National Biodiversity Authority

National Biodiversity Authority
Name	National Biodiversity Authority
Formation	2003
Headquarters	Chennai
Jurisdiction	India
Parent agency	Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

National Biodiversity Authority is a statutory body established under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 to regulate access to biological resources and associated traditional knowledge in India. It operates from Chennai and interfaces with institutions such as the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the National Green Tribunal, and state biodiversity boards. The Authority coordinates with international frameworks including the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Nagoya Protocol, and engages stakeholders from academia such as the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

History

The Authority was constituted following legislative debates in the Parliament of India and national deliberations after India became a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity at the Rio Earth Summit. The passage of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 led to establishment mechanisms resembling institutions like the National Biodiversity Institute and models inspired by international bodies such as the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Global Environment Facility. Key milestones include formulation of rules influenced by rulings from the Supreme Court of India and policy reviews with inputs from the Planning Commission and the NITI Aayog.

Legal mandate and functions

Under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, the Authority has statutory powers to grant approvals and impose benefit-sharing obligations relating to access to biological resources and traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity. It advises the Central Government on issues concerning the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol, and enforces compliance akin to regulatory roles performed by the Central Pollution Control Board in environmental law. Functions include registering Biodiversity Management Committees and overseeing access and benefit-sharing agreements with domestic and foreign entities such as multinational corporations, research institutes like the Indian Institute of Science, and pharmaceutical firms active in bioprospecting.

Organizational structure

The Authority’s governance comprises a Chairperson and Members appointed by the Central Government with representation from ministries including the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and the Ministry of Science and Technology. Its secretariat coordinates regional offices and interfaces with state-level bodies such as State Biodiversity Boards and local bodies like Panchayati Raj institutions and municipal corporations exemplified by the Greater Chennai Corporation. Advisory inputs are sourced from experts drawn from institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, the Wildlife Institute of India, and the Botanical Survey of India.

Programs and initiatives

The Authority has launched initiatives to document traditional knowledge and create People’s Biodiversity Registers in collaboration with organizations such as the National Biodiversity Authority, state administrations, and civil society groups including WWF-India and the Foundation for Ecological Security. Programs include capacity building with partners like the United Nations Development Programme and technology projects with institutions such as the Indian Space Research Organisation for geospatial mapping. It also administers benefit-sharing frameworks involving stakeholders like the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council and engages in outreach with universities such as Jawaharlal Nehru University and University of Delhi.

Biodiversity management and conservation efforts

The Authority supports in-situ and ex-situ conservation through policy guidance aligned with protected area networks including the Project Tiger reserves and Biosphere Reserves designated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. It collaborates with conservation agencies such as the Zoological Survey of India and the Botanical Survey of India to conserve endemic species documented in inventories like the Red Data Book. Grassroots actions include supporting Biodiversity Management Committees to protect agrobiodiversity in regions like the Western Ghats, the Sundarbans, and the Eastern Himalayas, and working with indigenous communities recognized under initiatives involving the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.

Collaborations and partnerships

The Authority maintains partnerships with international bodies including the Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the Food and Agriculture Organization. It works domestically with research organizations such as the Indian Council of Medical Research, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, and academic centers like the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. Collaborations extend to non-governmental organizations such as the Centre for Science and Environment and international funders like the Global Environment Facility and bilateral partners including the British High Commission and agencies like USAID for technical cooperation.

Category:Environmental organisations based in India