The updating of the People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) is moving at a sluggish pace in the State, with fewer than 10% of local bodies having completed the process so far.Of the 1,034 Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs)/ local bodies, including 941 grama panchayats, 87 municipalities, and six corporations, only 93 have so far published the second volume of the PBR, and most of them have submitted it to the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB). The updating process began in October 2022, when the KSBB issued guidelines for preparing the register.A few years ago, Kerala became the first State in the country to publish the first volume of the PBR, a grassroots-level documentation of biological resources and associated traditional knowledge, for all 1,034 local bodies.Officials of the KSBB said the PBR, being a comprehensive record of biodiversity, should be updated periodically. They noted that many first-volume PBRs lack crucial information on certain aspects. The second volume, however, is expected to function as a more exhaustive report, incorporating valuable insights into various aspects of biodiversity such as resource identification, new discoveries, details of extinct or threatened species, alien species invasion, traditional knowledge, ongoing changes, the impact of climate change, and previously undocumented information. According to an official, it will support conservation efforts, promote sustainable use of resources, and help safeguard traditional knowledge.BMCs are entrusted with updating the PBR in their respective local bodies. Local bodies are required to use their own funds to prepare the register. A shortage of funds and “a lack of urgency” on the part of some local bodies have been blamed for the inordinate delay.V. Balakrishnan, member secretary, KSBB, said that the Board had set a target of completing the PBR updating (Volume II) process in all 1,034 BMCs by next year. “The three-tier local body elections have affected the PBR updating process. With new governing councils having taken charge in local bodies, the process of reconstituting the BMCs is now underway and is expected to be completed by March. The reconstitution of BMCs will help expedite the PBR updating process,” he said.Meanwhile, the KSBB has initiated the process of digitising PBRs. As a pilot project, 100 e-PBRs would be prepared with funding from the National Biodiversity Authority.Published - February 27, 2026 08:26 pm IST