SYLLABUS
GS-3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.
Context: The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the scientific identification and notification of Threatened Species under Section 38 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
More on the News
- The SOP seeks to establish a uniform, transparent and scientifically robust framework for the identification, assessment and notification of threatened species by States and Union Territories.
- India, one of the world’s megadiverse countries, is witnessing increasing threats to biodiversity from habitat degradation, overexploitation, pollution, invasive alien species and climate change, necessitating stronger conservation measures.
- Section 38 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 empowers the Central Government, in consultation with the concerned State Government, to notify any species that is on the verge of extinction or is likely to become extinct in the near future as a Threatened Species.
- At present, 159 plant species and 173 animal species across 17 States and 3 Union Territories have been notified as threatened species by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
- The SOP gains added significance in light of the Biological Diversity Regulations, 2025, which provide differential treatment in benefit-sharing obligations for species notified under Section 38.
- It also supports the implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2024–2030 (Target 4) and aligns with India’s commitments under the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Key Highlights of the SOP
- Scientific Identification and Assessment: Provides a structured methodology for identifying threatened species through scientific assessment, extinction-risk evaluation, field-based studies and evidence-based decision-making.
- Multi-Stakeholder Consultation: Mandates participation of State Biodiversity Boards, Union Territory Biodiversity Councils, Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), academic institutions, subject experts and local communities.
- Integration of Traditional Knowledge: Encourages the use of traditional ecological knowledge alongside scientific evidence to improve species assessment and conservation outcomes.
- Transparent Notification Process: Establishes a clear step-by-step framework covering identification, assessment, stakeholder consultation, validation and recommendation to State Governments for notification.
- Conservation Planning and Periodic Review: Emphasises preparation of species recovery and conservation action plans, supported by regular monitoring and periodic review to assess conservation outcomes and emerging threats.
Significance of the SOP
- Strengthening Scientific Conservation: Introduces a standardised and evidence-based approach for identifying threatened species, ensuring greater consistency and credibility in conservation decisions across States and UTs.
- Strengthening Biodiversity Governance: Enhances the capacity of State Biodiversity Boards and UT Biodiversity Councils by providing a uniform framework for implementing Section 38 of the Biological Diversity Act.
- Promoting Participatory Conservation: Institutionalises the role of local communities, Biodiversity Management Committees and traditional knowledge systems, thereby fostering community-led conservation efforts.
- Improving Species Recovery Efforts: Facilitates timely identification of species facing extinction risks and supports targeted recovery interventions through conservation action plans and continuous monitoring.
