India hosts national biodiversity summit in Chandigarh

The 16th National Meet of the State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs) commenced in Chandigarh on September 6. Organized by the National Biodiversity Authority, the two-day summit gathers chairpersons, member secretaries, scientists, and senior officials to discuss biodiversity governance.

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav emphasized the importance of integrating scientific expertise with traditional community wisdom. He called for the activation of over 2.76 lakh Biodiversity Management Committees and urged local bodies to use People’s Biodiversity Registers as dynamic tools for sustainable development and local planning. Yadav also noted that the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023, and the Biological Diversity Rules, 2024, have strengthened the nation's governance framework.

Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, who presided over the inaugural session, highlighted the link between ecological security and food, water, and livelihood security. He stressed the need for stronger coordination between biodiversity institutions and local communities to protect wetlands, riverine ecosystems, and agricultural biodiversity.