NBA Provides Rs. 6.09 Cr Financial Support to State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils in FY 2025–26

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, extended financial assistance of Rs 6.09 crore to State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs) based on proposals received in FY 2025-26, marking a significant step towards strengthening India’s decentralized biodiversity governance framework.

The financial assistance supports key institutional and programmatic components essential for effective implementation of the Act at State and local body levels, with a strategic shift from mere constitution of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) toward strengthening their functionality, improving the quality of People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs), and enhancing Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) implementation. The assistance is aimed at reinforcing statutory institutions, improving the quality of biodiversity documentation, and accelerating implementation of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanisms at the grassroots level.

The support is being provided under the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023, which mandates conservation, sustainable use, and equitable benefit sharing arising from biological resources.

Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs), constituted by local bodies under Section 41 of the Act, serve as the foundation of India’s community-based biodiversity governance system. These committees are responsible for preparing and maintaining People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs), a comprehensive document that records local biological resources and associated traditional knowledge. With a substantial number of PBRs prepared in a time-bound manner, the current phase of assistance prioritizes:

• Quality improvement of PBRs

• Strengthening and functionalization of BMCs

• Capacity building and awareness generation

• Technical guidance through Thematic Expert Committees

• Knowledge exchange through peer learning visits

• Digital strengthening through website development

State-wise financial assistance released by NBA to various SBBs and UtBCs:

The country has achieved a major milestone with the constitution of 2,76,653 BMCs and preparation of 2,72,648 PBRs, making it one of the largest participatory biodiversity documentation exercises globally.

Component-wise financial assistance released by NBA to various SBBs and UTBCs

By strengthening institutions at the local level and linking conservation with community welfare, the NBA continues to advance an inclusive and participatory model of biodiversity governance where ecological sustainability and livelihood security go hand in hand.