Lok Sabha Question No. 2114 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-23
Subject: Biological Diversity Act
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Uday Pratap Singh

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

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 2114

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.09.2020

## Biological Diversity Act

## 2114. SHRI UDAY PRATAP SINGH:

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

- (a) the provisions made by the Government under Biological Diversity Act, 2002;
- (b) the efforts being made under the said provisions to conserve forests and wildlife in Madhya Pradesh;
- (c) whether any action has been taken/any changes have been made in the rules to control forest crimes 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 the conservation, sustainable utilization and equitable use of its components and 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 country's biodiversity. Chapter X pertains to the establishment of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) 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) Madhya Pradesh has established a State Biodiversity Board which is functioning  as per the provisions of the Biological Diversity Act  and  the  Madhya  Pradesh Biological Diversity Rules, 2004 to govern the biological diversity of the State. As

per the information shared by State Government of Madhya Pradesh, following efforts are being made for the protection of forest wealth and wildlife in Madhya Pradesh:

- i. Thirteen  Rare,  Endangered  and  Threatened  (RET)  flora  and  fauna  have  been notified in Madhya Pradesh under Section 23 of Biological Diversity Act, 2002 by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Chang'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,  23,557  Biodiversity Management  Committees  have  been  constituted  in  local  bodies  of  the  State  to manage the Biodiversity of the State as per the existing legal framework.
- iv. As  per  Rules,  23  (12)  of  Biological  Diversity  Rules,  2004,  23,557  People Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) have been documented.

(c) and (d) As per the information received from State Government of Madhya Pradesh, the actions/change in rules made to check forest crimes taking  place  in  Madhya  Pradesh are:

- A. In exercise of the powers conferred by the sub-rule (4) of Rule 17 of the Madhya Pradesh State Biodiversity Rules, 2004,  the State Government has declared:
- i. Chief Conservator of Forests (Territorial), Field Director, Tiger Reserves and Regional Chief General Manager, Madhya Pradesh Rajya Van Vikas Nigam Limited as Ex-Officio Joint Member Secretary of Madhya Pradesh State Biodiversity Board;
- ii. Conservator of  Forests/Divisional  Forest  Officer/  Deputy  Director,  Tiger Reserve  and  Divisional  Manager,  Madhya  Pradesh  Rajya  Van  Vikas Nigam  Limited  as  Ex-Officio  Assistant,  Member  Secretary  of  Madhya Pradesh State Biodiversity Board;
- B. The Ex-Officio Assistant, Member Secretary of Madhya Pradesh State Biodiversity Board has been delegated the power to issue grant of approval to traders, utilizing the  bioresources  for  commercial  purposes  under  Section  7  of  the  Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

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