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| CBD & Biodiversity Acts implementation |
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Introduction:
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Prior to the Convention
on Biological Diversity, most countries considered genetic resources
to be the "common heritage of humankind", meaning that
there was no law or moral obligation requiring a company that
collected genetic material from another country to pay for access
to that material. The Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) has brought
a paradigm shift in biodiversity resource assessment and utilization.
The convention, by asserting the sovereignty of nations over their
biodiversity, explicitly recognizes the right of countries to
establish legislation regulating access to genetic resources and,
if they wish, require payment for that access. India is one of
the few countries who has brought its own legislations in conformity
with CBD. The Biodiversity Act 2002 has been enacted. In exercise
of the powers conferred by section 62 of the Biological Diversity
Act, 2002, the Central Government has made Rules and regulations
to govern the Act. Similarly India enacted Farmers Rights and
Plant Varieties Act 2001. India is well placed in protecting its
biodiversity, sharing the diversity on international norms and
making all out efforts for its conservation, bioprospecting and
utilization in a sustained way as per provisions of the national
Acts and international conventions combined with its traditional
knowledge and culture of benefit sharing.
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Background:
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The NBRI has opted for a mandate to
be “a premier center on plant science research & development
in the areas of plant biodiversity, conservation & sustainable
utilization of non-crop and wild Plant Genetic Resources (PGR)”
Dr. P. Pushpangadan proposed that CBD and Biodiversity should
be established as a formal group that can address various issues
on biodiversity on national and international fora. NBRI had been
involved in framing of national policies and acts on biodiversity.
Dr. P. Pushpangadan, in particular, has been involved in formulation
of policies and programs on CBD, biodiversity related issues in
WTO and other international conventions. NBRI is a referral center
for plant biodiversity.
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R&D Program and major achievements:
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Active Center for biodiversity
accessioning & evaluation
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NBRI is one of the eleven active centers
for biodiversity accessioning and evaluation. It has been entrusted
with the task of accessioning, characterization and evaluation
of biodiversity of agro forestry species. The institute has accessioned
a large number of agroforestry tree and shrub species, medicinal
plants apart from a large collection of chrysanthemums and other
ornamentals. It holds several IC numbers. It has evaluated germplasm
of Neem (Azadirachta indica), Madhuca indica, Salvadora
species, Jatropha curcas, guggul, Hibiscus
and several other ornamental and medicinal taxa.
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Equator Initiative Prize 2002
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| Dr. P. Pushpangadan was honoured
with Equator Initiave Prize 2002 t The Earth Summit, Johannesburg,
South Africa. The prize has been instituted in 2002 by the Secretary
General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi A. Annan for innovative
partnership for biodiversity, conservation and poverty reduction.
The prize carried a citation and a cash prize of $30,000. The
model that earned Dr. P. Pushpangadan this award was the World’s
First Model on Benefit Sharing& IPR of a tribal community
(Kani).
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| NBRI a referral center for
Biodiversity Conventions and Acts
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NBRI is a referral center for biodiversity.
Dr. P. Pushpangadan has contributed in developing policies and
their implementation at national and international level for CBD,
WTO and other conventions. The group was involved in framing and
implementation of Biodiversity Act 2002 and Farmers’ Rights and
Plants Varieties Act 2002.
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Biodiversity Acts & IPR
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Need and advantages of following international
biodiversity conventions and protocols were stressed in International
training programs and conferences7 in collaboration
with Sudan1,2, China, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia8
and for other national agencies3-6. Trade, entrepreneurship
and interest in medicinal plants is at its peak9. However,
it is essential to follow the norms and conventions to conserve
biodiversity and use the sustainability. The group organizes activities,
lectures and demonstrations to educate various target groups on
the current scenario, protocols to be followed for growing, harvesting,
processing, marketing and international trading biodiversity resources
of the country.
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Biodiversity of Jharkhand
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NBRI has been entrusted to study biodiversity
of Jharkhand state in order to promote value addition to the useful
biodiversity resources of the state.
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Biodiversity based vocations
(Swa Shakti)
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NBRI completed a consultation assignment
for Swa Shakti to identify biodiversity resources in six states.
It recommended useful vocations for enterprising women to start
vocation based on local biodiversity resources. The program was
undertaken on the request of the Ministry of Human resources,
Govt. of India.
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Literature cited:
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- Behl, H.M. (2003). In:Proc. (Ed. MR Ahmad) 2nd Indo-Sudanese
Workshop on Medicinal & Aromatic Plants at National Botanical
Research Institute, Lucknow November 11-14, (2003).
- Behl, H.M. (2003). In: Proc. (Ed. MR Ahmad) 2nd Indo-Sudanese
Workshop on Medicinal & Aromatic Plants at National Botanical
Research Institute, Lucknow November 11-14, (2003).
- Behl, H.M. (2003). In: Proc. State Level Workshop on Domestication,
production and marketing of Medicinal Plants in Uttar Pradesh,
India.
- Behl, H.M. (2003). In: Proc. National Seminar on “Growing
importance of Cultivation of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants”
July 14, (2003), Patna, FFDC, Ministry of Small Scale Industries,
Govt. of India, New Delhi.
- Behl, H.M. (2003). In: Proc. National Conference on Biodiversity
& Applied Biology of Plants, October 8-10, (2003), Lucknow
University, Lucknow, India., pp 26-27.
- Behl, H.M. (2003). In: Proc. Land Use / Land cover &
Management Practices, National Seminar, August 21-22, (2003),
Hyderabad, India.
- Behl, H.M., (2003). In: Proc. First national Conference
on Botanic Gardens of India, June 2 to 5, (2003), NBRI, Lucknow.
- Behl, H.M. (2000). In: Proc. 2nd International Conference
on Economics & Conservation of Renewable Natural Resources
in Arid Zones, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Nov 12 to 15, 2000.
- Behl, H.M. (1995). In: Proc. International Business Workshop
(CEST) on Nutraceuticals, MIT, Dedham, Massachusetts, U.S.A.,
March 10-12, 1995.
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Biodiversity Gardens at Rashtrapati
Bhavan
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NBRI was invited to develop Biodiversity
Gardens at Rashtrapati Bhavan. It developed two gardens at the
Rashtrapati Bhavan:
- Herbal Medicinal Garden
- Tactile Garden for visually impaired.
The Herbal medicinal garden is an elliptical garden with nearly
200 medicinal plant species used traditionally for cure and
care. The garden has four corners devoted to special groups:
- Women health care
- Children health care
- Animal health care
- Plant heath care
Apart from these corners, the main garden has been divided
on the basis of major ailments and plants used for cure and
care have been planted in such a way that the ambiance matches
that of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Trees, shrubs, herbs, climbers
etc. have been planted aesthetically. A special care has been
taken to display names and other information about the plants
in the garden.
The Tactile garden has been planned in such a way that visually
impaired can visit, learn about plants, touch, feel, smell and
taste the plants. Information in Braille has been provided where
they can know about the plants grown in bed in front of tem
and they can identify n the basis of feel, smell, touch and
taste.
The Honorable Rashtrapati Dr. Abdul Kalam appreciated the gardens.
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A Braille book was also written to facilitate understanding of
the plants. Information has been provided in case the visitors
plan to plant the species.
The interpretation about the plants, the garden and utility of
plats particularly with reference to biodiversity has also been
made available in PC based audio program that Visually impaired
can handle and learn of their own. The computer aided program
is made available to visitors when the garden in opened for public.
These gardens form a major component of Biodiversity gardens at
the Rashtrapati Bhavan. |
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