NBA releases ₹17 lakh for biodiversity benefit sharing in Maharashtra

Mumbai:- The National Biodiversity Authority has disbursed seventeen lakh rupees to the Biodiversity Management Committee of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in Maharashtra through the Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board, under the Access and Benefit Sharing framework.

According to the National Biodiversity Authority, the disbursement follows the successful commercial utilisation of soil micro-organisms belonging to the Bacillus genus for the development of value-added probiotic products.

The Authority said the benefit-sharing mechanism ensures that “a portion of the commercial gains derived from biological resources is channelled back to local communities,” supporting conservation efforts and community-level development.

The National Biodiversity Authority has also pointed out that the biotechnology sector is witnessing a growing reliance on micro-organisms as a foundation for industrial innovation.

The Authority noted that the biotechnology sector has contributed around ten crore rupees to the accrued Access and Benefit Sharing fund, highlighting the role of microbial resources in healthcare, agriculture and industrial applications.

Referring to State-wise benefit sharing, the Authority said that Maharashtra continues to be among the major beneficiaries of ABS disbursements in the country.

“With the present release, the total ABS support extended to Maharashtra has reached nearly eight crore rupees, benefiting more than two hundred Biodiversity Management Committees and seven institutions,” the Authority said, adding that excluding benefit-sharing from Red Sanders wood, the State has received the highest share of ABS releases, second only to Andhra Pradesh overall.

At the national level, the Authority said cumulative Access and Benefit Sharing disbursements have crossed one hundred forty-four crore rupees.

It stated that this milestone reflects the effective implementation of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and advances India’s commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, particularly Targets 13 and 19.

The Authority further said that the outcomes align with India’s National Biodiversity Targets, which emphasise “the sustainable use of biological resources, equitable benefit sharing with local communities, empowerment of Biodiversity Management Committees and enhancement of livelihood security.”

It added that the ABS framework also contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and reinforces India’s leadership in implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Nagoya Protocol.