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New Delhi, Apr 17 (PTI) The National Biodiversity Authority has approved a series of measures to strengthen the implementation of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, including streamlined procedures for utilisation of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) funds and revised guidelines for designated repositories.
The ABS funds are generated when companies or individuals use biological resources, such as plants and microorganisms, and associated traditional knowledge for commercial purposes.
These funds must be channelled back to identified beneficiaries, and where beneficiaries cannot be identified, they are to be utilised for the socio-economic development of areas where the biological resources originate.
“In cases where adequate information is not
available, a standard sharing formula of 30 per cent to institutions or repositories (in recognition of their role in conservation, documentation and value addition) and 70 per cent to the NBA has been prescribed,” an official said.
The latter will be shared with the State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs) for activities relating to biodiversity conservation, sustainable use and management.
Also, the NBA revised guidelines for identified repositories to strengthen the framework for the safe custody and management of voucher specimens of biological resources accessed under the Act.
“It emphasises robust documentation practices, maintenance of provenance records and adherence to standard operating procedures,” the official said. PTI ALC APL APL
