NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY AUTHORITY

Olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)
The olive-colored, heart-shaped and rounded carapace sea turtles, they are the most abundant sea turtles found in tropical waters in all over the world, considered as Vulnerable due to declining population. Adults rarely weigh over 50 kg, hatchlings usually weigh between 12-23 g.

Tailed Jay (Graphium agamemnon )
A black with greenish spotted colorful wings, flutter constantly and fast moving restless butterfly classified in the family Papilionidae, commonly found in Australasia and Indomalayan ecozone, distributed from India to New Zealand. Average wingspan is 8 – 10 cm.

Andaman wood Pigeon (Columba palumboides)
A state bird of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is an endemic species, lives in the dense broadleaved evergreen forests of these islands. It is found as uncommon and currently considered as nearly threatened due to habitat loss.

Andaman day Gecko (Phelsuma andamenense)
A bright greenish with red stripes, spotted body and turquoise colored tailed lizard, an endemic species to Andaman Islands. The other species are found only in Mauritius and Madagascar. Lives in domestic gardens and local huts. Found mostly on betel nut trees, coconut palms and banana trees.

Welcome

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) was established in 2003 by the Central Government to implement India’s Biological Diversity Act (2002). The NBA is a Statutory Body and it performs facilitative, regulatory and advisory functions for Government of India on issue of conservation, sustainable use of biological resources and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of biological... 1

State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) are to be established under Section 22 of the Act. Accordingly, in all the 29 States, SBBs have been established.2

As per the Act, the local bodies constitute the BMC in accordance with Section 41, within their area of jurisdiction for the purpose of promoting conservation, sustainable use and documentation of biological diversity including preservation of habitats, conservation of land races, folk varieties and cultivars, domesticated stocks and breeds of animals, micro-organisms and chronicling of knowledge relating to biological diversity. The... 3

For effective implementation of the Biological Diversity Act notifications / guidelines are issued from time to time with the able guidance of experts in the field. Notifications were issued covering Threatened species, Collaborative research project national repositories etc., for implementation of the BD Act.

Biodiversity Management Committees are to be established under Section 41 of the Act at local level. The BMCs play a vital role in documenting biodiversity, their sustainable use and in dealing with Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) issues.