New Delhi: The National Biodiversity Authority released ₹45 lakh to Red Sanders farmers in Andhra Pradesh under the Access and Benefit Sharing mechanism, strengthening conservation-linked livelihoods.
The amount was routed through the Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board. With this release, India’s cumulative ABS disbursements crossed ₹143.5 crore, reflecting steady progress in benefit sharing.
Officials said farmers earned income through the lawful sale of Red Sanders wood. In addition, they received monetary benefits under the statutory ABS framework mandated by the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
The authority said this approach directly rewarded cultivators for conserving and sustainably using a globally valued endemic species. As a result, biodiversity protection aligned closely with rural incomes.
So far, the NBA has released over ₹104 crore to Andhra Pradesh for Red Sanders conservation and benefit claimers. It has also disbursed more than ₹15 crore to Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha and Telangana.
Red Sanders ABS strengthens conservation-linked livelihoods
During the last three months, the NBA released ₹5.35 crore to more than 220 Red Sanders farmers across Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.
Officials said the framework discouraged illegal trade and unchecked exploitation. Moreover, it promoted regulated harvesting and long-term ecological balance.
By linking conservation outcomes with bio-economic returns, the ABS mechanism transformed Red Sanders into a livelihood-supporting asset for farming communities.
The NBA said continued benefit sharing would support conservation, scientific research and socio-economic development. It added that these efforts reinforced India’s leadership in global biodiversity governance.
