The ABS Funds disbursed by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) have reached Rs. 5.68 crore in the latest round of benefit-sharing payments. The funds will support biodiversity conservation, sustainable use of biological resources and community-focused activities across states and Union Territories. The NBA released the funds under the Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) mechanism, which ensures that benefits arising from the commercial use of biological resources are shared for conservation and related activities.
ABS Funds Support Key Biological Resources
The latest disbursement covers biological resources including Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). It also covers specified microbial and agricultural biological resources. The largest component relates to Okra, covering 139 varieties and 28 hybrids. The NBA has released Rs. 3.51 crore to 32 State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs) for Okra. The ABS amount was received from M/s. Nunhems India Pvt. Ltd. in connection with its access to the crop.
Watermelon and Cucumber Add to ABS Disbursement
Watermelon and Cucumber account for other major components of the latest ABS distribution. The Watermelon resources cover 662 varieties and 15 hybrids, while Cucumber covers 1,009 varieties and 14 hybrids. M/s. Nunhems India Pvt. Ltd., M/s. East West Seeds India Pvt. Ltd. and M/s. Bayer Science and Innovation Pvt. Ltd. accessed these biological resources through markets and traders.
State-Wise Distribution of ABS Funds
Gujarat received the highest share among the major recipients, with Rs. 88,79,304 released to the state. West Bengal received Rs. 78,08,691, followed by Madhya Pradesh with Rs. 64,90,418 and Odisha with Rs. 59,01,641. Bihar received Rs. 45,59,602, while Uttar Pradesh received Rs. 36,90,952. Tamil Nadu received Rs. 34,11,119, Andhra Pradesh received Rs. 30,58,472, Chhattisgarh received Rs. 24,82,991 and Maharashtra received Rs. 17,57,359. Other states and Union Territories received a combined Rs. 87,77,728. The total amount released stands at Rs. 5,68,18,277.
Why ABS Funds Are Distributed Across States
In these cases, companies accessed biological resources through markets and traders. As a result, it was not feasible to trace the resources to individual farmers, specific communities or a single identifiable geographic source. The NBA therefore followed the distribution model recommended by its Expert Committee and approved by the Authority. Under this approach, the beneficiary share is distributed among the states and Union Territories where the concerned biological resources are cultivated.
NBA Allocates ABS Funds for Research
The NBA has also disbursed benefit-sharing funds to the CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), National Culture of Industrial Microorganisms, Pune. The ABS amount was received from M/s. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd., Mumbai. The funds will support the maintenance of biological resource repositories, research and bio-survey activities. They will also contribute to capacity building in taxonomy and conservation, along with in-situ and ex-situ conservation initiatives.
ABS Funds to Strengthen Biodiversity Conservation
The funds released to State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils will be utilised in accordance with Section 32 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The funds will support the documentation and updation of People’s Biodiversity Registers, conservation and sustainable use of biological resources, restoration of degraded ecosystems and protection of wild relatives of cultivated plants. They will also support Biodiversity Heritage Sites, biodiversity databases, research, capacity building and community-oriented livelihood enhancement activities.
The research institution will use its share to maintain repositories of biological resources and undertake research and bio-survey activities. The funds will also support taxonomy-related capacity building and conservation initiatives.
ABS Funds Disbursement Crosses Rs. 191 Crore
With the latest disbursement, the total ABS Funds released by the National Biodiversity Authority so far have crossed Rs. 191 crore. The latest release reinforces the NBA’s approach to ensuring that benefits generated through the utilisation of India’s biological resources contribute to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. It also aims to strengthen institutional capacity and support communities and other stakeholders involved in the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.
Source: PIB
