В Бангалоре спустя год после создания органа власти так и не сформирован комитет по биоразнообразию

Bengaluru’s nature shield still nowhere in sight . Biodiversity watchdog remains missing in action, leaving green spaces, native species and traditional ecological knowledge without systematic oversight Almost a year after the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) was formed, Bengaluru is yet to have a functioningBiodiversity Management Committee (BMC). Under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, the responsibility for setting up and ensuring the functioning of the seven-member statutory body lies with the urban local body. In Bengaluru, this responsibility rests with the GBA. However, the city’s BMC is yet to see the light of day. “There have been talks of creating one BMC at each corporation level. However, the process has not moved forward, and Bengaluru’s BMC currently does not exist,” said a GBA official. Following the formation of the GBA, the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Cell explored a new framework to set up five BMCs at the corporation level. Each committee was proposed to have seven to 11 members. However, the proposal did not move forward. Biodiversity experts say that in a city like Bengaluru, where urbanisation is putting increasing pressure on green spaces, a functioning BMC is essential. “A BMC is like a local guardian of nature and can ensure that living resources in the city are mapped and protected. Bengaluru is home to many native species of birds, animals and plants. In the absence of a functioning BMC, there is no updated record of these resources. This implies that we are moving ahead with developmental activities without tracking environmental changes. This is not in line with sustainability principles,” said an expert. Under the Biological Diversity Act, every local self-governing body, both rural and urban, is mandated to constitute a BMC. The committee’s key responsibility is to prepare and maintain thePeople’s Biodiversity Register (PBR). The PBR serves as a record of biological resources found in the local area and documents associated traditional knowledge. It includes information on local flora, fauna and ecosystems, along with knowledge and practices related to these biological resources. Bengaluru’s first BMC was formed in 2009 and prepared the city’s first PBR in 2010. However, the document has not been updated since. The committee was briefly revived in 2019, but only a handful of meetings were held, with no concrete or detailed plan to document the city’s biodiversity. “Apart from documenting biodiversity, the BMC also plays a crucial role in conducting awareness campaigns in schools, colleges and wards. In the absence of this body, there is little hope for the pockets of green space and biodiversity sites that Bengaluru possesses,” said the expert. Almost a year after the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) was formed, Bengaluru is yet to have a functioning “There have been talks of creating one BMC at each corporation level. However, the process has not moved forward, and Bengaluru’s BMC currently does not exist,” said a GBA official. Following the formation of the GBA, the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Cell explored a new framework to set up five BMCs at the corporation level. Each committee was proposed to have seven to 11 members. However, the proposal did not move forward. Biodiversity experts say that in a city like Bengaluru, where urbanisation is putting increasing pressure on green spaces, a functioning BMC is essential. “A BMC is like a local guardian of nature and can ensure that living resources in the city are mapped and protected. Bengaluru is home to many native species of birds, animals and plants. In the absence of a functioning BMC, there is no updated record of these resources. This implies that we are moving ahead with developmental activities without tracking environmental changes. This is not in line with sustainability principles,” said an expert. Under the Biological Diversity Act, every local self-governing body, both rural and urban, is mandated to constitute a BMC. The committee’s key responsibility is to prepare and maintain the The PBR serves as a record of biological resources found in the local area and documents associated traditional knowledge. It includes information on local flora, fauna and ecosystems, along with knowledge and practices related to these biological resources. Bengaluru’s first BMC was formed in 2009 and prepared the city’s first PBR in 2010. However, the document has not been updated since. The committee was briefly revived in 2019, but only a handful of meetings were held, with no concrete or detailed plan to document the city’s biodiversity. “Apart from documenting biodiversity, the BMC also plays a crucial role in conducting awareness campaigns in schools, colleges and wards. In the absence of this body, there is little hope for the pockets of green space and biodiversity sites that Bengaluru possesses,” said the expert. GALLERIES View more photos