Consider the following statements : 1. In India, the Biodiversity Management committees are key to the realization of the objectives of Nagoya Protocol. 2. The Biodiversity Management committees have important functions in determining access and benefit sharing, including the power to levy collection fees on the access of biological resources within its jurisdiction. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A. 1 only
2. B. 2 only
3. C. Both 1 and 2
4. D. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Explanation

Both statements are correct regarding Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) in India:
1. **Statement 1**: BMCs are constituted under Section 41(1) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, at the local body level. Their mandate includes promoting conservation, sustainable use, and documentation of biological diversity. This directly aligns with the objectives of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS), making BMCs crucial for its implementation at the grassroots.
2. **Statement 2**: BMCs play a vital role in regulating access to biological resources and associated traditional knowledge within their territorial jurisdiction. They are empowered to levy collection fees from individuals or entities seeking access to these resources for commercial purposes, thereby ensuring fair and equitable benefit sharing as per the principles of the Nagoya Protocol.
This question is highly relevant to environmental governance, biodiversity conservation, and international environmental agreements, frequently appearing in UPSC Environment & Ecology.