Abstract

In navigating the complexities of biodiversity governance, India's journey underscores the imperative for innovative strategies and collaborative action to ensure equitable benefit-sharing and sustainable conservation under the CBD. This research paper critically examines India's progress in implementing Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) measures mandated by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), focusing on its effectiveness in achieving CBD objectives. The study aims to evaluate India's efforts to ensure equitable benefit-sharing from genetic resources, assess the integration of indigenous knowledge into biodiversity strategies, and analyze global frameworks supporting biodiversity conservation. Significant advancements, such as the establishment of the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library and enactment of the Biological Diversity Act of 2002, highlight India's proactive approach. Despite these initiatives, challenges persist in translating CBD commitments into concrete outcomes. Key challenges include procedural complexities within ABS mechanisms, gaps in documenting and protecting traditional knowledge, and the necessity for enhanced cross-sectoral integration and financial support. Looking ahead, the study emphasizes the urgency for accelerated action and strengthened collaborative efforts to address these challenges effectively. It advocates for innovative strategies to enhance stakeholder engagement, capacity building, and leveraging international frameworks to bolster biodiversity conservation efforts. By offering insights into India's experience with ABS implementation, this paper contributes to the broader discourse on biodiversity governance. It calls for policy improvements to ensure sustainable biodiversity management and equitable benefit-sharing, aiming to inform global efforts in achieving the CBD's conservation and sustainability objectives.

Keywords