The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced on 17 October 2026 that the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has disbursed Rs 1.19 crore to 29 State Biodiversity Boards and one Union Territory Biodiversity Council. These funds, collected from companies using agricultural biological resources like maize, rice, pearl millet, and cotton, are intended for biodiversity conservation and community welfare. The release does not say when the funds were transferred, but specifies they must be used for activities like research and capacity building under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. This funding benefits local communities and conservation efforts across the recipient states and union territory.
Key points
- Total disbursed: Rs 1.19 crore to 29 State Boards and 1 UT Council
- Highest recipient: Maharashtra (Rs 19,46,149.00)
- Funding source: ABS contributions from companies for using agricultural biological resources
- Usage: Limited to activities under Section 32(2) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002
- Total agriculture sector disbursements to date: Rs 86 crore
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 the Union Territory Biodiversity Council
Refers to
- Biological Diversity Act, 2002