Internship Programme in Biodiversity Conservation

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) launched a short-term internship programme (up to 3 months) for students in the final stages of their graduation and post-graduation, to offer hands-on, project-based learning through active engagement with NBA programmes.

The programme is designed to build capacity, deepen environmental awareness, significantly enhance employment opportunities for young people in the biodiversity conservation and natural resources management sectors, and develop them as biodiversity ambassadors.

Chennai-headquartered National Biodiversity Authority is a statutory body under India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), tasked with implementing the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

Established in 2003, the NBA regulates access to biological resources, promotes conservation, and ensures equitable sharing of benefits arising from their commercial use.

The NBA also conducts a regular Biodiversity Samrakshan Internship Programme (BSIP) for one year, and it has been extended for two more years.

In the current year, the sixth cycle of BSIP has selected 24 BSIP interns and placed them with various State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs) to gain hands-on experience in biodiversity conservation and support SBBs/UTBCs in their functioning.

During the year-long programme, the interns allotted to SBBs/UTBCs participate in meetings, organise programmes, conduct field studies, and carry out regular activities of SBBs/UTBCs.

The NBA also provides interested interns with the opportunity to continue their internship for two more years and deepen their knowledge and skills in biodiversity conservation.

The BSIP one-year regular programme was launched in active partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, NBA, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to develop a cadre of trained young professionals through hands-on field engagement.

Selected through a competitive all-India process, interns are deployed across States and Union Territories to support biodiversity conservation initiatives and assist SBBs and UTBCs.

The first BSIP cycle (2019–20) was inaugurated on 22nd May 2020, the International Day for Biological Diversity, by the Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

The NBA currently invests approximately Rs. one crore (Rs 10 million) to support these internships, contributing to strong nation-building and the development of a strong cadre of future biodiversity ambassadors.

The internship programme in biodiversity conservation can significantly help in grooming students by bridging the gap between classroom theory and real-world sustainability practice.

Students move beyond desk-based learning to gain hands-on experience in areas like reforestation, wildlife husbandry, and habitat restoration.