Lok Sabha Question No. 4542 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-20
Subject: Biodiversity Act
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Uday Pratap Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  No. 4542

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2020

## Biodiversity Act

## 4542:SHRI UDAY PRATAP SINGH

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  various  provisions  made  by  the  Government  under  the Biodiversity Act;
- (b) the details of various efforts being made under the said provisions for the protection of forest wealth and wildlife in Madhya Pradesh;
- (c) whether any action/change in rules have been made to check forest crimes taking place in Madhya Pradesh; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO )

- (a) The  Biological  Diversity  Act  was  enacted  in  2002  by  the  Union Government for conservation, sustainable utilization and equitable use of its  components  fair  and  equitable  sharing  of  benefits  arising  out  of utilization of genetic resources.The Act has 12 Chapters and 65 sections.

Chapter I of the Act pertains to the title and definitions. Chapter II deals with  regulation  of  access  to  biological  diversity  in  India.   Chapter  III pertains to the establishment and functioning of the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA). Chapter IV deals with the functions and powers  of  the  NBA.   Chapter  V  deals  with  activities  that  require approval of NBA. Chapter VI covers the establishment and functions of the State Biodiversity Boards (SBB). While Chapter VII deals with the Finance,  accounts  and  Audit  of  NBA,  Chapter  VIII  deals  with  the Finance, accounts and Audit of SBBs.  Chapter IX deals with the duties of  the  Central  and  State  Governments  to  conserve  our  biodiversity. Chapter  X  pertains  to  the  establishment  of  Biodiversity  Management Committees  in  every  local  body.   Chapter  XI  deals  with  the  Local Biodiversity Fund. Chapter XII covers the penal provisions for violations of the act and their adjudication.

- (b) As per the information received from Government of Madhya Pradesh, the following efforts are being made for the protection of forest wealth and wildlife in Madhya Pradesh are:
- i. Thirteen  Rare,  Endangered  and  Threatened  (RET)  of  flora  and

fauna have been notified in Madhya Pradesh under Section 23 of Biological  Diversity  Act,  2002  by  Ministry  of  Environment, Forest and Climate Change's notification No. 1329 dated 07.06.2010;

- ii. Two Biodiversity Heritage Sites, one at Patalkot in Chhindwara District and another at Naro Hills in Satna District were notified under Section 37 of Biological Diversity Act, 2002;
- iii. As  per  Section  41  of  Biological  Diversity  Act,  2002  19,352 Biodiversity  Management  Committees  have  been  constituted  at rural  level  local  bodies  and  13,718  Gram  Sabha as Joint  Forest Management Committees cum Biodiversity Management Committees; and
- iv. As  per  Rules  23  (12)  of  Biological  Diversity  Rules,  2004,  890 Peoples Biodiversity Registers (PBR) have been documented and documentation  of  313  block  level  PBRs  have  been  initiated  in collaboration with School Education and Higher  Education Departments.
4. (c)and (d) As per the information received from the State Government of Madhya Pradesh,  the  action/change  in  rules  have  been  made  to  check  forest crimes taking place in Madhya Pradesh are:
- i. The  Chief  Conservator  of  Forests  (Territorial);  Field  Director, Tiger Reserve; and Regional Chief Manager (Forest Development  Cooperation) have been notified as Assistant Member Secretary of Madhya Pradesh Biodiversity Board;
- ii. For implementation of Guidelines of Access to Biological Resources  and  Associated  Knowledge  and  Benefits  Sharing Regulations, 2014 in the State, the Ex-Officio Assistant Member Secretary  have  been  delegated  the  grant  approval  power  for traders under Rules 17 (4) of M.P Biodiversity Rules, 2004; and
- iii. As per the provisions mentioned in the clause (a) of section 61 of Biological  Diversity  Act,  2002,  Range  Officer  and  above  have been authorized to file complaints in respective jurisdictions.

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