National Biodiversity Authority Distributes ₹2.02 Crore for Biodiversity Conservation
The National Biodiversity Authority has distributed ₹2.02 crore among 27 states and 3 union territories under the ABS fund received from seed sector companies.
The National Biodiversity Authority has distributed ₹2.02 crore across 27 states and 3 union territories with the goal of conserving biodiversity, ensuring the sustainable use of biological resources, and strengthening the livelihoods of local communities. This amount was provided as part of the 'Access and Benefit-Sharing' (ABS) contributions received from companies operating in the seed sector.
The fund includes contributions derived from the use of various agricultural biological resources and hybrid varieties, including rice, eggplant, cauliflower, cucumber, chili, bottle gourd, bitter gourd, tomato, and okra. These contributions were received from companies such as East West Seeds India Private Limited, Syngenta India Limited, Devgen Seeds and Crop Technology Private Limited, Limagrain India Private Limited, Bayer Science and Innovation Private Limited, Nunhems India Private Limited, and Enza Zaden India Private Limited.
Under the distribution process, in cases where individual claimants of biological resources could not be identified, the Authority carried out the distribution based on the recommendations of an expert committee. The shares for the beneficiaries were divided among State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs) based on cultivation area, as published in the agricultural statistics by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Out of the total amount distributed, the top 10 states received ₹1.43 crore. Leading recipients include Madhya Pradesh (₹23,81,072), West Bengal (₹23,32,913), Odisha (₹19,75,559), Bihar (₹17,28,852), and Gujarat (₹13,29,870). Additionally, funds were allocated to Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
With this latest distribution, the total cumulative ABS amount distributed by the National Biodiversity Authority has reached ₹202 crore. This fund will support initiatives such as strengthening Biodiversity Management Committees, updating People's Biodiversity Registers, conserving traditional crops and medicinal plants, and restoring natural habitats.
According to the Authority, this ABS fund can complement government schemes such as the PM-JANMAN (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan), the Pradhan Mantri Tribal Development Mission, and the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana. This framework assists in the implementation of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2024–2030, while also contributing to the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
