The State Government has declared the setting up of biodiversity management committees in all local bodies in the State.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the State had become the first to constitute these committees in all local-self government institutions.

They have been set up under section 41 of the Biological Diversity Act 2002; section 22 of the Biological Diversity Rules 2004; and section 20(1) of the Kerala State Biological Diversity Rules 2008.

The committee is tasked with the mandate to prepare and maintain a document on local biological resources and associated traditional knowledge.