New Delhi: In a significant step towards strengthening biodiversity conservation, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to help states and Union Territories scientifically identify and notify threatened species under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
The SOP aims to establish a uniform, transparent and science-based framework for assessing species facing the risk of extinction and recommending conservation measures.
According to the NBA, India, one of the world’s megadiverse countries, is witnessing growing threats to biodiversity due to habitat loss, overexploitation, pollution, invasive species and climate change. The new guidelines are intended to support timely interventions for species at risk.
Under Section 38 of the Biological Diversity Act, the Centre can notify species that are on the verge of extinction or likely to become extinct in the near future. Such notification enables authorities to regulate or prohibit their collection and implement rehabilitation and conservation measures.
So far, 159 plant species and 173 animal species across 17 states and three Union Territories have been notified as threatened species.
The SOP outlines a step-by-step process covering scientific assessment, stakeholder consultations, validation, notification, conservation planning and periodic review. It also encourages the use of field studies, scientific evidence and traditional knowledge while involving local communities, biodiversity management committees and research institutions.
The NBA said the initiative would help strengthen species recovery efforts and contribute to India’s biodiversity conservation goals under national and global frameworks.
