The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has launched a short-term internship course for a period of up to three months for undergraduate and postgraduate students interested in biodiversity conservation and natural resource management.

The announcement for the short-term internship course was made on March 25. The objective behind the course is to enable practical learning for the students through their active participation in various initiatives taken up by the NBA.

The short-term internship course has been launched in addition to the already existing Biodiversity Samrakshan Internship Programme (BSIP), a one-year course that may also be extended for up to two years.

Under the sixth cycle of BSIP, a total of 24 interns have been recruited for placement in State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs). Activities undertaken during the one-year course for the students include attending official meetings, conducting awareness programmes, and undertaking field-level research activities. Students also help SBBs and UTBCs with their day-to-day activities related to biodiversity governance and conservation.

The BSIP was initiated with the collaboration of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the NBA, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The objective is to develop a pool of well-trained professionals through engagement in the field at the state and union territory levels.

Interns are recruited through a national-level selection process and are attached to organisations where they can develop skills in implementing biodiversity policies and programmes. According to officials, the option for an extended duration enables participants to develop greater technical skills in biodiversity conservation work.

The inaugural ceremony for the first cycle of the BSIP was held during the International Day for Biological Diversity in May 2020. Since then, the BSIP has continued with its annual event, with the focus being on developing institutional support for biodiversity management at the state and local levels.

Currently, the NBA provides an allocation of ₹1 crore every year for these internship schemes. This allocation will be used for providing stipends, training, and fieldwork, with the ultimate goal being the creation of a skilled workforce for this biodiversity sector.

This newly launched short-term programme is also likely to increase participation in biodiversity conservation activities, as more students will get an opportunity to engage with this process for a shorter period of time. This is also a reflection of the increased focus that is being given to the interlinkages between education, skill-building, and environmental governance.

This is a positive initiative for the students, but the overall success of this programme will also depend on how effectively the students are integrated into the ongoing systems of biodiversity conservation.