NBA Releases ₹68 Lakh under Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Framework

Syllabus: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Why in news?

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) disbursed ABS funds to Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) in Maharashtra for the commercial use of soil microorganisms (*Bacillus* genus).

⚛️Static Concepts

Biological Diversity Act, 2002Nagoya ProtocolTraditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL)

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Prelims-Oriented Points

ABS Mechanism: Ensures that benefits from the commercial use of biological resources are shared equitably with local custodians.
Case Study: Commercial utilisation of bacteria from the *Bacillus* genus for developing probiotic products.
Statistics: ~15% of ABS applications involve microorganisms; cumulative ABS releases in India have surpassed ₹144.20 crore.
Institutional Framework: Benefits are channeled to BMCs (at local level) and farmers.

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Examiner's Trap: ABS applies NOT only to forest produce but also to MICROORGANISMS like bacteria used in healthcare and biotechnology.

Quick Data Points

₹144.20 crore: Cumulative ABS releases in India

15% of applications involve microorganisms

₹68 lakh released to Maharashtra BMCs (Wada Tehsil, Brihanmumbai)

Mains Value Addition

GS-3: Biodiversity Conservation; Intellectual Property Rights; Sustainable Development.

Equitable Sharing: ABS addresses 'biopiracy' by ensuring local communities benefit from their biological heritage.
Incentivising Conservation: Direct financial benefits to BMCs encourage them to protect local ecosystems.
Leadership: India's robust ABS framework is a model for balancing economic growth with ecological responsibility under the Nagoya Protocol.

Source

Press Information Bureau (PIB)

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