NBA releases SOP for threatened species notification under Biodiversity Act
Synopsis
India's National Biodiversity Authority has released the country's first standardised protocol for notifying threatened species — a move that could reshape how states identify and protect species on the brink. With 159 plants and 173 animals already notified across 20 states and UTs, the SOP brings scientific rigour and community participation into a process that previously lacked a uniform national framework.
Key Takeaways
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) released an SOP for Threatened Species Notification on 26 June under Section 38 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 .
The SOP guides State Biodiversity Boards and UT Biodiversity Councils on scientific assessment, stakeholder consultation, and periodic review.
India has so far notified 159 plant and 173 animal species as threatened across 17 States and 3 Union Territories .
The framework mandates species recovery and conservation action plans following formal notification.
Participation is required from the Botanical Survey of India , Zoological Survey of India , local communities, and academic experts.
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Notification of Threatened Species, establishing a uniform and scientifically rigorous framework to guide States and Union Territories in identifying and recommending species for protection. The SOP was issued under Section 38 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and was announced by an official on Friday, 26 June.
What the SOP Covers
The procedure provides a clear, step-by-step framework encompassing scientific assessment, stakeholder consultations, validation, notification, conservation planning, monitoring, and periodic review. It has been developed specifically to assist State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils in carrying out this process in a consistent and transparent manner before recommending species to State Governments for formal notification.
The SOP also mandates the preparation of species recovery and conservation action plans following notification, along with regular monitoring to assess conservation outcomes and track emerging threats.
Legal Basis and Government Powers
Section 38 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 empowers the Central Government, in consultation with the concerned State Government, to notify any species on the verge of extinction — or likely to become so — as a Threatened Species. Once notified, the collection of such species is regulated or prohibited, and appropriate rehabilitation and conservation measures are mandated. The Central Government may also delegate these powers to State Governments.
India's Threatened Species Count
So far, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified 159 plant species and 173 animal species as threatened across 17 States and 3 Union Territories. India, recognised as one of the world's megadiverse countries, harbours a wide variety of plants, animals, and ecosystems — all of which face mounting pressure from habitat degradation, overexploitation, pollution, invasive alien species, and climate change.
Inclusive Scientific Approach
The SOP promotes the use of the best available scientific evidence, field-based assessments, and traditional knowledge. It ensures participation from local communities, Biodiversity Management Committees, the Botanical Survey of India, the Zoological Survey of India, academic institutions, and subject experts — embedding a multi-stakeholder model into the notification process.
Why This Step Matters
Conserving threatened species is considered essential for maintaining ecological balance, safeguarding ecosystem services, and securing biodiversity for future generations. This SOP addresses a long-standing gap: the absence of a standardised national protocol meant that different states applied varying criteria, risking inconsistency in which species received legal protection. The new framework is expected to accelerate and harmonise the notification pipeline across the country.
Point of View
But its real value depends on implementation capacity at the state level, where biodiversity boards are often understaffed and underfunded. The inclusion of traditional knowledge and community participation is progressive on paper; whether Biodiversity Management Committees can meaningfully influence assessments in practice remains to be seen. With climate change accelerating habitat loss, the pace of notification — not just its scientific quality — will determine whether this SOP translates into actual species recovery.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NBA's SOP for Notification of Threatened Species?
It is a Standard Operating Procedure released by the National Biodiversity Authority under Section 38 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, providing a step-by-step framework for States and Union Territories to identify, assess, and recommend species for threatened status notification. The SOP covers scientific assessment, stakeholder consultation, conservation planning, and periodic review.
Which law governs the notification of threatened species in India?
Section 38 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 empowers the Central Government, in consultation with State Governments, to notify species on the verge of extinction as Threatened Species. The Central Government may also delegate this power to State Governments.
How many species has India notified as threatened so far?
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified 159 plant species and 173 animal species as threatened, covering 17 States and 3 Union Territories.
Who is involved in the threatened species assessment process under the SOP?
The SOP requires participation from State Biodiversity Boards, Union Territory Biodiversity Councils, local communities, Biodiversity Management Committees, the Botanical Survey of India, the Zoological Survey of India, academic institutions, and subject experts.
Why does India need a standardised SOP for threatened species?
Without a uniform national protocol, different states applied varying criteria for identifying threatened species, leading to inconsistency in legal protection. The SOP establishes a consistent, transparent, and scientifically rigorous process to address this gap and accelerate the notification pipeline.
