Updating of the People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) is progressing at a slow pace in the state, with less than 10% of local bodies completing the process so far.
Of the 1,034 Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) / Local Bodies, including 941 grama panchayats, 87 municipalities and six societies, only 93 have so far published the second volume of the PBR and most of them have submitted it to the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB). The update process started in October 2022 when the KSBB issued guidelines for the preparation of the register.
A few years ago, Kerala became the first state in the country to publish the first volume of PBR, documentation of biological resources and associated traditional knowledge at the local level for all 1034 local bodies.
KSBB officials said the PBR, which is a comprehensive biodiversity record, should be updated regularly. They noted that many first-volume PBRs lack crucial information on certain aspects. However, the second volume is expected to function as a comprehensive report that will contain valuable insights on various aspects of biodiversity such as resource identification, new discoveries, details of extinct or threatened species, alien species invasions, traditional knowledge, ongoing changes, impact of climate change and previously undocumented information. According to the official, it will support conservation efforts, promote sustainable use of resources and help protect traditional knowledge.
BMCs are mandated to update PBR in their respective local bodies. Local authorities are obliged to use their own funds to prepare the register. A lack of funding and a “lack of urgency” by some local authorities have been blamed for the undue delay.
V. Balakrishnan, member secretary, KSBB, said the board has set a target to complete the process of updating PBR (Volume II) in all 1,034 BMCs by next year. “The three-phase local body elections have affected the process of updating the PBR. With the new governing boards taking charge in the local bodies, the process of reconstituting the BMC is now underway and is expected to be completed by March. The reconstitution of the BMC will help speed up the process of updating the PBR,” he said.
Meanwhile, KSBB has started the process of digitizing PBR. As a pilot project, 100 e-PBRs would be prepared with funding from the National Biodiversity Authority.
Published – 27 Feb 2026 20:26 IST
