New Delhi, Nov 27 (NationPress) In an effort to strengthen local communities and foster fair and equitable benefit sharing, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has allocated Rs 5.34 crore to approximately 85 Biodiversity Management Committees (BMC) in Maharashtra, according to an official announcement made on Thursday.

These BMCs are located within various Nagar and Gram Panchayats in Wada Tehsil, Palghar District, as well as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation of Maharashtra. The funds will be distributed via the Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board.

This financial release comes in response to a situation where a company utilized soil microorganisms, specifically bacteria from the Bacillus genus, to create probiotic products, as per a statement from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Importantly, around 15 percent of the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) applications pertain to the procurement of microorganisms, highlighting a significant point: ‘micro’ organisms can provide substantial ‘macro’ benefits for farmers, local communities, BMCs, and other stakeholders.

This initiative underscores the NBA’s dedication to ensuring that local communities, recognized as the true guardians of biodiversity, receive acknowledgment and just benefits.

By promoting this approach, the NBA aligns with India’s vision for sustainable and inclusive biodiversity management, where conservation directly enhances the prosperity and well-being of the community, according to the statement.

Previously, the NBA had disbursed over Rs 2.56 crore to 108 BMCs and 7 institutions in Maharashtra.

The current funding of Rs 5.34 crore significantly contributes to this advancement. Following this release, India’s overall ABS disbursements have exceeded an impressive Rs 116 crores.

India is recognized globally for its effective execution of the ABS mechanism.

Earlier this month, the NBA allocated Rs 38.36 crore to the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department and Rs 1.48 crore to the Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board to safeguard and preserve the iconic Red Sanders.

This funding, which aims to enhance biodiversity conservation efforts, has elevated the total ABS disbursements across the country to over Rs 110 crore, as stated.

Red Sanders is globally celebrated for its deep red timber and is found only in select areas of the Eastern Ghats, specifically in the Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa, Prakasam, and Kurnool districts of Andhra Pradesh.

A total of Rs 87.68 crore was generated through regulated access to auctioned or confiscated Red Sanders wood as a benefit-sharing amount by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department.

To date, the NBA has disbursed over Rs 49 crore to the Forest Departments of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, and the Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board for the conservation, protection, and research of Red Sanders, as per the official statement.