The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has introduced a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Notification of Threatened Species, aiming to enhance conservation efforts. This SOP, released under Section 38 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, aims to establish a consistent and transparent process for identifying, assessing, and notifying threatened species by States and Union Territories. The Central Government, in collaboration with State Governments, can declare species on the brink of extinction as Threatened Species under this section.
The notification governs the collection of threatened species, imposes restrictions, and outlines measures for their rehabilitation and conservation. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has already identified 159 plant and 173 animal species as threatened across 17 States and 3 Union Territories. The SOP is designed to guide State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils in a systematic and scientifically sound approach to identifying threatened species and recommending them for official notification.
This framework includes steps such as scientific assessment, stakeholder consultations, validation, notification, conservation planning, monitoring, and periodic reviews. Additionally, the SOP stresses the importance of developing species recovery and conservation action plans post-notification, coupled with continuous monitoring and periodic evaluations to gauge conservation progress and address emerging threats. India, known for its rich biodiversity, faces challenges like habitat degradation, overexploitation, pollution, invasive species, and climate change, necessitating robust conservation measures.
