Source: News on Air
Context
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has reconstituted the Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity under Section 13(1) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The Committee has been reconstituted for a period of one year to guide the conservation, sustainable use, and access and benefit-sharing (ABS) of agricultural biodiversity. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) noted that the Committee plays a significant role in implementing the Biological Diversity Act. Padma Shri Dr P.L. Gautam will serve as the Co-Chair of the Committee.
The Reconstitution
- Authority: National Biodiversity Authority (NBA).
- Statutory basis: Section 13(1) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
- Duration: One year.
- Focus: Conservation, sustainable use, access and benefit-sharing (ABS) of agricultural biodiversity.
- Co-Chair: Padma Shri Dr P.L. Gautam.
About Agrobiodiversity
- Agrobiodiversity (Agricultural Biodiversity) refers to:
- The variety and variability of animals, plants, and micro-organisms used directly or indirectly for food and agriculture.
- Includes crop diversity, livestock breeds, fish, pollinators, soil biota, and wild relatives of cultivated species.
- Encompasses the genetic, species, and ecosystem-level diversity that supports agriculture.
Why is Agrobiodiversity Important?
- Food security in the face of climate change and pests.
- Genetic resources for breeding climate-resilient crop varieties.
- Nutritional diversity through a variety of crops and animals.
- Cultural heritage through traditional agricultural systems.
- Ecosystem services like pollination, pest control, and soil health.
About the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)
- Statutory autonomous body established in 2003 under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
- Headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
- Functions:
- Regulates access to India’s biological resources and traditional knowledge.
- Approves applications from foreign nationals/entities for biological resource use.
- Provides advice to the central and state governments on biodiversity conservation.
- Recommends to the central government on notifying threatened species and biodiversity heritage sites.
- Chairperson: Appointed by the central government.
The Biological Diversity Act, 2002
- Enacted on 5 February 2003 (notified later in 2003).
- Implements India’s commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
- Three-tier biodiversity management structure:
- National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) at the central level.
- State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) at the state level.
- Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the local body level (gram panchayats, municipalities).
- Key features:
- Regulates access to biological resources and traditional knowledge.
- Prevents biopiracy.
- Ensures access and benefit-sharing (ABS).
- Recognises People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) at the local level.
Section 13(1) of the Biological Diversity Act
- Empowers the NBA to constitute committees to assist in the discharge of its functions.
- Expert Committees under this section provide specialist guidance on specific themes like agrobiodiversity, marine biodiversity, threatened species, and others.
2023 Amendment to the Biological Diversity Act
- Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023 was passed in 2023.
- Key changes:
- Decriminalisation of certain offences.
- Easier registration for Indian companies with foreign equity.
- Streamlined ABS procedures.
- Encouragement for AYUSH practitioners and researchers to access biological resources.
- Aimed at balancing biodiversity conservation with ease of doing business.
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
- An international treaty adopted at the Rio Earth Summit, 1992.
- Came into force on 29 December 1993.
- Three main objectives:
- Conservation of biological diversity.
- Sustainable use of its components.
- Fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources.
- Secretariat: Montreal, Canada.
- 196 parties (including the EU), making it one of the most widely-ratified treaties.
- India is a party to the CBD since 1994.
Key Terms
- Agrobiodiversity (Agricultural Biodiversity): The variety and variability of plants, animals, and micro-organisms used in food and agriculture, including wild relatives.
- National Biodiversity Authority (NBA): A statutory body established in 2003 under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, headquartered in Chennai.
- State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs): State-level bodies under the Biological Diversity Act.
- Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs): Local body-level bodies under the Biological Diversity Act, formed at gram panchayat or municipality level.
- People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs): Local-level documents that record biological resources and traditional knowledge in a specific area.
- Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS): A principle under the CBD and Nagoya Protocol for fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources.
- Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): An international treaty adopted at the Rio Earth Summit, 1992, with three objectives: conservation, sustainable use, and ABS.
- Nagoya Protocol (2010): A supplementary protocol to the CBD on Access and Benefit-Sharing.
- Cartagena Protocol (2000): A supplementary protocol to the CBD on biosafety of living modified organisms (LMOs).
- Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022): The post-2020 global biodiversity framework, often called the “Paris Agreement for Nature”.
- PPV&FR Act, 2001: India’s plant variety protection and farmers’ rights law.
- Megadiverse Country: A country with exceptional biodiversity, 17 globally (India is one).
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), consider the following statements:
- NBA is a statutory autonomous body established in 2003 under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
- NBA is headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
- NBA recently reconstituted the Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity under Section 13(1) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
- NBA is a private foundation with no statutory backing.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
(Statement 4 is wrong; NBA is a statutory body, NOT a private foundation.)
Q2. With reference to the three-tier biodiversity management structure under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, consider the following statements:
- The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) operates at the central level.
- State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) operate at the state level.
- Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) operate at the local body level (gram panchayats, municipalities).
- The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is the apex body under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
Which of the above are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
(Statement 4 is wrong; NBA is the apex body under the Biological Diversity Act, NOT ICAR.)
Q3. With reference to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its protocols, consider the following statements:
- The CBD was adopted at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 and came into force in 1993.
- The Cartagena Protocol (2000) deals with biosafety, especially Living Modified Organisms (LMOs).
- The Nagoya Protocol (2010) deals with Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) of genetic resources.
- The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022) is often called the “Paris Agreement for Nature”.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
Q4. With reference to India’s agrobiodiversity framework, consider the following statements:
- India is one of the world’s 17 megadiverse countries.
- India is one of the 8 Vavilov centres of crop origin and diversity.
- The PPV&FR Act, 2001 protects both plant breeders and farmers’ rights.
- India is not a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Which of the above are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
(Statement 4 is wrong; India is a party to the CBD since 1994.)
Answer Key
- (c), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct; Statement 4 is wrong because NBA is a statutory body.
- (a), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct; Statement 4 is wrong because NBA is the apex body, not ICAR.
- (d), All four statements are correct.
- (a), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct; Statement 4 is wrong because India is a party to the CBD.
Exam Relevance
| NABARD Grade A | Very high importance, biodiversity, agriculture, genetic resources |
