What is a People’s Biodiversity Register?

Sub : Environment

Sec: Biodiversity

Context:

In April 2024, Bengaluru’s Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) decided to record a century-old woodland near Manyata Tech Park in the city’s People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR).
The woodland hosts over 20 tree species and various bird species, and documenting such areas in the PBR is crucial for conservation and traditional knowledge sharing amidst rapid urbanization.

What is a People’s Biodiversity Register?

The People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) is a repository of flora and fauna, local livelihoods, and traditional knowledge under the Biological Diversity (BD) Act, 2002.
PBRs serve as informal inventories and databases, protecting intellectual property rights and supporting conservation efforts.
Local communities, BMC members, students, teachers, and volunteers contribute to documenting local biodiversity.
National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) is a statutory body established to carry out the provisions of the Biodiversity Act 2002.

How has PBR Raised Awareness of Biodiversity?

PBRs aim to conserve biological diversity, ensure sustainable use of resources, and equitably share benefits from biological knowledge.
They document indigenous knowledge to prevent biopiracy and support local ownership claims.
Examples include villagers in Udupi realizing the economic value of non-timber forest produce and conservation efforts for Bengaluru’s Madiwala Lake.

How Can PBR be Employed to Uplift Economies?

PBRs can serve as legal evidence of traditional knowledge and help uplift Indigenous communities, though practical implementation remains limited.
For instance, medicinal plant knowledge in Tamil Nadu has not resulted in economic benefits for local residents.
The Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism mandates sharing profits from traditional knowledge with local communities, but implementation has been inconsistent.