Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) is a mechanism under which benefits arising from the utilisation of biological resources and associated traditional knowledge are shared fairly and equitably with local communities or provider countries. It promotes conservation while recognising the contributions of resource-dependent communities.
At the international level, ABS is a key principle of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). In India, the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 provided the legal framework for ABS and established the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) to regulate access and benefit-sharing arrangements.
APSC Relevance: Biodiversity Governance, CBD
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