**Executive Summary**
On June 26, 2026, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) released a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the scientific identification and notification of threatened species under Section 38 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The SOP establishes a uniform, transparent framework for States and Union Territories to assess, notify, and conserve species at risk of extinction. This initiative aligns with the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2024–2030 and the Biological Diversity Regulations, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Objectives and Regulatory Framework**
* **Standardization:** Provides a scientifically robust process for States and Union Territories (UTs) to identify and assess threatened species.
* **Legal Authority:** Implements Section 38 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, allowing the Central Government (or delegated State Governments) to regulate or prohibit the collection of species on the verge of extinction.
* **Current Progress:** The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has already notified 159 plant and 173 animal species across 17 States and 3 UTs.
**Procedural Guidelines**
* **Step-by-Step Framework:** The SOP covers scientific assessment, stakeholder consultations, validation, notification, and periodic review.
* **Evidence-Based Approach:** Emphasizes the use of the best available scientific evidence, field-based assessments, and traditional knowledge.
* **Collaborative Participation:** Mandates involvement from the Botanical Survey of India, Zoological Survey of India, Biodiversity Management Committees, academic institutions, and subject experts.
**Conservation and Monitoring**
* **Action Plans:** Following notification, the SOP requires the preparation of species recovery and conservation action plans.
* **Review Mechanism:** Includes regular monitoring and periodic reviews to evaluate conservation outcomes and address emerging threats.
* **Benefit Sharing:** Links to the 2025 Regulations, which provide differential treatment for benefit-sharing obligations involving notified threatened species.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Biodiversity Boards and UT Biodiversity Councils**
**Impact**
They receive a clear, consistent framework to execute their mandate of identifying and recommending threatened species for official notification.
**Action Required**
Must utilize the SOP to conduct scientific assessments, lead stakeholder consultations, and submit recommendations to their respective State Governments.
**Local Communities and Biodiversity Management Committees**
**Impact**
Their traditional knowledge and participation are formally integrated into the scientific assessment and identification process.
**Action Required**
Engage in the consultation process and contribute field-based insights and traditional knowledge to the assessment framework.
**Botanical and Zoological Surveys of India / Academic Institutions**
**Impact**
These bodies are established as critical technical partners in validating scientific evidence and conducting field-based assessments.
**Action Required**
Provide technical expertise, scientific data, and validation services during the identification and review phases.
**Users of Biological Resources**
**Impact**
Regulated by the Biological Diversity Regulations, 2025, these entities face differential benefit-sharing obligations if they access species notified as threatened.
**Action Required**
Must adhere to revised benefit-sharing protocols and respect prohibitions or regulations regarding the collection of notified species.
Key Entities Referenced
Biological Diversity Act, 2002: The primary legislation whose Section 38 empowers the government to notify and regulate threatened species on the verge of extinction.
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Notification of Threatened Species: The newly released framework providing a uniform, scientific process for States and Union Territories to identify and recommend species for protection.
National Biodiversity Authority (NBA): The statutory body responsible for releasing the SOP to strengthen biodiversity conservation and standardize identification processes across India.
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2024–2030: The national policy document that this SOP helps implement, specifically targeting the prevention of human-induced extinctions.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
National Biodiversity Authority Releases SOP for
Scientific Identification and Notification of
Threatened Species by States and Union
Territories
प्रव तथ: 26 JUN 2026 6:40PM by PIB Delhi
In a major step towards strengthening biodiversity conservation in the country, the National Biodiversity
Authority (NBA) has released a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Notification of Threatened
Species under Section 38 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The SOP aims to facilitate a uniform,
transparent and scientifically robust process for the identification, assessment and notification of
threatened species by States and Union Territories.
India is one of the world's megadiverse countries, harbouring a rich variety of plants, animals and
ecosystems. However, species are becoming threatened due to habitat degradation, overexploitation,
pollution, invasive alien species and climate change. Conserving these species is essential for maintaining
ecological balance, safeguarding ecosystem services and securing biodiversity for future generations.
Section 38 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 empowers the Central Government, in consultation with
the concerned State Government, to notify any species that is on the verge of extinction or is likely to
become extinct in the near future as a Threatened Species. The notification regulates or prohibits its
collection and provides for appropriate measures for its rehabilitation and conservation. The Central
Government may also delegate these powers to the State Governments. So far, the Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified 159 plant species and 173 animal species as
threatened species pertaining to 17 States and 3 Union Territories.
The SOP has been developed to assist State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity
Councils in undertaking the identification of threatened species in a consistent, transparent and
scientifically rigorous manner and recommending the same to the State Government for notification. It
provides a clear step-by-step framework covering scientific assessment, stakeholder consultations,
validation, notification, conservation planning, monitoring and periodic review.
The SOP promotes the use of the best available scientific evidence, field-based assessments and traditional
knowledge while ensuring the participation of local communities, Biodiversity Management Committees,
the Botanical Survey of India, the Zoological Survey of India, academic institutions and subject experts.
The initiative assumes added significance in view of the Biological Diversity (Access to Biological
Resources and Knowledge Associated thereto and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits) Regulations,
2025, which provide differential treatment in determining benefit-sharing obligations where biological
resources belong to species notified as threatened under Section 38 of the Act.
The SOP also emphasises the preparation of species recovery and conservation action plans following
notification, along with regular monitoring and periodic review to assess conservation outcomes and
emerging threats. These measures will enable timely and targeted interventions for the recovery of speciesfacing extinction risks.
The release of the SOP marks another important milestone in India's efforts to conserve biodiversity and
prevent species extinctions. It contributes to the implementation of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, the
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2024–2030, particularly Target 4 on halting human-
induced extinction of species, promoting species recovery and maintaining genetic diversity, as well as the
goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
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GS
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