Background
The Comprehensive Awareness and Capacity-Building Programme for Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) and UT Biodiversity Committees (UTBCs) on the Biological Diversity Act (Amended 2023) is designed to strengthen the institutional effectiveness of local biodiversity governance in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu.
The programme aligns with India’s national biodiversity framework while contributing to global priorities such as the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030). Through focused training on legal frameworks, biodiversity documentation, and community engagement, the initiative aims to equip BMCs to serve as effective custodians of local biological resources, promoting conservation, sustainable use, and equitable benefit sharing for present and future generations.
The programme is coordinated by the Association for Promoting Sustainability in Campuses and Communities (APSCC) in collaboration with the National Biodiversity Authority and the Puducherry Biodiversity Council.
Linking Global Science with Local Action
This programme connects global scientific guidance with grassroots implementation by drawing on the complementary roles of IPBES and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
Science-Based Understanding (IPBES):
IPBES provides authoritative global assessments on biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, and their underlying drivers. The programme translates these insights into locally applicable knowledge, enabling BMC members to better identify ecological challenges—such as invasive alien species—and respond with informed, science-based strategies at the community level.
Global Action Framework (UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration):
The UN Decade provides the global momentum to prevent, halt, and reverse ecosystem degradation. In this context, BMCs and their People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) serve as critical local tools for documenting biodiversity, identifying degraded ecosystems, and supporting restoration initiatives. By strengthening community participation and sustainable resource management, the programme directly advances the Decade’s vision of inclusive, people-centered ecosystem restoration.
Expected Outcomes
Following the two-day programme, participants will be equipped with:
- Enhanced Legal Understanding
A clear understanding of the Biological Diversity Act (Amended 2023) and the latest rules governing biodiversity management, including Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS). - Stronger Institutional Capacity
Improved ability to perform the statutory roles of BMCs, coordinate with State Biodiversity Boards, and strengthen local biodiversity governance mechanisms. - Effective PBR Development
Practical guidance for documenting biodiversity and traditional knowledge through robust and functional People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs). - Greater Community Engagement
Strategies to mobilize local communities for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable use of biological resources. - Local Biodiversity Action Planning
Capacity to develop initial biodiversity action plans incorporating climate resilience and management of invasive species.
In essence, the programme serves as a bridge between global biodiversity science and local community action—using the scientific insights of IPBES and the global momentum of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration to strengthen biodiversity stewardship through the statutory framework of India’s Biological Diversity Act.