National Biodiversity Authority Collects Rs 21.26 Crore for Biodiversity Conservation

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) gathered Rs 21.26 crore through the Access and Benefit Sharing mechanism for 2025-26. This initiative supports biodiversity conservation by distributing benefits from biological resources. The seed and Ayush sectors were major contributors to this conservation fund.

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has amassed Rs 21.26 crore under its Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism for the fiscal year 2025-26, according to statements from the environment ministry.

The ABS approach, rooted in the Biological Diversity Act, mandates that profits from biological resources' use be fairly distributed to local communities, including Biodiversity Management Committees, farmers, and traditional knowledge holders. This fund directly aids biodiversity conservation efforts, sustainable biological resource use, and local livelihood improvement.

An official remarked that the funds were raised through permissions for research, commercial use, intellectual property rights, and bio-surveys, highlighting an increased industry engagement with India's biodiversity governance. Notably, the seed industry was the largest donor, contributing Rs 11.75 crore, while the Ayush sector followed with Rs 5.56 crore. Sectors such as nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and others also participated.