People Biodiversity Register

Thazhakara, a gram panchayat in Alappuzha, Kerala, is one of the pioneering regions in the state to create and publish a People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR). This initiative involves the active participation of local communities and aims to document and preserve the region’s rich biological diversity. Here are the key details:

Key Points:

1. People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR):
   • Purpose: The PBR serves as a comprehensive record of the biological resources in the area. It includes details about the landscape, flora, fauna, and other biological elements present within the community’s geographic boundaries.
   • Involvement of Local Communities: The creation of the PBR in Thazhakara involved extensive consultations with local communities, ensuring that traditional knowledge and local insights were incorporated into the register.
2. Significance:
   • Biodiversity Documentation: By documenting the biological resources, the PBR helps in understanding and conserving the biodiversity of the region. It highlights the unique species and ecosystems present in Thazhakara.
   • Cultural Preservation: The process of creating a PBR also helps preserve traditional knowledge related to local biodiversity, including medicinal plants, local agricultural practices, and sustainable resource management techniques.
   • Legal Framework: The PBR is prepared under the provisions of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. It is a tool for the Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) to manage and protect biodiversity at the local level.
3. Thazhakara’s Achievement:
   • First in Kerala: Thazhakara’s initiative in creating a PBR sets an example for other gram panchayats in Kerala and across India. It showcases the importance of community involvement in biodiversity conservation and the effective implementation of the Biological Diversity Act at the grassroots level.

The creation and publication of the People’s Biodiversity Register in Thazhakara highlight the critical role of local communities in biodiversity conservation and the importance of documenting biological resources to ensure their sustainable management and protection.

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