprocity, as seen in the 41 Form 10 declarations. Challenges remain, like data gaps on lesser-known species, but the momentum is strong. Local panels not only enforce rules but also innovate, from community seed banks to eco-tourism ventures.|+ | In summary, India's 2.76 lakh Biodiversity Management Committees exemplify a community-driven push under the Nagoya Protocol, delivering financial gains, capacity building, and global leadership in fair benefit-sharing. This model balances conservation with equity, setting a template for sustainable development.|+ |

"Over 2,76,653 Biodiversity Management Committees have been established across the country, strengthening community participation in biodiversity governance and benefit-sharing mechanisms. India has published 3,556 Internationally Recognised Certificates of Compliance, representing over 60 per cent of the global total, demonstrating leadership in transparency."