People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR)

• Thazhakara panchayat in Kerala recently published their updated PBR.

What is a People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR)?

• The People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) is a comprehensive document that records information on the local biodiversity of a particular area, including knowledge held by local communities about:
  • Plant and animal species
  • Agricultural practices
  • Traditional medicinal knowledge
  • Natural resources and ecosystems
• PBRs aim to document and preserve this knowledge systematically and to ensure community participation in biodiversity conservation.

Legal Basis

• The PBR is mandated under India’s Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
• It is part of a bottom-up approach to biodiversity governance.
• The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs), and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the local level are responsible for the implementation.

How is a PBR Prepared? 

• Formation of BMC: A Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) is constituted at the village, town, or local body level.
• Community Involvement: Local people, including farmers, herders, traditional healers, fisher folk, and forest dwellers, are involved in providing information.
• Data Collection: Trained volunteers and experts collect data through surveys, interviews, and group discussions.
• Documentation: Information is documented about:
  • Local flora and fauna
  • Agricultural biodiversity
  • Traditional knowledge
  • Cultural and spiritual associations with biodiversity
• Validation: The documented information is validated with community members and subject experts.
• Final Register: A formal register is compiled and maintained by the BMC. It is reviewed and updated periodically.

Objectives of PBR

• To document local biological resources and the knowledge associated with them.
• To empower communities by recognizing their role in biodiversity conservation.
• To protect traditional knowledge from exploitation or bio-piracy.
• To enable equitable benefit sharing if local resources are used commercially.
• To aid in planning, education, and research related to conservation.

Key Features of PBR

• Community-led initiative
• Covers both biological and cultural diversity
• Facilitates legal protection for local knowledge and practices
• Encourages sustainable use of biological resources
• Acts as a tool for environmental education

Contents of a PBR

• A typical PBR includes:
  • Local names and uses of plants and animals
  • Agricultural practices and local crop varieties
  • Medicinal plant uses and healers’ knowledge
  • Conservation practices and sacred groves
  • Maps showing biodiversity-rich areas
  • Seasonal calendars and cultural festivals linked to nature

Why is PBR Important?

• Preserves Indigenous Knowledge: Recognizes and records valuable knowledge that may otherwise be lost.
• Promotes Conservation: Encourages local stewardship of natural resources
• Prevents Bio-piracy: Ensures that external agencies cannot exploit community knowledge without consent.
• Supports Benefit Sharing: Ensures that communities benefit if their knowledge or resources are commercially used.
• Empowers Local Governance: Puts biodiversity conservation in the hands of the people who depend on it most.