India Launches Campus Biodiversity Register Initiative

India launched a nationwide Campus Biodiversity Register initiative for higher educational institutions on 21-22 July 2026. The exercise is being implemented by the Nature Conservation Foundation, a Mysuru-based wildlife research and conservation organisation, and the National Biodiversity Authority under India’s biodiversity documentation framework.

Campus Biodiversity Register

The Campus Biodiversity Register, or CBR, is a record of flora, fauna, and other life forms found within a college or university campus. The initiative aims to prepare one CBR for each participating higher education institution during a year-long documentation exercise.

Citizen Science Platforms and Documentation

Participants will use citizen science platforms such as iNaturalist, eBird, and SeasonWatch to record species observations. These platforms are used for biodiversity documentation, species identification, and public participation in biological recording.

People’s Biodiversity Register and State-Level Drive

The Campus Biodiversity Register project is based on the People’s Biodiversity Register, or PBR, which documents biodiversity in villages, towns, and cities. The Kerala State Biodiversity Board launched a similar Campus Biodiversity Register drive on 16 June 2026 as Phase II of its PBR programme, and Kerala became the first state to complete the PBR across all local governing bodies.

Important Facts for Exams

• The National Biodiversity Authority is a statutory body under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
• The Nature Conservation Foundation is based in Mysuru, Karnataka.
• Azim Premji University in Bengaluru published its Campus Biodiversity Register for 2024-25.
• College and university campuses can function as urban green spaces and local biodiversity sites.

Registration and Timeline

Colleges and universities can register for the initiative until November 2026. The documentation phase is scheduled to conclude in June 2027.