KERALA STATE BIODIVERSITY BOARD

 

CITIZEN CHARTER

Kerala State Biodiversity Board is a statutory regulatory body established as per the provisions of Section 22 of Biological Diversity Act 2002 and Rules 2004. The Board is mandated with Conservation of biodiversity, Sustainable utilization of bioresources and fair and equitable sharing of benefits. The Kerala State Biodiversity Rules were formulated in the year 2008 in exercise of the powers conferred by section 63 of Act of 2002. The Board is headed by a Chairman and Member Secretary and has 5 ex officio members and five non official members to guide the Board in all its activities.

 

  1. VISION AND MISSION

Vision

To protect Biodiversity in its own right and ensure the enrichment and its sustainable use for the development of Kerala.

Mission

To conserve our rich biodiversity through policy guidelines, legislation and action plans in a participatory mode for the welfare of all the living beings of our state.

  1. CONSTITUTION

The Board was constituted during 2005 vide notification made in February 2005 [GO (Ms) No. 1/2005/STED dated 28.2.2005] and published in the gazette on 01 June 2005.The Board is functioning under Department of Environment, Government of Kerala with its headquarters at Thiruvananthapuram.

 

  1. MANDATE
  • Advise the State Government subject to any guidelines issued by the Central Government, on matters relating to the conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its components and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of biological resources.
  • Regulate by granting of approvals or otherwise requests for commercial utilisation or bio-survey and bio-utilisation of any biological resource by Indian nationals.
  • Provide guidance, technical and financial support to Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) for preparing ‘People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) and co-ordinate activities of BMCs for decentralised biodiversity management.
  • Commission studies and sponsor investigation and research on biodiversity conservation.
  • Compile technical and statistical data of biodiversity in the State, compile a database of biodiversity and monitor the rate of depletion
  • Facilitate updating and implementation of State Biodiversity strategies and action plan
  • Ensure that biodiversity and biodiversity dependent livelihoods are integrated at all level of planning
  • Perform such other functions as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of the Act or  as  may  be  prescribed  by  the  State Government.
  1. OUR SERVICES
  • Survey, Inventory, Documentation & Monitoring of Biodiversity
  • Develop database of biodiversity
  • Facilitate local bodies in community based natural resource management through supporting and building capacity of Biodiversity Management Committee.
  • Facilitate updating and implementation of State Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and Local Biodiversity strategy and action plan.
  • Regulate by granting of approvals or otherwise requests for commercial utilisation or bio-survey and bio-utilisation of any biological resource by Indian nationals with the purpose of securing equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of biological resources.
  • Support in situ and ex situ conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems
  • Promote Sustainable use and equitable sharing of benefits
  • Support research, schemes, community and reward individual efforts for Biodiversity conservation
  • To help in conservation and development of areas of importance from the standpoint of biological diversity by declaring them as biological diversity heritage sites.
  • Notification and rehabilitation of threatened species.
  • Mainstreaming biodiversity by co-ordinating with line departments and institutions and Integration of the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity into relevant sectoral or cross-sectoral plans, programs and policies
  • Support Communication, Education and Public Awareness on Biodiversity
  • Provide support for workshops/seminars on Biodiversity Conservation/ Biodiversity clubs etc

 

  1. OUR BENEFICIARIES

People of Kerala with special focus on local self-governments, local communities, nature lovers, researchers, scientists and small and large scale bioresource based industries.

 

  1. OUR EXPECTATIONS FROM CITIZENS
  • To offer suggestions, feedbacks wherever required, to streamline and further improve the functioning and promote accountability and transparency.
  • As per the BD Act 2002, if any loss of biodiversity within the state, it is expected from every citizen of the country that they will help the government in bringing to their notice
  • We expect every organization, civil society, scientific community, private agency and all citizens of India to:
  • Exchange their ideas and interact with department for the common cause of biodiversity conservation.
  • Honour and abide by the rules, regulation, acts and legislations framed by the state and central governments towards; protection, conservation of flora and fauna.

 

  1. OUR COMMITMENT TO THE CITIZEN WITH GRIEVANCES

Citizen with grievances can expect from the organization that: –

  • There will be timely action on the grievances raised.
  • Their grievances will be forwarded to the concerned authority within the stipulated time period and will be intimated accordingly.
  • Visitors would be treated with courtesy and addressed patiently to facilitate in solving their grievances.
  • All necessary steps will be taken for quick and satisfactory disposal of complaints and grievances.

Grievances should be related to:

  • Environment Pollution.
  • Degradation of ecosystems
  • Depletion of biodiversity
  • Non-functioning of BMC
  • Specific threats to biodiversity

 

SERVICES

 

ABS and Legal
Services Documents required Process Service standards Fees
Approval for access to bioresources for commercial utilization by Indian citizens Form I

Form A

( Annexure  1)

 The applications received in prescribed format as per BD Act are processed according to a Standard Operating procedure
( Annexure 2)
Signing of agreement for equitable sharing of benefits
(Annexure 3 )		 The applications will be processed within 15 days of receipt Rs.1000/-
Approval for access to bioresources for commercial utilization by non Indians

 

 Applications in Form I to be submitted to NBA on line
NBA will forward to SBB for approval by BMC comments.		 The applications received from NBA will be processed as per SOP and forwarded to concerned BMC if identified for approval or otherwise

If BMC is not identified Board will take a decision

 The applications will be processed
within 15 days
of receipt
Applying for Intellectual Property Rights for inventions  based on any  research on a  biological resource obtained from India Applications in Form I to be submitted to NBA on line NBA will forward to SBB for approval by BMC

 

 The applications received from NBA will be processed as per SOP  and forwarded to BMC for approval or otherwise

If BMC is not identified Board will take a decision

 The applications will be processed  within 15 days  of receipt
Biodiversity conservation
Services Documents required Process Service standards
Financial assistance to BMC

 

 Application form in prescribed format UC & Audited statement
(Annexure 4)		 The applications from BMC president/Secretary are processed by expert committee as per guidelines

Issue of sanction order

Release of funds

 Applications called for during May

Sanction letter issued during June
Proposal for BHS Proposal in  prescribed Format
( Annexure 5)		 The applications from BMC President/ Secretary are processed as per BHS guidelines Throughout the year
Biodiversity research
Services Documents  required  Process Service standards
Funding projects for Survey and  monitoring of biodiversity, conservation and  sustainable utilization of biodiversity Research proposal in prescribed format.
( Annexure 6)
Forwarding letter  from the Head of  organization.
UC & Audited Statement
(Annexure 7)		 Research proposals invited from various Research organizations, Universities, Voluntary bodies and NGOs in identified thrust areas of research as per  Guidelines.
(Annexure 8)
Proposal scrutinised by an expert committee.
Shortlisted projects called for presentation

Issue of sanction order Release of funds

 Applications called for during May

 

Sanction letter issued during June
Biodiversity doctoral fellowships Application in prescribed format (Annexure 9) Applications shortlisted by an expert committee based on guidelines
( Annexure 10)
Selection based on presentation		 Applications called for during May

Sanction letter issued during June
Biodiversity internship Application in prescribed format (Annexure 11) Selection based on guidelines
( Annexure 12)		 Throughout year
Certificate courses Application in prescribed format Throughout year
Biodiversity Awareness and Education
Services Documents required  Process Service standards
Financial assistance for Biodiversity seminars/ workshops /exhibitions/ survey etc

Financial assistance to library council

 Applications in  prescribed format
(Annexure 13)
The applications are
shortlisted.
Acceptance letter within one month
UC & Audited Statement		 Proposals invited through advertisements

The applications are processed by reviewing committee as per guidelines

Issue of sanction order

Release of funds

 Applications called for twice in a year during May and December

Sanction letter during June and January
Biodiversity clubs Application in prescribed format for registration of clubs
(Annexure 14)
Assistance based on performance		 UC and SOE
( Annexure 15)
Issue of sanction order.
Release of funds
KSBB publications Requests for books/brochures/ handbooks

DD/Cheque in favor of Member Secretary, Kerala State Biodiversity Board

 Price list and list of publications Throughout the year

Publications send within one month of receipt of payment
Biodiversity Awards Nominations in prescribed format as per guidelines
(Annexure 17)
Supporting documents		 Nominations from eligible candidates in 10 categories

Scrutiny of nominations by expert committee

Field verification

 Nominations called for on May 22nd

Awards announced during January

Award ceremony on May 22nd
Children’s Biodiversity Congress District level competition

State level Competition
Kerala Biodiversity Museum Open throughout the year except on Sundays and public holidays