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By following the ideals of, India enacted the Biological Diversity Act in 2002, and notified Biological Diversity Rules in 2004, to give effect to the provisions of this Convention.
Three-tiered institutional structure- at the national, state, and local levels.
National Biodiversity Authority
Head Office | The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has been set up in October, 2003 in Chennai. |
Structure | The NBA consists of a Chairperson, five non-official and ten ex-officio members to be appointed by the Central Government to represent various Ministries |
Vision of NBA | Conservation and sustainable use of India’s rich biodiversity and associated knowledge with people’s participation, ensuring the process of benefit sharing for well-being of present and future generations. |
Mission of NBA | To ensure effective implementation of Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and the Biological Diversity Rules 2004 for conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of utilization of genetic resources |
Powers and Functions of NBA
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National Biodiversity Fund
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State Biodiversity Boards
The State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) constituted by the State Governments deal with all matters relating to access by Indians for commercial purposes. | |
Function
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State Biodiversity Board
| The Biodiversity Act provides for payment of a prescribed fee to the Biodiversity Management Committees established at the Municipal or Panchayat level under “Access and Benefit Sharing “by companies who are using biological resources or use traditionally available knowledge which is often a bone of contention between companies and these Boards as they possess the power to grant them access to bio-resources of the State. Since the grant of approval by the State Boards is only restricted to Indian companies and organizations the tactic of employing commission agents to get this approval is widely used for commercial exploitation as approval from the National Biodiversity Authority implies a cumbersome process requiring strict adherence to established regulations.
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State Biodiversity Fund
| Constitution of State Biodiversity Fund:
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Biodiversity Management Committee
The local bodies are required to set up Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) in their respective areas for conservation, sustainable use, documentation of biodiversity and chronicling of knowledge related to biodiversity. | |
Structure
| The BMC will be constituted by :
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Functions of BMCs | 1. Conservation and sustainable utilization of biological resources. 2. Eco‐restoration of the local biodiversity. 3. Proper feedback to the SBB in the matter of IPR, Traditional Knowledge and local Biodiversity issues, wherever feasible and essential feedback to be provided to the NBA. 4. Management of Heritage Sites including Heritage Trees, Animals/ Microorganisms etc., and Sacred Groves and Sacred Water bodies. 5. Regulation of access to the biological resources and/ or associated Traditional Knowledge, for commercial and research purposes. 6. Sharing of usufructs arising out of commercial use of bio‐resources. 7. Conservation of traditional varieties/breeds of economically important plants/animals. 8. Biodiversity Education and Awareness building. 9. Documentation, enable procedure to develop bio‐cultural protocols. 10.Sustainable Use and Benefit Sharing. 11.Protection of Traditional Knowledge.
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People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) | This shall contain comprehensive information on availability and knowledge of local biological resources, their medicinal or any other use or any other traditional knowledge associated with them. |