India’s First National Report on Implementation of the Nagoya Protocol
Context
India has submitted its First National Report (NR-1) on the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The report highlights India’s progress in regulating access to genetic resources and ensuring fair benefit sharing with local communities and traditional knowledge holders.
India’s First National Report on Nagoya Protocol Implementation
Nature of the Report:
India’s First National Report (NR-1) is an official submission to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) that evaluates the country’s implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing.
Prepared By:
The report was prepared by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in collaboration with the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and other biodiversity institutions.
Time Frame Covered:
The report assesses progress during the period 1 November 2017 to 31 December 2025.
Institutional Framework and Community Involvement
Grassroots Biodiversity Institutions:
A total of 2,76,653 Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) have been constituted across India to strengthen local biodiversity governance.
Community Role:
These committees maintain People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) and promote participation of local communities in biodiversity conservation and benefit-sharing processes.
Permissions Issued under Access and Benefit Sharing
Total ABS Clearances:
During 2017–2025, 12,830 approvals were granted for access to biological resources.
Approvals by National Biodiversity Authority:
The NBA issued 5,913 approvals for activities including research, commercial utilisation and intellectual property applications.
Approvals by State Authorities:
State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs) issued 6,917 approvals, primarily related to commercial utilisation of biological resources.
Revenue Generated from Benefit Sharing
Total Amount Mobilised:
ABS mechanisms generated ₹216.31 crore through approvals granted by the NBA.
Benefits Distributed:
Out of this, ₹139.69 crore has been shared with local communities, farmers and traditional knowledge holders.
Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing
Definition:
The Nagoya Protocol is a supplementary international agreement under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) that provides a legal framework for access to genetic resources and equitable sharing of benefits derived from their utilisation.
Adoption and Entry into Force:
The protocol was adopted on 29 October 2010 in Nagoya, Japan, and came into force on 12 October 2014.
Objectives of the Protocol
Equitable Sharing of Benefits:
Ensure fair and equitable distribution of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.
Biodiversity Conservation:
Promote conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.
Protection of Traditional Knowledge:
Safeguard the rights of indigenous and local communities over traditional knowledge associated with biological resources.
Key Operational Provisions
Regulation of Access:
Countries must establish transparent procedures for accessing genetic resources.
Prior Informed Consent (PIC):
Users must obtain prior approval from the provider country before accessing biological resources.
Mutually Agreed Terms (MAT):
Benefit sharing must occur based on mutually negotiated contractual terms between providers and users.
Types of Benefits:
Benefits may be monetary (royalties, fees, payments) or non-monetary (technology transfer, research partnerships, capacity building).
Compliance Mechanisms:
Countries must monitor the utilisation of genetic resources across research, development and commercial stages.
Traditional Knowledge Safeguards:
The protocol ensures that indigenous and local communities receive benefits when their traditional knowledge contributes to research or commercial innovation.
Source : PIB