India Reiterates Commitment to Biodiversity Conservation on International Day for Biological Diversity 2026

📌 Summary:

• The national-level celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) 2026, themed "Acting Locally for Global Impact", was held at the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal
• It was organised by MoEFCC along with the Government of Madhya Pradesh, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)
• Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav emphasised community-led conservation, local action and traditional ecological knowledge such as sacred groves and landraces
• The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister highlighted Project Cheetah as a landmark in ecological restoration, strengthening habitat conservation and community participation
• India reiterated its commitment to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework; the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 provides a decentralised framework via NBA, State Biodiversity Boards and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs)
• Under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism, nearly Rs. 145 crore has been released to beneficiaries across the country

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 Environment — biodiversity conservation, the Biological Diversity Act, the Kunming-Montreal Framework, ABS and community-led conservation.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• The 2026 theme of the International Day for Biological Diversity is "Acting Locally for Global Impact"
• The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 operates via NBA, State Biodiversity Boards and BMCs
• Around Rs. 145 crore has been released under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism

🔑 Key Term: Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) — a mechanism under the Convention on Biological Diversity ensuring fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of biological resources and associated traditional knowledge.