Biodiversity Register Part 2 (2024-25)
The Biological Diversity Act was passed by the Indian Parliament in 2002 with the objectives of implementing biodiversity conservation, promoting the sustainable use of biological resources, and ensuring the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use. Subsequently, the Central Biological Diversity Rules were implemented in the country in 2004. The implementation framework of the Act comprises the National Biodiversity Authority at the national level, the State Biodiversity Board at the state level, and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the local level.
The primary objective of the People's Biodiversity Register (PBR) is to scientifically document the local knowledge of residents regarding the biological resources of an area, along with the traditional ecological knowledge they have acquired over centuries through continuous interaction with nature. These registers also serve as foundational documents for local resource mobilization and development planning. Through the preparation of the PBR, the knowledge of local residents regarding biodiversity is recorded directly through them. In addition to identifying and addressing the drawbacks and gaps in existing PBRs, this biodiversity register has been compiled at the local level to include information on changes to our environment, flora, fauna, and ecosystems resulting from natural disasters such as floods, droughts, and cyclones caused by global climate change.
