In a significant step to strengthen biodiversity conservation and support local communities, the National Biodiversity Authority has released ₹10.40 lakh under the Access and Benefit Sharing framework to beneficiaries across 24 districts in nine States and one Union Territory.
The disbursement will benefit Biodiversity Management Committees across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Meghalaya, Gujarat, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana. These committees represent diverse ecological landscapes ranging from rural villages and coastal regions to urban local bodies where communities play a central role in conserving biological resources.
In addition to institutional beneficiaries, one farmer operating a dairy farm in Haryana received an Access and Benefit Sharing amount for providing India’s renowned Murrah buffalo breed, recognising the economic and genetic value of indigenous livestock.
The funds were generated through the commercial utilisation of biological resources that contribute to India’s expanding bio economy. These include beneficial microorganisms used in biotechnology and pharmaceutical applications, marine microalgae deployed in nutraceuticals and sustainable bio products, and seaweed increasingly utilised in agriculture, cosmetics and food industries.
The bioresources accessed for commercial purposes include holy basil or tulsi leaves, drumstick or moringa seeds, neem seeds, soapnut seeds, rosemary leaves, ashwagandha roots, mushroom derived chitosan and Pacific white shrimp. These resources illustrate the critical link between biodiversity conservation, scientific research, industrial growth and rural livelihoods.
Under the Access and Benefit Sharing mechanism, a portion of the monetary benefits accrued by users of biological resources is shared with the local communities responsible for conserving them. The framework creates a direct economic incentive for sustainable use and conservation, ensuring that communities receive a fair share of gains arising from commercial utilisation.
At the national level, cumulative Access and Benefit Sharing disbursements have crossed ₹145 crore, approximately USD 16 million, underscoring the growing impact of India’s biodiversity governance architecture.
The National Biodiversity Authority continues to implement India’s commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing. It also contributes to achieving national biodiversity targets and advancing the objectives of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
