Why in News?
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released ₹6.67 crore under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism to 11 cotton-growing States for biodiversity conservation and livelihood enhancement. The funds were realised from Bayer Science & Innovation Pvt. Ltd. for research involving 25,431 cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) varieties.
What is Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS)?
- Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) is a mechanism under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, ensuring that benefits arising from the commercial use of biological resources are shared fairly with biodiversity conservation efforts and local communities.
- It implements the principle of fair and equitable sharing of benefits under the Nagoya Protocol.
Why was the Amount Released?
- ₹7.62 crore was realised from Bayer Science & Innovation Pvt. Ltd.
- Since cotton germplasm was accessed through traders and intermediaries, individual benefit claimers could not be identified.
- Hence, the funds were allocated to State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) based on the geographical distribution of cotton cultivation.
Allocation Criteria
- Based on data from the All India Coordinated Research Project on Cotton (AICRP) under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
- Distributed proportionately according to each State’s cotton cultivation area.
- ₹6.67 crore released to 11 cotton-growing States, while ₹0.95 crore was retained by the NBA as per the Biological Diversity Rules.
Utilisation of Funds
The funds will support:
- On-farm and ex-situ biodiversity conservation.
- Preparation and updation of People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs).
- Ecosystem restoration and Biodiversity Heritage Sites.
- Documentation of traditional knowledge.
- Biodiversity research and digital databases.
- Capacity building of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs).
- Livelihood enhancement and awareness programmes.
Significance
- Promotes conservation of India’s rich cotton genetic diversity.
- Ensures benefits from commercial use of biological resources reach biodiversity-rich regions.
- Supports implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, especially:
- Target 13: Fair and equitable benefit sharing.
- Target 4: Conservation of genetic diversity.
About National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)
- Established under: Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
- Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
- Nature: Statutory body.
- Functions: Regulates access to India’s biological resources. Advises on biodiversity conservation. Implements the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing.
[2023] Consider the following statements:
1. In Biodiversity the India, Management Committees are key to the realization of the objectives of the Nagoya Protocol.
2. The Biodiversity Management Committees have important functions in determining access and benefit sharing, including the power to levy collection fees on the access of biological resources within its jurisdiction.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] 1 only
[B] 2 only
[C] Both 1 and 2
[D] Neither 1 nor 2