A Statement issued by Coalition for Environmental Justice in India on the occasion of 73rd Republic Day of India, 26 January 2022 

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has proposed comprehensive amendments to the Biological Diversity Act 2002 (BDA) by way of the Biological Diversity Act Amendment Bill 2021.

The proposed changes to the Act constitute a well-calibrated and clear attempt to progressively undermine and destroy the sovereign rights and control that the people of India have over their biodiversity, bioresources and associated traditional knowledge, a right that is particularly crucial for Adivasis, Dalits, farmers, fishers, vaids, hakims, nomadic and de-notified tribes, and such other natural resource-dependent peoples whose lives, livelihoods and socio-economic wellbeing are intricately linked to nature.

Upholding the Republic of Biodiversity

On the occasion of 73rd Republic Day, We, the People of India, and environmental, social justice and democratic organizations fully reject the proposed BDA Amendment Bill, 2011 as it grossly militates against the interests of the peoples of India and their futures. We demand that the Bill be withdrawn forthwith by the Government of India. 

We urge the Joint Parliamentary Committee to initiate nationwide consultation processes to improve BDA and its implementation, enabling the participation of primary stakeholders of biodiversity, bioresources and associated traditional knowledge in a manner accessible to them and in their language. In conducting such a deeply democratic consultation, JPC could call upon State Governments, Local Governments, NGOs and civil society to assist. This process will take time, but it is necessary that this time is invested now in order to safeguard India’s biodiversity and thereby her ecological, economic and social securities. Such rigorous assessment can weigh in support of the letter and spirit of the current Act and in securing India.

Read the Full Statement here and know why the proposed amendments are a threat to our biodiversity and national security and how it will irretrievably compromise the socio-economic and ecological security of Indians yet to be born.

Please share this statement which will be submitted to the Prime Minister, Union Cabinet, Members of Parliament and all State Governments in the second week of February.