National Meeting on Biodiversity Governance

Summary of the 16th National Meeting of State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils

Key Highlights:

• Event: 16th National Meeting of State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs) held in Chandigarh from September 6-7, 2026.
• Focus: Effective implementation of biodiversity governance frameworks at state and local levels.

Constitutional and Legislative References:

• Biodiversity Act, 2002: Framework for biodiversity management in India.
• Biodiversity (Amendment) Act, 2023: Strengthens the biodiversity governance structure.
• Biodiversity Rules, 2024: Aims to streamline processes related to biodiversity management.
• International Commitments: India’s progress in fulfilling obligations under international biodiversity protocols, including the Nagoya Protocol.

Government Schemes and Initiatives:

• Mission Life: Aimed at promoting sustainable lifestyles.
• One Tree in the Name of Mother: Environmental initiative to encourage tree plantation.
• Amrit Sarovar: Focus on creating and rejuvenating water bodies.
• Green Credit Program: Incentivizes ecological conservation efforts.

Economic and Development Data:

• ABS Fund: Over ₹200 crores shared with farmers, local communities, SBBs, UTBCs, and research institutions to enhance biodiversity management.
• 27.6 lakh: Number of operational and effective Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) emphasized for grassroots implementation.

Biodiversity and Environmental Focus:

• Emphasis on combining contemporary approaches with traditional knowledge and community participation for biodiversity conservation.
• Importance of wetlands, river ecosystems, and agricultural biodiversity highlighted.
• Calls for better coordination between biodiversity institutions and local communities.

International Agreements and Goals:

• India’s alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) for the period 2024-2030, focusing on ecosystem restoration and measurable outcomes in species and habitat conservation.
• Encouragement for states and UTs to contribute to the global 30-by-30 conservation target.

Science and Technology Updates:

• The implementation of a dynamic local planning framework for documenting local biodiversity and traditional knowledge.
• Promotion of biodiversity registers as tools for sustainable development.

Future Directions:

• The meeting served as a platform for sharing experiences, innovations, and challenges in biodiversity governance.
• Aim to enhance the quality and utility of biodiversity registers, improve the functioning of BMCs, and promote capacity building at state and local levels.

This gathering was a crucial step towards reinforcing India's biodiversity governance and fostering collaboration among various stakeholders to ensure sustainable management and conservation of biodiversity resources.