National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has disbursed Rs 45.05 lakh as benefit-sharing payouts to communities through State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils, as part of its efforts to conserve biodiversity and ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of biological resources.
The payouts will benefit over 90 Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) across 10 states and two Union Territories, including Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union Territory of Ladakh. In addition, 15 Red Sanders farmers from Andhra Pradesh will also receive benefits. The BMCs span diverse ecological and institutional settings, ranging from rural villages and urban local bodies to mangrove regions and industrial areas.
The benefit-sharing amounts were generated from the commercial use of various biological resources such as insects, soil- and water-based microorganisms, and cultivated Red Sanders. These resources were utilised in the development of multiple products, highlighting the role of biodiversity in supporting scientific innovation and the bio-economy. Under the Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) mechanism, a portion of the commercial gains is returned to local communities, supporting livelihoods and encouraging conservation efforts at the grassroots level.
The NBA said it has, in recent years, introduced simplified regulations to enhance transparency and promote ease of doing business while safeguarding community interests and biodiversity. The authority works closely with states, local bodies, researchers, industry and communities to build awareness and capacity for sustainable use and conservation of biological resources. It also supports the preparation of People’s Biodiversity Registers, including documentation of traditional knowledge through participatory processes.
These initiatives have resulted in cumulative ABS payments exceeding ?145 crore to date. The NBA continues to play a key role in advancing India’s commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol, as well as in supporting national biodiversity targets and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.