People’s Biodiversity Register

08.07.2024

People’s Biodiversity Register

Why in the news?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Thazhakara has become the first grama panchayat in Alappuzha and one of the first in Kerala to update and publish a comprehensive People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) with the involvement of local communities.

About People’s Biodiversity Register:

• It serves as a comprehensive record of various aspects of biodiversity, including the conservation of habitats, preservation of land races, domesticated stocks and breeds of animals, micro-organisms, and the accumulation of knowledge related to the area's biological diversity.
• The Biological Diversity Act (2002) mandates the development of Peoples’ Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) at the local level to document as well as safe guard bioresources and associated knowledge.

○As per the Biological Diversity Act 2002, Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) are created for “promoting conservation, sustainable use and documentation of biological diversity” by local bodies across the country.

○BMCs have been constituted by the local bodies in the States and Union Territories and are entrusted with the preparation of the PBRs in consultation with local communities.

• It will play a crucial role in conservation, sustainable resource utilization, and protection of traditional knowledge.
• Significance of PBR: It will help local bodies in preparing various projects in agriculture, drinking water, and waste management, among other sectors, with a focus on biodiversity conservation and equitable sharing of benefits.

                                                                  Source: The Hindu

Question :- Consider the following statements with reference to the People’s Biodiversity Register:

Statement-I

It serves as a comprehensive record of biodiversity and preservation of land races.

Statement-II

 It is prepared by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for every state.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

A.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

B.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.

C.Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect.

D.Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.

Answer C