The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released ₹1.36 crore as benefit-sharing payouts to local biodiversity custodians in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Funds are being routed through State Biodiversity Boards to three Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs), each receiving ₹45.50 lakh.
These payments come from the commercial use of microorganisms originating from local ecosystems — used in producing fructo-oligosaccharides, a value-added ingredient — under India’s Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
The approach aligns with India’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP 2024–30) and the global Kunming–Montreal Framework, which both prioritise fair rewards for people safeguarding ecosystems.
This strengthens community-led biodiversity governance, improves rural livelihoods, and enhances compliance and accountability in access-and-benefit-sharing (ABS) — anchoring India’s commitments under the Nagoya Protocol while incentivising conservation at the grassroots.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can India scale transparent ABS mechanisms so that commercial biodiversity use systematically translates into sustainable income and stronger local conservation capacity?
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https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2182001
