Biodiversity — Tech Evolutions

Entry	Year	Description	Impact
Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022	2022	This amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, aimed to enhance protection for wild animals and plants, align with CITES obligations, and streamline the management of protected areas. It increased penalties for wildlife crimes, introduced new schedules for species protection, and provided for the establishment of a Standing Committee of the State Board for Wildlife. It also sought to regulate the trade in captive elephants and address invasive alien species.	Strengthened India's legal framework for wildlife conservation, particularly in combating illegal wildlife trade and fulfilling international commitments under CITES. However, some provisions, like those related to elephant trade, have sparked debates among conservationists regarding their potential impact on wildlife protection.
Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2023	2023	This Bill, passed by both houses of Parliament, aims to decriminalize certain offenses under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and encourage Ayurvedic, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) practitioners to use biological resources. It exempts codified traditional knowledge and AYUSH practitioners from the requirement of prior approval for accessing biological resources, while still ensuring benefit sharing. It also simplifies the ABS process for certain categories and promotes bioprospecting.	Aims to reduce the regulatory burden on AYUSH industries and promote research, while still attempting to uphold the ABS principle. Critics argue that decriminalization might weaken the Act's enforcement and that exemptions for AYUSH practitioners could potentially lead to exploitation of biological resources without adequate oversight, impacting local communities' rights and benefit sharing.