Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) have been constituted across the Union Territory of Ladakh under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 to promote conservation, sustainable use, and documentation of its rich biological diversity. 

The panchayat-level BMCs have been constituted by joint efforts of the Ladakh Biodiversity Council, Rural Development Department, and GoI-UNDP-GEF SECURE Himalaya Project.

The SECURE Himalaya Project facilitated and piloted the implementation of the Act in the Union Territory of Ladakh, supporting the constitution of Ladakh Biodiversity Council, the constitution of BMCs, the preparation of PBRs, and beyond. Under this project, capacity-building and awareness programs were conducted in the four blocks of Changthang namely Rong-Chumathang, Rupsho-Puga, Nyoma, and Durbuk comprising 20 Biodiversity Management Committees at the Panchayat level.

 The capacity building and awareness programs were held between 23 October to 10 December 2022 across six different events at various venues close to respective villages.
These workshops started with a filling of a preliminary questionnaire to understand their existing knowledge and awareness about the constituted Committees. During the programme, the members were sensitized about the Biological Diversity Act, of 2002 wherein interactions were held on the roles and responsibilities of BMCs, preparation of Peoples’ Biodiversity Registers, declaration of Biodiversity Heritage Sites, and Access and Benefit Sharing process.

Critically, the Secretaries and Chairpersons of these Biodiversity Management Committees, along with other members were also provided financial training vis-à-vis banking and financial operations such as the opening of a bank account, maintenance of registers, and submission of Utilization Certificates.

The total number of participants was 86 out of 140 members of BMCs across Changthang, out of which 32 were females and 54 were males.

Reference materials such as the Biological Diversity Act, Biodiversity Rules, Guidelines for the operationalization of BMCs, and Guidelines for the declaration and management of BHS were circulated to the Secretaries of the BMCs.