NBA Releases Rs 68 Lakh To Biodiversity Committees In Maharashtra Under ABS Framework

Mumbai, Jan 9 (KNN) The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released Rs 68 lakh to Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) in Maharashtra under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework, reinforcing benefit-sharing with local communities for the commercial use of biological resources.

The disbursement has been made to BMCs in Wada Tehsil of Palghar district and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

The payment arises from the authorised access and commercial utilisation of soil microorganisms, particularly bacteria belonging to the Bacillus genus, which have been used in the development of probiotic products.

The case highlights the operationalisation of the ABS mechanism in ensuring that monetary benefits derived from India’s microbial biodiversity are shared fairly with local custodians of these resources.

Microorganisms constitute a significant segment of ABS activity, with around 15 per cent of applications involving microbial resources. These resources hold growing relevance across sectors such as agriculture, healthcare and biotechnology.

Through the ABS framework, benefits are channelled to farmers, local communities, BMCs and other stakeholders, while also promoting conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

The latest disbursement adds to Maharashtra’s cumulative ABS receipts, with the NBA having released approximately Rs 8 crore to more than 200 BMCs and seven institutions in the State so far.

The development reflects what the Authority describes as an “invisible to visible” transition, linking corporate use of biological resources to tangible community benefits.

With this release, India’s total ABS disbursements have crossed Rs 144.20 crore (around USD 16 million), underlining the country’s efforts to build an inclusive biodiversity governance framework that aligns economic utilisation of biological resources with ecological responsibility.

(KNN Bureau)