The National Biodiversity Authority has disbursed Rs 17 lakh to the Biodiversity Management Committee of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation under the Access and Benefit Sharing framework, reinforcing India’s commitment to the sustainable use of biological resources and equitable sharing of benefits with local communities. The amount was released through the Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board.
The disbursement arises from the successful commercial utilisation of soil micro-organisms belonging to the Bacillus genus, which have been used to develop value-added probiotic products. Under the benefit-sharing mechanism, a portion of the commercial gains generated from the use of biological resources is returned to local communities, supporting conservation-linked development initiatives at the grassroots level.
The National Biodiversity Authority noted that micro-organisms are increasingly becoming central to innovation in the biotechnology sector, with applications spanning healthcare, agriculture and industrial processes. Contributions from the biotechnology sector to the accrued Access and Benefit Sharing fund have reached around Rs 10 crore, underlining the growing economic significance of microbial resources.
Maharashtra continues to be one of the leading beneficiary states under the Access and Benefit Sharing mechanism, second only to Andhra Pradesh. Excluding benefit-sharing releases linked to Red Sanders wood, Maharashtra has received the highest share of disbursements so far. With the latest release, cumulative Access and Benefit Sharing support to the state has reached nearly Rs 8 crore, benefiting more than 200 Biodiversity Management Committees and seven institutions.
At the national level, cumulative Access and Benefit Sharing disbursements have crossed Rs 144.37 crore, equivalent to about USD 16 million. This milestone reflects the effective implementation of the Biological Diversity Act 2002 and advances India’s commitments under the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, particularly Targets 13 and 19. The outcomes also align with India’s National Biodiversity Targets focused on sustainable use of biological resources, equitable benefit sharing, empowerment of Biodiversity Management Committees and enhancement of livelihood security.
The Access and Benefit Sharing framework also contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and reinforces India’s leadership in implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Nagoya Protocol. Collectively, these efforts promote an integrated approach to biodiversity conservation, inclusive development and community participation.
