The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced on 10 October 2026 that the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has disbursed Rs 2.02 crore to 27 State Biodiversity Boards and 3 Union Territory Biodiversity Councils. These funds, collected as Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) contributions from seed-sector companies for using biological resources like rice and tomato, are intended to support biodiversity conservation and local community livelihoods. The release does not say when the funds take effect, but they will be used for activities such as updating People’s Biodiversity Registers and conserving traditional crops. This brings the NBA's cumulative ABS disbursement to Rs 202 crore.
Key points
- Rs 2.02 crore disbursed to 27 State and 3 Union Territory biodiversity bodies
- Funds sourced from seed-sector companies for use of biological resources
- Madhya Pradesh received the highest share at Rs 23,81,072
- Cumulative ABS disbursement by the NBA has reached Rs 202 crore
- Funds support Biodiversity Management Committees and traditional crop conservation
When it applies
- seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 17)
Who it affects
- State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils
Refers to
- Biological Diversity Act, 2002
- National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2024–2030