Biological Resources Helps India to Deliver Rs 145 Crore to Beneficiaries

India’s Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, has mobilised more than Rs 266 crore (~$28.2 million) towards benefit sharing and disbursed around Rs 145 crore (~$15.3 million) to beneficiaries.

This demonstrates the country’s leadership in ensuring fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of biological resources and associated knowledge.

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has realised over Rs 266 crore through the ABS mechanism since 2008, including Rs 21.26 crore during FY 2025-26.

With an average annual realisation of Rs 14.75 crore, the steady increase in collections reflects growing industry participation and compliance, reaffirming the success of India’s pioneering ABS regime in channelling benefits from the use of biological resources back to conservation efforts and local communities.

Under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, benefits arising from the utilisation of biological resources are shared with local communities, Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs), farmers, traditional knowledge holders and other custodians of biodiversity.

Since the operationalisation of the ABS framework, the NBA has disbursed around Rs 145 crore in benefit-sharing payments, including Rs 78 crore during FY 2025-26.

The benefits have reached more than 10,500 Biodiversity Management Committees across 23 States and 4 Union Territories, over 230 farmers, six State Forest Departments and various institutions. The framework has also supported six Red Sanders research projects.

ABS ensures that benefits arising from the use of biological resources and associated knowledge are shared fairly and equitably with local communities, farmers, traditional knowledge holders and other beneficiaries.

By linking biodiversity use with community benefits, the mechanism promotes conservation, sustainable use and livelihood enhancement at the grassroots level.

The ABS mechanism has generated benefits from the utilisation of diverse biological resources, including Red Sanders, medicinal and aromatic plants, seeds, livestock genetic resources, crude herbs, biochemical components and microorganisms.

Sector-wise analysis shows that Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) accounted for the largest share of ABS realisation at Rs 120 crore (45 per cent), followed by the seed sector at Rs 84.61 crore (32.3 per cent).

The pharmaceuticals and AYUSH sector contributed Rs 36.61 crore (13.8 per cent). Together, these sectors accounted for nearly 91 per cent of the total ABS realised.

Major contributors include Pioneer Overseas Corporation, Nunhems India Pvt. Ltd., East-West Seeds India Pvt. Ltd., Savannah Seeds, TATA Chemicals, Syngenta, Himalaya Wellness Company, Dabur India Ltd., Organic India Pvt. Ltd., Laurus Labs Ltd., Amway India Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., Synergia Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Novozymes South Asia Pvt. Ltd., Akay Natural Ingredients Pvt. Ltd., Valagro Bio-Sciences Pvt. Ltd., L’Oréal India Pvt., Advanced Enzymes Pvt. Ltd., Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., SILAB S.A., BASF Beauty Care Solutions France S.A.S. and Tamam Corporation.

In accordance with the Biological Diversity Rules, 2024, the NBA transfers 85-90 per cent of the ABS amount to the concerned State Biodiversity Boards for onward disbursal to beneficiaries.

At the local level, ABS funds are being utilized for biodiversity conservation and habitat restoration, documentation and updation of People’s Biodiversity Registers, documentation of traditional knowledge, establishment of medicinal plant parks and community gene banks, capacity-building programmes and sustainable livelihood initiatives for rural and tribal communities.

These investments are strengthening grassroots conservation efforts while creating tangible socio-economic benefits for local communities.

By mobilising resources for conservation and ensuring that benefits reach local communities, India’s Access and Benefit Sharing framework is advancing the objectives of the Nagoya Protocol, supporting the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2024-2030, and contributing to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, particularly Target 13 on fair and equitable benefit sharing.

The framework also contributes to Sustainable Development Goals related to poverty reduction, decent work and economic growth, responsible consumption and production, climate action and life on land.

With over Rs 266 crore mobilised and around Rs 145 crore shared with beneficiaries, India’s Access and Benefit Sharing framework continues to serve as a globally recognised model for translating biodiversity conservation into tangible benefits for people and nature.