Chandigarh Hosts the 16th National Biodiversity Boards Meet

On a bright Sunday morning in Chandigarh, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav kicked off the 16th National Meet of State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs). The two‑day gathering, organized by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), pulled together chairpersons, member secretaries, scientists and senior officials from every corner of India.

Yadav’s speech was peppered with reminders of India’s deep‑rooted love for nature. He spoke about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship initiatives – Mission LiFE, Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam, Amrit Sarovar and the Green Credit Programme – and how they blend cutting‑edge science with age‑old community wisdom. “We need People’s Biodiversity Registers to become living documents, feeding into local planning and sustainable development,” he urged, sounding both hopeful and a little impatient.

The minister also took a moment to talk about the legal side of things. He reminded everyone that the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023 and the Biodiversity Rules, 2024 have tightened the governance framework. In plain English, he asked states and union territories to line up their own rules and institutions with these newer standards – a bit of bureaucratic housekeeping, but essential, he said.

On the international front, Yadav highlighted India’s progress in meeting its biodiversity pledges. The country has already submitted its 7th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity and its first report on the Nagoya Protocol. He pointed out that more than 2.76 lakh Biodiversity Management Committees now exist across the nation, and it’s high time they become truly functional.

When it came to Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS), the tone turned practical. The NBA, according to Yadav, has already channeled over ₹200 crore to farmers, local communities, research institutes and other stakeholders. “ABS must translate into real‑world benefits – better livelihoods, stronger conservation outcomes,” he stressed, almost as a gentle reminder that numbers alone don’t matter.

Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria added his own flavor to the mix, talking about the state’s wetlands, riverine ecosystems and agricultural biodiversity. He made a point that ecological security is inseparable from food, water and livelihood security, and that the traditional knowledge of local peoples should sit side‑by‑side with modern approaches.

The meet also saw the launch of a new knowledge‑product – a concise document summarising the NBA’s achievements over the past year, including a snapshot of the ABS scheme and how the funds have been distributed.

Wrapping up, Yadav linked biodiversity to climate action, citing India’s Updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2024‑2030) that aligns with the Kunming‑Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. He called for measurable results in ecosystem restoration, species protection, agro‑biodiversity and climate‑resilient landscapes, and nudged states and UTs to join the global “30‑by‑30” conservation goal.

In short, the meet was a blend of policy talk, on‑the‑ground realities and a dash of optimism – a reminder that protecting the planet is as much about paperwork as it is about people.