The National Biodiversity Authority has released a new set of rules to manage sharing of benefits generated through the use of biological resources. The Biological Diversity (Access to biological Resources and Knowledge Associated thereto and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits) Regulation 2025 was approved by the Central government and …
The growing global demand for medicinal and aromatic plants could help drive Nepal's green economy, while improving livelihoods in its poorest communities, according to a new study released by the UNEP in collaboration with the Government of Nepal. The report, BioTrade: Harnessing the potential for transitioning to a green economy …
Biopiracy is a compound word consisting of ‘bio’ which is a short form for ‘biology’ and ‘piracy’. Biopirates are those individuals and industries/companies accused of one or both of the following acts: (i) the theft, misappropriation of, or unfair free-riding on, genetic resources and/or traditional knowledge, and (ii) the unauthorized …
Coastal communities would be the first to be hit by climate change, said Anil K. Gupta, Executive Vice-Chair, National Innovation Foundation, Hyderabad. Prof. Gupta was delivering the plenary talk during the inauguration of the national seminar on traditional knowledge and management systems in fisheries at the Central Institute of Fisheries …
Traditional knowledge (TK) related to the use of natural resources including medicinal plants has been recognized as one of the important assets inherited through generations by the local communities. (Correspondence) Original Source
It was under pressure to complete the ratification process. With the Centre giving its seal of approval, India hopes to officially become the seventh nation to ratify the Nagoya Protocol — which prevents biopiracy and ensures that local communities will benefit from the commercial exploration of their natural genetic resources …
The Cabinet has given the green signal of the signing of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) arising from the fair and equitable utilisation of genetic resources and traditional knowledge. The protocol will also contribute to the twin objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity relating to …
Guwahati, Oct. 2: Thirty families of Salari village in Arunachal Pradesh’s West Kameng district have developed bio-cultural community protocols for medicinal plants, setting terms and conditions for access to their knowledge and resources to outsiders. The state will unveil the bio-cultural protocols for the first time at a side event …
Frenzied growth in real estate and changing lifestyle in Indian cities are inciting resource guzzling. Architects have innovative ideas to build green homes.
As India plays host to the Convention on Biological Diversity's 11th Conference of the Parties in Hyderabad in October 2012, this article takes a closer look at the country's legislation on the subject - the Biological Diversity Act (2002).
Hyderabad: The Conference of Parties (COP) to the Convention on Bio-diversity will be held in Hyderabad from October 1 to 19 to deliberate on issues concerning conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and regulated access to genetic resources. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the global meet to be …
The Eastern Himalayan belt is the centre of origin for a number of crops, including rice. This study explored the customary laws and farming practices of Lepcha and Limbu communities, and what they mean for the design of mechanisms to protect traditional knowledge (TK) at national and community levels. It …
It's a season that inspires and engages everyone, from the farmer to the policy maker. From the scientist to the travel writer. From the economist to the music critic, and from the botanist to the epicure. In a year in which the monsoon has played truant, Down To Earth invited …
Analysis of the features attributed to grassroots innovation shows them to be common to all innovations whether in rural, industrializing or industrial locations and does not justify splitting innovation into one with the suffix ‘grassroots’ and another without it as done in India’s current innovation policy. Examples and experience from …
A fundamental principle of livelihood is that work has a foundational value. It is opposed to the labour-commodity process where the foundational value of work is thoroughly undermined and where work is disembedded from society and taken out of it. In adivasi livelihoods, work is foundational and only through work …
Despite the bad press that traditional Chinese medicine sometimes receives, proponents believe it represents an untapped pharmacopeia and are using cutting edge biotechnology to prove it. Gary Humphreys reports.
The traditional knowledge (TK) of India’s people touches many lives within the country and outside it. For the holders of TK, it is their very lives and thus valuable as is. For others who don’t live by it, it has been priced – given a monetary value, be it by …
Bumper crop of vegetables, herbs despite insufficient rain Ludhiana/Samrala: Farming in our country is monsoon-driven, but there's no reason why it should be pesticide-driven. Taking an initiative in this direction, a number of farmers in Ludhiana district have taken to organic farming in a big way. Jasbir Singh is one …
In an article that forms part of the PLoS Medicine series on Big Food, Carlos Monteiro and Geoffrey Cannon provide a perspective from Brazil on the rise of multinational food companies and the displacement of traditional food systems, and offer suggestions for the public health response.
