Statement 1 is correct. Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) are constituted under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, at the local body level. Their functions include documenting local biodiversity through People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs), promoting conservation, sustainable use of biological resources, and ensuring equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization. The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS) is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity. BMCs play a crucial role in implementing the ABS framework at the grassroots level in India, thereby contributing significantly to the realization of the Nagoya Protocol's objectives.
Statement 2 is correct. The Biological Diversity Act, 2002, empowers BMCs to regulate access to biological resources within their jurisdiction. This includes the authority to levy collection fees on the access or extraction of biological resources. The fees collected are credited to the Local Biodiversity Fund, which is then utilized for conservation efforts and for ensuring fair and equitable benefit sharing with the local communities.
Options (a), (b), and (d) are incorrect because both statements 1 and 2 are factually accurate regarding the role and powers of Biodiversity Management Committees under India's legal framework and their alignment with international protocols.