India’s First National Report on Nagoya Protocol Implementation Context: India has recently submitted its first National Report (NR1) on the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol to the CBD Secretariat, marking an important step in strengthening its biodiversity governance efforts. About the National Report The report was prepared by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in partnership with the National Biodiversity Authority and covers the period from November 2017 to December 2025. Between 2017 and 2025, India granted a total of 12,830 Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) approvals. Of these, 5,913 were issued by the National Biodiversity Authority, while 6,917 were granted by State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils for the commercial use of biological resources. Nagoya Protocol The Nagoya Protocol is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The CBD is an international treaty that was adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio Earth Summit) in 1992 and came into force in 1993. Its main goal is to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, thereby supporting biodiversity conservation and its sustainable utilisation. The Nagoya Protocol was adopted in 2010 and became operational in 2014. Scope of the Protocol It applies to genetic resources such as plants, animals, and microorganisms. It also covers traditional knowledge associated with these resources. Additionally, it addresses benefits generated from their use, including research and commercial applications. Core Principles Access: Users must obtain Prior Informed Consent (PIC) from the providing country before accessing biological resources. Benefit Sharing: The benefits derived must be shared in a fair and equitable manner based on Mutually Agreed Terms (MAT). Compliance: It ensures that the use of resources follows the conditions set under PIC and MAT. India’s Institutional Framework India’s ABS…
