NBA supports Conservation of Biological Resources with ABS Disbursement of ₹10.40 lakh amongst 24 Districts across India
NBA supports Conservation of Biological Resources with ABS Disbursement of ₹10.40 lakh amongst 24 Districts across India
In a significant step towards strengthening biodiversity conservation and supporting local communities, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released ₹10.40 lakh under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework to beneficiaries across the country. The ABS framework reinforces India’s National and Global commitment in ensuring that communities conserving biological resources receive a fair share of benefits arising from their commercial use.
The current ABS release will benefit Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) across 24 districts spanning nine States and one Union Territory, including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Meghalaya, Gujarat, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana. These BMCs represent a wide range of ecological landscapes from rural villages and coastal regions to urban local bodies where local communities play a crucial role in conserving biodiversity. In addition, one farmer holding dairy farm in Haryana received Access and benefit-sharing amount for providing India’s renowned Murrah Buffalo breed, recognising the value of indigenous livestock.
The ABS funds were generated through the commercial utilisation of several biological resources that supports the growth of India’s bio-economic sector. These include microorganisms such as beneficial bacteria used in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, marine microalgae applied in nutraceuticals and sustainable bio-products, and seaweed increasingly used in agriculture, cosmetics and food industries.
Bioresources accessed includes holy basil (Tulsi) leaves, drumstick (Moringa) seeds; neem seeds, soapnut seeds, rosemary leaves, ashwagandha roots, mushroom-derived chitosan, Pacific white shrimp. These examples highlight how biodiversity contributes, not only to ecological balance but also to scientific innovation, industry development and rural livelihoods.
Through the ABS mechanism, a portion of their benefits by users of biological resources is shared with local communities that conserve the biological resources. This system creates a direct economic incentive for conservation while promoting sustainable use of natural resources.
The cumulative ABS disbursements at the national level have crossed a significant amount of ₹145 crore (approximately USD 16 million), demonstrating the growing impact of India’s biodiversity governance framework. The NBA continues to play a pivotal role in implementing India’s commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing, while contributing to national biodiversity targets and the global Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.