New Delhi: In a key development in India’s environmental governance, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed Virendra Tiwari, Director of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), as the new Chairperson of the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA).
Mr Tiwari, a 1990-batch Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer from the Maharashtra cadre, will take over from Chirra Achalender Reddy, whose three-year term is scheduled to conclude on November 30, 2025. The appointment is for a tenure of three years or until the age of 65, whichever comes earlier.
New Leadership at a Pivotal Time
The appointment comes at a critical juncture for the National Biodiversity Authority, a statutory body under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, established in 2003. The NBA plays a central role in balancing the imperatives of conservation, sustainable use, and economic development, especially as India continues to grapple with the complex challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change.
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The outgoing Chairperson, C.A. Reddy (IFoS: 1986: AGMUT), held the position since December 1, 2022, and oversaw several key initiatives related to the conservation of biological resources and implementation of the Biodiversity Act.
Virendra Tiwari: A Track Record in Science-Backed Conservation
Mr Tiwari brings with him a wealth of experience in wildlife conservation, ecological research, and natural resource management, gained through his leadership at the Wildlife Institute of India, a premier institution under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
His background is expected to strengthen the NBA’s focus on science-based policy formulation and ecological integrity, especially in light of India’s commitments under international biodiversity frameworks such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
About the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)
Headquartered in Chennai, the National Biodiversity Authority is tasked with regulating access to India’s rich biological resources and ensuring fair and equitable benefit-sharing. The authority also advises the Central and State Governments on biodiversity conservation, sustainable use, and declaration of biological heritage sites.
The NBA works in coordination with State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the local level, playing a crucial role in implementing People’s Biodiversity Registers and protecting Traditional Knowledge (TK) from exploitation.
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What Lies Ahead
With IFS Tiwari at the helm, the NBA is likely to reinforce its commitment to conservation-oriented governance while navigating the complex landscape of bioprospecting, intellectual property rights, and access and benefit sharing (ABS). His leadership is also expected to bridge gaps between scientific research, community-based conservation, and policy implementation.
As India moves forward with its Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework commitments, Tiwari’s tenure will be crucial in aligning national priorities with global sustainability goals.
