Grassroute coordinated an introductory workshop on the development of the second edition of the People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) on May 22, 2025, at Nayarambalam Grama Panchayath. The session was led by Mrs. Anitha, Project Fellow at MSSRF, and aimed to engage local communities in documenting their rich biodiversity.
A People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) serves as a comprehensive record of the biodiversity, traditional knowledge, and community practices related to biological resources in a specific area. It is an essential tool for documenting the ecological wealth of a region while empowering local communities by recognizing their traditional knowledge and contributions to biodiversity conservation. The PBR supports the implementation of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, by providing a framework for documenting and managing biodiversity at the local level.
The PBR system in India was initiated to fulfill the obligations of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), an international treaty signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The Biological Diversity Act, 2002, was enacted to implement the CBD’s objectives, which include the establishment of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) and the creation of PBRs.
The workshop attracted student volunteers from various colleges in Ernakulam, highlighting the importance of youth involvement in environmental conservation. Mr. Sebastian.K.S., Section Forest Officer of the Social Forestry Department, delivered a felicitation address during the meeting. The program was organized by Nayarambalam Panchayath and coordinated by Grassroute, a well-known environmental NGO based in Nayarambalam.
The session commenced at 2:30 PM in the Nayarambalam Panchayath Hall and concluded at 4:30 PM. A total of 20 student volunteers attended, with nearly half expressing their willingness to participate in the Community-Supported PBR Update Program, which will run for a year. We aim to publish the second edition of the PBR by the end of May 2026.
The Importance of the People’s Biodiversity Register
- Empowerment of Local Communities: PBRs empower local communities by recognizing their traditional knowledge and practices, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility towards biodiversity conservation.
- Conservation of Traditional Knowledge: PBRs serve as repositories of traditional ecological knowledge, which is crucial for sustainable resource management and conservation efforts.
- Biodiversity Management: By documenting local biodiversity, PBRs facilitate better management and conservation strategies tailored to specific ecosystems and communities.
- Policy Implementation: PBRs play a vital role in implementing national and international biodiversity policies, ensuring that local voices are heard in decision-making processes.
- Promotion of Sustainable Practices: The PBR encourages sustainable practices among local communities, helping to balance ecological health with economic development.
- Research and Education: PBRs provide valuable data for researchers and educators, contributing to a broader understanding of biodiversity and its significance.
- Strengthening Community Resilience: By fostering a connection between communities and their natural resources, PBRs enhance resilience against environmental changes and challenges.
Through this workshop, most students gained a deeper understanding of the importance of a PBR and expressed their commitment to collaborating on the initiative. During the session, the student volunteers had the opportunity to review the current PBR document. Nayarambalam Panchayath has agreed to award participatory certificates to the team involved in the PBR update. Additionally, credit will be given to collaborators in the PBR wherever possible. As there is no dedicated digital platform for the PBR, we plan to enter the data using free software tools like LibreOffice Suite.
