Patna: A review meeting regarding the Bihar State Biodiversity Board was organized at Aranya Bhawan, chaired by Dr. Prem Kumar, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The meeting saw the participation of officials, including the Chairman of the Bihar State Biodiversity Board, Additional Principal Chief Conservators of Forests, the Member Secretary of the Bihar State Pollution Control Board, and other key representatives. Regional Chief Conservators, Conservators of Forests, and Forest Division Officers also joined through video conferencing.
The progress of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs), heritage trees and sites, workshops, and research studies were reviewed. Out of a total target of 8885 BMCs, 8517 have been formed in Panchayati Raj bodies, while 73 have been established in urban bodies. The pending formation of 295 BMCs across urban and rural bodies was emphasized, with instructions to complete the process promptly.
The People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) has been prepared in all local bodies, and updating efforts are ongoing. Letters have been sent to forest division officials to involve local BMC members in district-level events such as Van Mahotsav. A series of 94 one-day training workshops for BMC members is underway, with 16 already conducted in districts including Vaishali, Gaya, Aurangabad, and Nalanda. The remaining workshops are scheduled for completion by July 2025.
Under the biodiversity heritage initiative, 1500 trees out of 15,000 identified have been shortlisted for heritage status. Guidelines for their conservation are awaiting government approval. A project to document heritage trees, including species like Peepal and Neem, is ongoing, with photographs collected from Munger, Bhagalpur, Jamui, and Buxar. A booklet on the state’s heritage trees is also under preparation.
Proposals for biodiversity heritage sites have been received from forest divisions in Saran, Nalanda, Aurangabad, and Motihari, with instructions for further identification across other districts. A 15-year “Bihar State Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan” is being drafted, with inputs from experts in agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and forestry. The framework is targeted for completion by March 2025.
The Board has received eight research proposals from various departments, including forest, animal husbandry, and fruit production, which have been found suitable after review. These will be considered for approval in the upcoming Board meeting. Additionally, efforts are underway to share profits from the commercial trade of biological resources with respective BMCs. Data related to biodiversity in Panchayats will be incorporated into the PBR and made publicly accessible to benefit the community.
