Published Paper Details:

Environmental and climatic disruption has been apparent with alarming incidences reported from across the globe. It is important to develop strategies to prevent and mitigate the massive devastations caused in recent years including in incidences like the recurrent Amazon Forest fires or the bushfires in Australia. Due to the temperature rise, India has been facing natural disasters including flash floods, tsunamis on the one hand, and issues of drought, unseasonal crop damage, and so on. Added to that is the lack of adequate and 'safe' drinking water, along with the discussions regarding the role of citizens in conserving and preserving biodiversity for reversing this global disparaging trend. This paper takes a look at the entire gamut of issues and challenges from a gender perspective by analysing the existing Biological Diversity Act, 2002 that focuses on the preservation of biological diversity in the country and provides a mechanism for equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of traditional biological resources and knowledge. Drawing on the literature, the paper discusses the scope of the Act that mandates mechanisms to respect, protect, and the rights, especially concerning the freedom of end-users which includes women. Additionally, it will touch upon the Amended Biological Diversity Act, of 2023 and the implementation plan as provisioned.