National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), in consultation with Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has designated two new institutions as official repositories under Section 39 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002:
- Referral Centre Bhavasagara at the Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE), Kochi
- MACS Collection of Microorganisms and National Fungal Culture Collection at Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune
With this addition, the total number of institutions designated as national repositories under Section 39 now stands at 18.
What is Section 39 of Biological Diversity Act, 2002?
- Section 39 empowers Central Government to designate institutions as repositories for different categories of biological resources.
- These repositories are entrusted with the safe custody of biological materials, including voucher specimens, and support documentation of newly discovered species and biological resources used for research and commercial purposes.
- Any person discovering a new taxon is required to notify the designated repository and deposit the corresponding voucher specimens.
About Two Newly Designated Repositories
Referral Centre Bhavasagara, CMLRE, Kochi:
- It is a unique national facility dedicated to deep-sea biodiversity.
- It maintains over 3,500 taxonomically identified and geo-referenced voucher specimens, covering marine invertebrates and deep-sea fishes, an important resource for advancing marine research in relatively unexplored areas.
MACS Collection of Microorganisms, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune:
- It is a well-established facility with specialised capabilities in handling rare and difficult-to-grow microorganisms, including anaerobic and extremophilic species.
- Its collection is among the most diverse and well-characterised in the country, supporting research across agriculture, health, and industry.
National Fungal Culture Collection of India, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune:
- It is a leading repository dedicated to fungal diversity, maintaining authenticated fungal cultures from diverse habitats across India.
- It supports research in fungal identification and classification, and provides services to academic institutions, research organisations, and industries, while contributing to capacity building through training and collaborative programmes.
Significance
- Strengthens India’s national network for conservation and systematic documentation of biological resources
- Ensures biological materials are preserved under appropriate scientific conditions and made accessible for research and innovation
- Supports effective implementation of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) provisions by improving traceability and record-keeping
- Reflects India’s commitment to the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)