New Delhi: The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has disbursed Rs 17 lakh to the Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) under India’s Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism, administered through the Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board.
The disbursement is linked to the commercial use of soil micro-organisms from the Bacillus genus, which have been utilized to develop value-added probiotic products. This initiative demonstrates a successful connection between biodiversity conservation and modern biotechnology, ensuring that a portion of commercial gains flows back to local communities for development initiatives.
Boosting Community Benefits Through Biotechnology
The NBA has observed a growing role of micro-organisms in the biotechnology sector, with these resources contributing around Rs 10 crore to the national ABS fund. The applications span healthcare, agriculture, and industrial biotechnology, highlighting the critical role of microbial biodiversity in India’s innovation ecosystem.
Maharashtra ranks as the second-largest beneficiary state for ABS disbursements, after Andhra Pradesh. With this latest release, the total ABS support extended to Maharashtra has reached nearly Rs 8 crore, benefiting over 200 Biodiversity Management Committees and seven institutions across the state.
At the national level, cumulative ABS disbursements have surpassed Rs 144.37 crore (USD 16 million), underscoring the effective implementation of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and India’s commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. These actions support National Biodiversity Targets 13 and 19, which focus on sustainable resource use, equitable benefit sharing, community empowerment, and livelihood enhancement.
Strengthening India’s Global Leadership in Biodiversity
The ABS framework not only promotes local development but also contributes to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). India’s approach reinforces its leadership in implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol, combining biodiversity conservation with inclusive economic growth.
This disbursement highlights a model for linking biodiversity with industry and community welfare, ensuring that the benefits of India’s biological resources are shared fairly and sustainably.