NBA Disburses ₹45.05 Lakh to Biodiversity Management Committees Across 10 States and Two UTs
New Delhi, 9 February 2026:
In a major step towards strengthening community-led biodiversity conservation, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released ₹45.05 lakh as benefit-sharing payouts to Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) across the country. The funds, channelled through State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils, will support more than 90 BMCs across 10 States and two Union Territories, along with 15 Red Sanders farmers from Andhra Pradesh.
The beneficiary States and UTs include Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, the National Capital Territory of Delhi, and Ladakh. These BMCs represent diverse ecological landscapes — from rural and urban regions to mangrove ecosystems and industrial zones.
The benefit-sharing amount was generated under the Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) mechanism from the commercial use of biological resources such as insects, soil and water microorganisms, and cultivated Red Sanders. These biological materials have been used by industries to develop various scientific and commercial products, showcasing biodiversity’s growing contribution to India’s bio-economy.
Under ABS provisions, a portion of the profits earned by companies is returned to local communities, encouraging them to protect, conserve and sustainably manage biodiversity resources.
In recent years, the NBA has undertaken significant reforms to simplify regulations, improve transparency and enhance ease of doing business while ensuring that community interests and biodiversity safeguards remain paramount. The Authority has been working closely with States, research institutions, industry bodies, and local communities to build capacity and raise awareness on conservation and sustainable use. It is also supporting the preparation of People’s Biodiversity Registers, which document local flora, fauna and traditional knowledge through participatory methods.
These sustained efforts have helped cumulative ABS collections cross ₹145 crore (approximately USD 16 million). The NBA continues to play a critical role in fulfilling India’s commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol, while also contributing towards the National Biodiversity Targets and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
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