NBA releases Rs 6.67 crore for biodiversity conservation in 11 cotton-growing states under ABS mechanism
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · IR
Why in news
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has disbursed Rs 6.67 crore to 11 cotton-growing states under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism. This marks a significant step in reinvesting commercial benefits from biological resources into biodiversity conservation and community welfare.
Background
The ABS mechanism under the Biological Diversity Act ensures fair sharing of benefits arising from the use of biological resources. Bayer Science & Innovation Pvt Ltd (formerly Monsanto) paid Rs 7.62 crore as benefit-sharing for research on 25,431 cotton varieties. Since individual benefactors could not be identified due to complex supply chains, NBA developed transparent guidelines for fund allocation.
Key facts
NBA released Rs 6.67 crore to 11 cotton-producing states for biodiversity conservation, sustainable use, and livelihood support.
Funds sourced from Bayer Science & Innovation Pvt Ltd (Rs 7.62 crore benefit-sharing for cotton variety research).
State-wise allocation: Maharashtra (Rs 2.41 cr), Gujarat (Rs 1.38 cr), Telangana (Rs 1.06 cr), Karnataka (Rs 0.40 cr), Rajasthan (Rs 0.36 cr), Madhya Pradesh (Rs 0.31 cr), Andhra Pradesh (Rs 0.23 cr), Haryana (Rs 0.23 cr), Odisha (Rs 0.14 cr), Punjab (Rs 0.09 cr), Tamil Nadu (Rs 0.06 cr).
Allocation based on cotton cultivation area data from ICAR's All India Coordinated Cotton Research Project (AICCRP).
Funds support in-situ and ex-situ conservation, People's Biodiversity Registers, ecosystem restoration, biodiversity heritage sites, traditional knowledge documentation, research, digital databases, capacity building, awareness, and livelihood promotion.
Where geographic source of resource is verifiable, funds go to State Biodiversity Boards; otherwise, to National Biodiversity Fund under Section 27 of the Act.
Total ABS funds disbursed by NBA now stand at Rs 152.24 crore.
This initiative establishes a transparent, science-based model for ABS benefit distribution in complex supply chains.
Prelims pointers
- National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) – statutory body under Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
- Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism – ensures fair sharing of benefits from biological resource use.
- Biological Diversity Act, 2002 – Section 27 deals with National Biodiversity Fund.
- State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) – state-level bodies under the Act.
- People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) – community-led documentation of biodiversity.
- Biodiversity Heritage Sites – areas with unique biodiversity designated under the Act.
- Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework – international agreement on biodiversity.
- ICAR – Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
- AICCRP – All India Coordinated Cotton Research Project.
- Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) – key commercial crop in India.
Mains angles
- Discuss the significance of the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism in promoting biodiversity conservation and community welfare.
- Examine the challenges in implementing ABS in complex supply chains and the NBA's approach to address them.
- Analyze the role of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 in balancing commercial use of biological resources with conservation and equitable benefit sharing.
- Evaluate the impact of ABS fund allocation on sustainable agriculture and livelihoods in cotton-growing states.