India has significantly strengthened its biodiversity conservation architecture through a combination of legal reforms, scientific institutions, community participation and international cooperation, creating a comprehensive framework for protecting ecosystems while promoting sustainable development.
The country’s biodiversity governance is anchored in the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, which provides the legal foundation for conservation, sustainable use of biological resources and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use. The framework was further strengthened through the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023, which aims to facilitate research and innovation, improve compliance mechanisms and encourage wider community participation in conservation efforts.
A key feature of India’s biodiversity governance is its three-tier institutional structure. At the national level, the National Biodiversity Authority guides conservation and benefit-sharing policies. State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils implement these priorities at regional levels, while Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) work at the grassroots level through local bodies to document and conserve biological resources.
The community-driven approach has emerged as one of the strongest pillars of India’s conservation efforts. More than 2.76 lakh Biodiversity Management Committees have been established across rural and urban local bodies, while over 2.72 lakh People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) have been prepared. These registers document local species, habitats and traditional knowledge, creating an extensive database that supports conservation planning and sustainable resource management.
Scientific institutions continue to play a vital role in strengthening biodiversity governance. The Zoological Survey of India and Botanical Survey of India are responsible for documenting animal and plant diversity, while the Forest Survey of India monitors forest and tree cover across the country. Under Section 39 of the Biological Diversity Act, 20 institutions have been designated as national repositories for biological resources, with two additional institutions recently notified to expand the network.
India’s conservation efforts have yielded notable results on the ground. According to official data, the country’s forest and tree cover now extends over approximately 8.27 lakh square kilometres, accounting for 25.17 per cent of its geographical area. The country also has more than 1,134 protected areas covering around 1.88 lakh square kilometres, providing critical habitats for wildlife and supporting ecosystem services.
Species conservation has shown encouraging outcomes as well. India’s tiger population has increased from 2,226 in 2014 to 3,682 in the latest assessment, reflecting the impact of sustained conservation measures and habitat protection efforts.
The country has also strengthened mechanisms for fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from biological resources. The Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework, supported through an upgraded e-filing portal, facilitates transparent approvals and ensures that local communities receive benefits from the commercial utilisation of biological resources and associated traditional knowledge. As of May 2026, nearly Rs 145 crore has been distributed to beneficiaries across the country, benefiting around 11,000 Biodiversity Management Committees.
On the international front, India continues to align its biodiversity efforts with global commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The country has submitted its Seventh National Report to the Convention and its first National Report on the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol, highlighting progress in biodiversity conservation, access regulations and benefit-sharing mechanisms.
India’s updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2024–2030) is aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted in 2022. The strategy seeks to integrate biodiversity conservation into development planning while advancing national priorities and international commitments.
Further strengthening its conservation agenda, India has launched the National Red List Roadmap (2025–2030), led by the Zoological Survey of India and Botanical Survey of India. The initiative aims to establish a science-based threatened species assessment system to identify conservation priorities and support evidence-based policymaking.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has said that biodiversity conservation remains central to India’s vision of sustainable and inclusive development. With stronger institutions, expanding conservation programmes and growing community participation, the country aims to further improve biodiversity outcomes by 2030 while ensuring that ecological protection and economic growth advance together.
