Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Biodiversity Act, 2002 - An Analysis - Academike
Biodiversity Act, 2002 - An Analysis - Academike
BiodiversityAct,2002:AnAnalysisAcademike
ACADEMIKE
Lawctopus' Law Journal + Knowledge Center (ISSN: 2349-9796)
ABOUT
SUBMISSIONS
ISSUES
ADVISORS
STUDENT EDITORS
CONTACT
ByUdishaGhoshandChandralekhaAkkiraju,SymbiosisLawSchool,Pune
EditorsNote:Biodiversityassumesimmensesignificanceforthesurvivalofhumanbeings
because we depend on it even for our most basic needs like food and medicines. India
houses a substantial portion of the worlds biodiversity. But India did not have a
comprehensivelawdealingwithconservationofbiodiversityuntil2002,whentheBiological
Diversity Act was enacted, in order to ensure compliance with the Convention of Biological
Diversity,1992.Factorslikepollution,overexploitationanddegradation,coupledwithnatural
causes,poseathreattobiodiversity.AlthoughtheActtriestodealwiththeseproblems,there
are still loopholes like inadequate access to local communities, noninclusion of genetic
resources and access benefit sharing. This paper analyses all these issues in detail and
attempts to provide plausible solutions that could help in dealing with these problems. It
examinessuccessfulbiodiversitylawsincountrieslikeCostaRicaanddiscussesprovisions
thatcanbeincorporatedintheIndianlegislation.Finally,itsuggestssolutionsforproblems
thatarespecifictoIndia.
Introduction
Biodiversity in the laymans word comprises of various life forms within the biosphere. It
contains life forms from the simple singlecelled microbes to highly complex organisms.
Biodiversityisthebasisoftheecosystemandisimportantforitsfunctioning.Wedependon
http://www.lawctopus.com/academike/biodiversityact2002analysis/
1/19
8/7/2016
BiodiversityAct,2002:AnAnalysisAcademike
biodiversityforourbaiscneedslikefood,shelter,medicinesetc.
Biodiversity is extremely complex, dynamic and varied. It includes innumerable plants,
animals, microbes, atmosphere (mixture of various gases), geosphere (solid part of the
earth)andhydrosphere(theliquidportiononEarth).
Biodiversitycanbroadlybedividedatthreelevelsi.e.geneticdiversity,speciesdiversityand
ecosystem diversity. Biodiversity management is required at all these levels because by
changingbiodiversity,westronglyaffecthumanwellbeingandthewellbeingofeveryother
livingcreature.
Numberof
Numberof
species(SI)
species(SW)
Mammals
350
4,629
7.6
Birds
122
49,702
12.6
Reptiles
408
6,550
6.2
Amphibians
197
4,522
4.4
Group
http://www.lawctopus.com/academike/biodiversityact2002analysis/
SI/SW(%)
2/19
8/7/2016
BiodiversityAct,2002:AnAnalysisAcademike
Fishes
2546
21,730
11.7
Source:QuotedinBiodiversityProfileofIndia
Threats to Biodiversity
Thethreatstobiodiversityincludesmanmadedestructionoftheecosystemandthenatural
causes which causes damage to the biodiversity. The following are the major reasons for
biodiversityloss:
Habitatlossanddegradation:Oneofthemajorthreatstothebiodiversityisthehabitat
losscausedduetohumandevelopmentinthesensitivebiologicalareas.Habitatloss
affects 86% of all threatened birds, 86% of the threatened mammals assessed, and
88%ofthethreatenedamphibians.[iii]
Overexploitationofnaturalresources
Pollutioncanbeconsideredtobeanotherfactor
Climatechangeaffectingchangesinthebiodiversity
Reasons
forenactment
Biodiversity Act
of
the
Biodiversity Act, 2002 came into existence much later than the other existing laws on
environment such as the Indian Forest Act, 1927 , Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 ,
Environment Protection Act, 1986 etc. Though all these legislations laid impetus on the
conservationoftheenvironment,yetnoneofthemproperlyaddressedallthedimensionsof
theecologicalandbiodiversitypreservation.
http://www.lawctopus.com/academike/biodiversityact2002analysis/
3/19
8/7/2016
BiodiversityAct,2002:AnAnalysisAcademike
2002.TheobjectivesoftheActwere :
1.ConservationofBiologicaldiversity
2.Sustainableuseofitscomponents
3.Fairandequitablesharingofthebenefitsarisingoutofutilizationofgeneticresources.
[vi]
ApartfromthesemainobjectivestheActhasalsogivenforcetosomeofthetermsofCBD
bythefollowingprovisions:
1.To set up National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), State Biodiversity Board(SBB) and
BiodiversityManagementCommittees(BMCs).
2.Torespectandprotectknowledgeoflocalcommunitiestraditionalknowledgerelatedto
biodiversity.
3.Toconserveanddevelopareasofimportancefromthestandpointofbiologicaldiversity
bydeclaringthembiologicaldiversityheritagesites.
http://www.lawctopus.com/academike/biodiversityact2002analysis/
4/19
8/7/2016
BiodiversityAct,2002:AnAnalysisAcademike
The Biological Diversity Act of 2002 and the Biological Diversity Rules, 2004 are
implemented by National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) at the national level, State Biological
Board(SBB)atstatelevelandBiodiversityManagementCommittees(BMCs)atlocallevels.
[vii]
Someofthemajorfunctionsoftheseauthoritiesare :
To regulate activities of, approve and advice the Government of India on matters
relating to the conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its components and
equitablesharingofbenefits.
TograntapprovalunderSections3,4and6ofBiodiversityAct,2002
To notify areas of biodiversity importance as biodiversity heritage sites under this act
andperformotherfunctionsasmaybenecessarytocarryouttheprovisionsoftheAct.
Totakemeasurestoprotectbiodiversityofthecountryaswellastoopposethegrantof
intellectualpropertyrightstoanycountryoutsideoranybiologicalresourcesobtained
fromIndia.
TheNBAdealswiththerequestsforaccesstothebiologicalresourcesaswellastransferof
informationoftraditionalknowledgetoforeignnationals,institutionsandcompanies.Through
thiswaypiracyofIntellectualPropertyRightsinandaroundIndiaisprevented,italsosaves
theindigenouspeoplefromexploitation.
The recent developments relating to NBA implementation include the establishment of
designated National Repository (DNR) under Section 39 as an important aspect of
infrastructure for biodiversity conservation. This DNR provides service providers for
preservedspecimenconsistingallfaun,herbarium(driedplantmaterialforresearch),living
cells,genomesoforganismsandinformationrelatingtohereditaryandfunctionofbiological
[viii]
system.
5/19
8/7/2016
BiodiversityAct,2002:AnAnalysisAcademike
cannotforgetanothermajoraimofthisacti.e.toprotectthebiodiversity.
TheConstitutional Viewpoint
Article 14 Whether or not the classi cation meets the
objectives of the Act
TheIndianConstitutionguaranteesasetofFundamentalRightstoitscitizensunderPartIII
of the Constitution. Some of these fundamental rights are guaranteed to citizens and non
citizensaswell.Article21andArticle14aretwoofthefundamentalrightsguaranteedeven
tononcitizens.ItisnecessarytoexaminehowArticle14isviolatedbytheBiodiversityAct,
2002. The act distinguishes citizens of India and other persons on the basis of citizenship
andresidentialstatus.ForanylegislationtobeintraviresArticle14ithastopasstwotests
Theintelligibledifferentiatest
Therationalnexuswiththeobjectiveoftheacttest
The intelligible differentia states that a classification in itself does not make the Act/action
ultravires. An act becomes ultravires when the classification is not based on intelligible
differentia. In the given act, the classification is based on both citizenship and residential
status.Nowaftertheclassificationtestispassedthelegislationshouldpassthetestthatthe
classification must have a rational nexus with the objective of the act. The objective of this
act areconservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of resources and fair and
equitablesharingofbenefitsarisingoutofutilizationofgeneticresources.Theobjectivesthat
theactseekstoachieveandtheclassificationofpersonsandotherpersonsdonothavea
rationalnexuswiththeobjectivesofthisacti.e.toconserveofbiologicaldiversity.
Secondly, these provisions deter foreign joint ventures as well as collaboration with foreign
scientistsbecauseofstrictprohibitiononevenminorequityholdingsinacompany.Itwould
beimpracticalforacompanyholdingthousandsofsharestofollowthisprocedurewhenonly
aminorportionofsharesareheldbyotherpersonsorcorporationsnotbasedinIndia.There
should be restrictions when, the nonIndian shareholders are in a position to influence the
decisionsandmanagementofthecompanyinquestion,nototherwise.
Finally,theactassumesthatresidentcitizensofIndiaandcorporationsofIndiaarenevera
threat to biodiversity. The main objective of the act is conservation of biodiversity and the
legislatorsshouldbearinmindthateventheIndiancitizenresidentsandIndiancorporations
canbeexploitative.
Thus, the act has to grant approvals for access or IPRs keeping in mind the following
considerations:
http://www.lawctopus.com/academike/biodiversityact2002analysis/
6/19
8/7/2016
BiodiversityAct,2002:AnAnalysisAcademike
Whether the said access comprehensively gives greater rights leading to the
developmentoftheholdersofthetraditionalknowledge.
Whetherthesaidaccessisdetrimentaltobiodiversity.
wouldonlydelaytheirabilitytogetanyremedy.
http://www.lawctopus.com/academike/biodiversityact2002analysis/
7/19
8/7/2016
BiodiversityAct,2002:AnAnalysisAcademike
maymakeaninformeddecision.
[xi]
8/19
8/7/2016
BiodiversityAct,2002:AnAnalysisAcademike
regardingthesafetyoftheresourceorotherGMOs(GeneticallymodifiedOrganisms).
Scenario in India
India is trying to develop and implement laws and policies on access benefit sharing.
However,therehavebeenseveralchallengeswhichareemergingduringtheprocess:
http://www.lawctopus.com/academike/biodiversityact2002analysis/
9/19
8/7/2016
BiodiversityAct,2002:AnAnalysisAcademike
Recommendations
Havingraisedtheaboveissues,solutionscanbeproposedbyusingatwoprogedapproach
Recommendations on the lines of successful Biodiversity laws in some of the best
biodiversityhotspotsintheworlds
General recommendations regarding implementation to achieve the objective of the
BiodiversityActinitstruespirit.
10/19
8/7/2016
BiodiversityAct,2002:AnAnalysisAcademike
onaccesstogeneticandbiochemicalelementsandprotectionofassociatedknowledge,as
well as coordinating these policies with the relevant institutions. It also formulates and
coordinates the policy for access to elements of biodiversity and associated knowledge,
ensuringasuitabletransferofscienceandtechnologyandthedistributionofbenefits.
Incentives Approach
ThebiodiversitylawofCostaRicaincludesthepromotionofincentivesintheobjectives
To promote the adoption of incentives and the reward of environmental services for
conservation,thesustainableuseandthecomponentsofbiodiversity.
ChapterVIIofthelawdealswithincentives,rangingfromfinancialandtechnicalassistance
tohelpingintheconservationofbiodiversitytoencouragingeffortsandresearch.Incentives
arealsogivenforcommunityparticipationandinvestmentsforoveralldevelopment.
Biosafety Approach
Thelawincludestheissueofbiosafetyintheobjectivesbyspecifying
Toensureenvironmentalsafetytoallcitizensasaguaranteeofsocial,economicandcultural
sustainability.
Article 46 of the law deals with the issue of biosafety by not only mentioning details of
obtainingpermissionrelatingtouseofGMOs,butalsoaregularthreemonthreportbythe
user to the concerned authority, to maintain utmost standards of environmental safety. The
precautionaryprinciple,toavoidthedefenceofscientificuncertaintyhasbeenexplicitlyputin
placeinArticle11oftheAct.
11/19
8/7/2016
BiodiversityAct,2002:AnAnalysisAcademike
The law in Costa Rica lays great emphasis on Prior Informed Consent (PIC). The PIC of
communitiesinvolvedismademandatory.Anagreementofthispriorinformedconsenthas
to be attached before access is sought and the same has to be ratified by the technical
officerbeforegrantingtheaccesses.Therightoflocalcommunitiesandindigenouspeopleto
opposeanyaccesstotheirresourcesandassociatedknowledge,beitforcultural,spiritual,
social, economic or other motives, is recognised. Furthermore to prevent any threat of
biodiversity,thereisanecessityforduplicationanddepositofsamplesetc.collectedwiththe
concernedauthority[xviii].
12/19
8/7/2016
BiodiversityAct,2002:AnAnalysisAcademike
purposes.Thiscouldplayamajorroleinthebiodiversityconservationprocess,since
relaxation of the rules for the people helping in the sustainable and valuable use of
theseindigenousresourcescanmotivatepeopletoperformresearchanduseitforthe
welfareofthemankind.
Conclusion
India has made a legal policy and framework regarding biodiversity which enables it to
addresssomecrucialissueswithregardtoprotectionofbiodiversity.But,thepresentpolicy
is far from being adequate, since some major concerns as discussed above are yet to be
addressed. The only way to overcome such a situation is by making amendments in the
legislationandadoptingastrongerproactivecommunityparticipation.
It it is also necessary to include all life forms including human genes into the broader
definition of biological resources to prevent any form of exploitation. The civil society
organisations should also try to create awareness among the local communities about the
Biodiversity Act and the rights it guarantees to them. Also since change cannot achieved
throughisolatedefforts,itisessentialtobuildformalandinformalnetworksamongfarmers,
civil society associations, grass root organisations, scientific and academic institutions and
government organisations. This would lead to better conservation and protection of
biodiversity.
EditedbyKudratAgrawal
[i] Implementation of Biological Diversity Act in India: An Overview with Case Studies 24th
August2011,PravatChandroSutar(PartI),NigamanandaSwain(PartI).
[ii]http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/hpg/cesmg/indiabio.html.
[iii]Id.
[iv]PowerpointPresentationonBiodiversityAct,2002:OverviewByGourammaFPatiland
MehreenMir
[v]CriticalReviewofTheBiologicalDiversityAct2002byPunamSinghChandel.
www.academia.edu/242307/Critical_Review_of_Biodiversity_Act_2002.
[vi]PreambleoftheBioDiversityAct,2002.
[vii]Id.
http://www.lawctopus.com/academike/biodiversityact2002analysis/
13/19
8/7/2016
BiodiversityAct,2002:AnAnalysisAcademike
[viii]Id.
[ix]Rule20oftheBioDiversityRules,2004.
[x]AGuidetotheBiologicalDiversityAct2002byKalpavriksh.
[xi]Id.
[xii]WORKSHOPONFREE,PRIORANDINFORMEDCONSENT(17th19thJanuary2005)
bytheUnitedNations.
[xiii]ArticleonTheLegalMeaningofBiodiversityKanchiKohli,ShaliniBhutani
[xiv]Id.
[xv]LivingwithHarmonyThe Nagoya Protocol on Access Benefit Sharing By Convention
on Biological diversity, https://www.cbd.int/undb/media/factsheets/undbfactsheetnagoya
en.pdf.
[xvi] On the mountains Access and Benefit Sharing from Genetic Resources,
www.icimod.org.
[xvii]Id.
[xviii]Article71oftheBiodiversityLaw,1997ofCostaRica.
[xix]AGuidetotheBiologicalDiversityAct,2002,byKalpavriksh.
Youmayalsolike:
WannaKnowHowto JOBPOST:Usha
http://www.lawctopus.com/academike/biodiversityact2002analysis/
JOBPOST:Judge
ILSLawColleges
14/19
8/7/2016
BiodiversityAct,2002:AnAnalysisAcademike
MakeRs.
6,302/Day?
CareerTimes
1stSymbiosisLaw
SchoolMoot
Singh&Associates,
Advocates&
Consultants
ARTICLE21OF
THE
CONSTITUTION
OFINDIA
RIGHTTOLIFE
AND
PERSONAL
LIBERTY
Article21ofthe
ConstitutionofIndia
RighttoLifeand
PersonalLiberty
AdvocateGeneral@ RememberingSP
IndianArmy[20
Sathe11thNational
Posts]
Moot
LawFirms,Lawyers,
Advocates|Salaries
andPackages
StudentActionWins:
NUJSKolkata's
RegistrarDr.Surajit
Chandra
Mukhopadhyay's
DismalUpheldby
CalHC
AdsbyShareaholic
FiledUnder:EnvironmentalLaw
TaggedWith:AccessBenefitSharing,ConventiononBiodiversity,IndigenousPeople,NagoyaProtocol
http://www.lawctopus.com/academike/biodiversityact2002analysis/
15/19
8/7/2016
BiodiversityAct,2002:AnAnalysisAcademike
Leave a Reply
Youremailaddresswillnotbepublished.Requiredfieldsaremarked*
Name*
Email*
Website
Comment
YoumayusetheseHTMLtagsandattributes:<ahref=""title=""><abbrtitle="">
<acronymtitle=""><b><blockquotecite=""><cite><code><deldatetime="">
<em><i><qcite=""><strike><strong>
POSTCOMMENT
SEARCH
http://www.lawctopus.com/academike/biodiversityact2002analysis/
16/19
8/7/2016
BiodiversityAct,2002:AnAnalysisAcademike
CATEGORIES
DirectTaxation
ADR
Arbitration&ConciliationAct
BankingLaw
Bankruptcy&Insolvency
BiotechnologyLaw
BusinessLaws
CivilProcedureCode&Lawof
Limitation
CodeofCriminalProcedure
competition
CompetitionLaw
Constitutional&AdministrativeLaw
ConsumerProtectionAct
ContractLaw
Copyright
CorporateFinance
CorporateGovernance
CriminalLaw
CriminologyandVictimology
EconomicOffences
Economics
EnvironmentalLaw
FamilyLaw
GenderandLaw
HumanitarianandRefugeeLaw
Humanities
IndianEvidenceAct
IndianPenalCode
InformationTechnologyLaw
InsuranceLaw
http://www.lawctopus.com/academike/biodiversityact2002analysis/
17/19
8/7/2016
BiodiversityAct,2002:AnAnalysisAcademike
IntellectualPropertyRights
InternationalCommercialArbitration
InternationalEnvironmentalLaw
InternationalHumanRightsLaw
InternationalLabourLaws
InternationalLaw
InternationalOrganization
InternationalTradeLaw
InternationalTreatyArbitration
InterpretationofStatutes
InvestmentLaw
IPRinPharmaIndustry
Jurisprudence
LabourLaw
LandAcquisition
LawandEconomics
LawoftheSea
LawofTorts
LegalHistory
LegalMethods
LegalServicesAuthoritiesAct/Lok
Adalats
MaritimeLaw
Media&CyberLaw
Mediation
Merger&Acquisition
OffencesAgainstChild&Juvenile
Offence
Patents
Penology&Victimology
PoliticalScience
PrivateInternationalLaw
ProbationandParole
ProceduralLaws
http://www.lawctopus.com/academike/biodiversityact2002analysis/
18/19
8/7/2016
BiodiversityAct,2002:AnAnalysisAcademike
PropertyLaw
PublicInternationalLaw
SecuritiesLaw
Sociology
SpaceLaw
SpecialContract
TaxLaw
Trademarks
Uncategorized
WhiteCollarCrime
Women&CriminalLaw
RECENT POSTS
ScopeofEnforcementofDPSPs
ContractsandQuasiContracts
Thesettingredsunofdarkwater
MedicalNegligence
ComparisonOfTrialProcedure
BetweenIndianCourtsAndFranch
Courts
Copyright2016GenesisFrameworkWordPressLogin
http://www.lawctopus.com/academike/biodiversityact2002analysis/
19/19