Chandigarh, September 6, 2026: The 16th National Meet of State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs) was inaugurated in Chandigarh today. Organised by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), the two-day Meet, being held from September 6–7, 2026, has brought together Chairpersons and Member Secretaries of SBBs and UTBCs from across the country, along with senior officials, experts and scientists.

The inaugural session was attended by the Governor of Punjab and Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria; Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav; and Minister for Environment, Forest and Wildlife, Government of Haryana, Shri Rao Narbir Singh.

Other dignitaries present on the occasion included Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Shri Tanmay Kumar; Director General of Forests and Special Secretary, MoEFCC, Shri Sushil Kumar Awasthi; Additional Secretary, MoEFCC, Shri Ashutosh Agnihotri; Chairperson, National Biodiversity Authority, Shri Virendra Tiwari; and other senior officials of the Union Ministry, SBBs and UTBCs. Also present during the occasion were Sh. Mandip Singh Brar, Home Secretary UT Chandigarh and Sh. Saurah Kumar, Secretary Scinece & Technology & Renewable Energy, UT Chandigarh.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria highlighted India’s rich biological heritage and traditional environmental ethos. He emphasised that ecological security is closely linked to food and water security, livelihoods and sustainable development. He underlined the importance of integrating traditional knowledge and community participation with contemporary conservation approaches.

The Governor also drew attention to the ecological significance of the wetlands, riverine ecosystems and agricultural biodiversity of Punjab and Chandigarh. He stressed the need to strengthen Biodiversity Management Committees and People’s Biodiversity Registers and called for closer coordination among biodiversity institutions and local communities.

In his address, Shri Bhupender Yadav highlighted India’s long-standing environmental ethos and referred to various initiatives undertaken under the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, including Mission LiFE, Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam, Amrit Sarovar and the Green Credit Programme. He stated that India’s biodiversity conservation journey brings together scientific capabilities and the traditional wisdom of local communities.

Referring to the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, the Union Minister noted that the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023, and the Biological Diversity Rules, 2024, have further strengthened and streamlined the country’s biodiversity governance framework. He urged States and Union Territories to align their rules, institutional mechanisms and implementation processes with the amended framework.

The Minister appreciated India’s progress in fulfilling its international biodiversity commitments, including the submission of the Seventh National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the First National Report on the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing.

Emphasising effective implementation at the grassroots level, Shri Yadav called for making more than 2.76 lakh Biodiversity Management Committees across the country functional and effective. He said People’s Biodiversity Registers should evolve into dynamic planning instruments for local bodies, enabling information on local biodiversity and associated traditional knowledge to contribute meaningfully to local planning and sustainable development.

On Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS), the Minister noted that the National Biodiversity Authority has distributed more than ₹200 crore in ABS funds among farmers, local communities, Biodiversity Management Committees, State Biodiversity Boards, Union Territory Biodiversity Councils and research institutions. He emphasised that ABS mechanisms must deliver tangible benefits to communities while contributing to conservation and sustainable livelihoods.

The event also witnessed the release of several knowledge products, including a document highlighting the achievements of the NBA during the past year and providing an overview of the ABS mechanism and the efficient distribution of funds among stakeholders.

Highlighting the linkages between biodiversity conservation and climate action, Shri Bhupender Yadav said India has consistently taken decisive steps aligned with international protocols while following ‘Whole-of-Government’ and ‘Whole-of-Society’ approaches.

He also referred to India’s updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2024–2030, aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. He called for measurable outcomes in ecosystem restoration, species and habitat conservation, agro-biodiversity and the development of climate-resilient landscapes. He encouraged States and Union Territories to actively contribute to achieving the global 30-by-30 conservation target.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Rao Narbir Singh highlighted Haryana’s efforts towards biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration. He emphasised the importance of strengthening biodiversity governance at the State and local levels. He also highlighted the role of Biodiversity Management Committees in conserving local biodiversity and called for enhanced training and capacity-building of BMCs and local communities.

The two-day National Meet will provide a platform for States and Union Territories to share their experiences, innovations and implementation challenges and deliberate upon practical measures to strengthen biodiversity governance.

The deliberations are expected to contribute to stronger institutional mechanisms, improved functioning of Biodiversity Management Committees, better quality and utilisation of People’s Biodiversity Registers, enhanced capacity-building and more effective implementation of the biodiversity governance framework at the State and local levels.