The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (BDA 2002) is an act of parliament that aims to protect India’s biodiversity and associated knowledge. The act was enacted to:
• Conserve biological resources
• Ensure sustainable use of biological resources
• Ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits from biological resources
• Prevent foreign individuals and organizations from using India’s biodiversity and knowledge without sharing the benefits The act includes the following provisions:
• National Biodiversity Authority (NBA): The act establishes the NBA to oversee the implementation of the act.
• State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs): The act establishes SBBs to support the NBA.
• Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs): The act establishes BMCs at the local level.
• Prohibition on transfer of biological resources: The act prohibits the transfer of biological resources and associated traditional knowledge to foreign entities without prior NBA approval. The BDA 2002 aligns with India’s commitment to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD).