About Biodiversity Conversation
- Historical Decline of Species:
- Indian black turtle and other species such as Indian garden lizards and barn owls facing dwindling numbers due to poaching and habitat changes.
- Contrastingly, populations of rock pigeons and rufous treepies have increased.
- Rich Biodiversity Assets:
- Thazhakara boasts 38 sacred groves, 10 paddy polders, and 35 ponds.
- These areas support diverse flora and fauna, contributing significantly to local biodiversity.
- People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) Initiative:
- Thazhakara leads in Alappuzha and Kerala with the second volume of PBR.
- The 261-page document details comprehensive biodiversity information, traditional knowledge, and climate change impacts.
- Community involvement and trained volunteers conducted a thorough three-month survey.
- Role in Conservation and Sustainable Development:
- PBR serves as a critical tool for conservation, sustainable resource management, and protection of traditional knowledge.
- Local projects in agriculture, drinking water, and waste management are being planned based on PBR insights.
- Statewide Impact:
- Kerala was the first state in India to publish PBR across all local bodies.
- KSBB aims to update PBR in 50% of local bodies by 2024, emphasizing ongoing biodiversity monitoring and documentation.
PEOPLE’S BIODIVERSITY REGISTERS (PBR)
- The PBRs focus on participatory documentation of local biodiversity, traditional knowledge and practices.
- The register shall contain comprehensive information on the availability and knowledge of local biological resources, their medicinal or any other use or any other traditional knowledge associated with them.
- They are seen as key legal documents in ascertaining the rights of local people over biological resources and associated traditional knowledge.
BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES (BMCS)
- According to Section 41 of the Act, every local body shall constitute the BMC within its area to promote conservation, sustainable use and documentation of biological diversity including:
- Preservation of habitats
- Conservation of Landraces ο Folk varieties and cultivars
- Domesticated stocks and breeds of animals.
- Microorganisms And Chronicling of Knowledge Relating to Biological Diversity
STRUCTURE
- It shall consist of a chairperson and not more than six persons nominated by the local body.
- Out of total members of a BMC, not less than one-third should be women and not less than 18% should belong to the Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes.
- The Chairperson of the Biodiversity Management Committee shall be elected from amongst the members of the committee in a meeting to be chaired by the Chairperson of the local body.
- The chairperson of the local body shall have the casting votes in case of a tie.
FUNCTIONS
- The main function of the BMC is to prepare People’s Biodiversity Register in consultation with the local people.
- The register shall contain comprehensive information on availability and knowledge of local biological resources, their medicinal or any other use or any other.
Previous year question (2023)
Q. Consider the following statements:
1. In India, the Biodiversity Management Committees are key to the realization of the objectives of the Nagoya Protocol.
2. The Biodiversity Management Committees have important functions in determining access and benefit sharing, including the power to levy collection fees on the access of biological resources within its jurisdiction.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: (c)
Practice questions:
Q. With reference to People’s Biodiversity Register, consider the following statements:
1. It focus on participatory documentation of local diversity and traditional knowledge.
2. It is not considered as legal document in ascertaining the rights of local people over biological resources.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
The PBRs focus on participatory documentation of local biodiversity, traditional knowledge and practices.
- The register shall contain comprehensive information on the availability and knowledge of local biological resources, their medicinal or any other use or any other traditional knowledge associated with them.
- They are seen as key legal documents in ascertaining the rights of local people over biological resources and associated traditional knowledge