Karnataka to assess threatened species under new biodiversity framework

Karnataka is set to soon conduct a comprehensive assessment of threatened plant and animal species in Bengaluru and across the state, following a recent mandate by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA). This scientific exercise will utilize a newly released Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to identify and notify species on the brink of extinction, aiming to halt biodiversity loss.

The newly introduced SOP by the NBA establishes a uniform, transparent, and scientifically sound framework for identifying, assessing, and notifying threatened species across the country. The initiative is designed to strengthen biodiversity conservation under Section 38 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. This section empowers the Central Government, in consultation with the Karnataka state government, to notify species that are likely to become extinct in the near future. Once these species are notified, authorities can regulate or prohibit their collection and launch targeted recovery measures.

According to environmental experts, Karnataka's rich biodiversity is currently facing severe pressures from habitat destruction, overexploitation of natural resources, pollution, invasive alien species, and climate change. Protecting these threatened species is considered vital for preserving the state's ecological balance and sustaining essential ecosystem services.

The implementation of the SOP will rely heavily on local participation, but Bengaluru faces administrative hurdles. The city's Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC), which is responsible for documenting local biological resources and traditional knowledge, has remained defunct. Bengaluru's first BMC was formed in 2009 and created an initial repository, but the document has not been updated since then.

Currently, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), the agency responsible for constituting the committee, has stated that the process to re-establish the BMC is yet to begin. While the committee previously existed on paper under the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the new GBA administration is contemplating a new structure. The authority is considering constituting five separate BMCs for the city, allocating one for each city corporation.

Adhering to the NBA's framework is expected to revive these efforts by involving local communities, research institutions, and subject matter experts. Across India, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has already notified 332 threatened species—comprising 159 plant species and 173 animal species—across 17 states and three Union Territories.