The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) released ₹6.2 crore to beneficiaries on 11.12.2025 under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. It will support the conservation of the endangered Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) and strengthen the livelihoods of farmers and forest- dependent communities in five states.

The ABS funds have been released to State Forest Departments, State Biodiversity Boards, and Red Sanders growers, who continue to play a pivotal role in protecting this endemic and globally valued species. The latest disbursement supports the sustained conservation and responsible utilisation of Red Sanders. Of the newly released ₹6.2 crore, ₹17.8 lakh will go to farmers in Telangana and ₹1.1 crore to farmers in Andhra Pradesh. The Tamil Nadu Forest Department will receive ₹2.98 crore, the Karnataka Forest Department will get ₹1.05 crore, the Maharashtra Forest Department will receive ₹69.2 lakh, and the Telangana Forest Department will receive ₹5.8 lakh. In addition, ₹16.0 lakh is shared amongst the respective state biodiversity boards.

This latest tranche brings the total ABS funds disbursed exclusively for Red Sanders conservation to over ₹101 crore since the ABS mechanism was operationalised for the species. Till date, 216 individual farmers, encompassing 198 in Andhra Pradesh and 18 in Tamil Nadu, have benefited under the Red Sanders ABS mechanism, in addition to Forest Departments and State Biodiversity Boards of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Odisha.

The funds will be utilised for frontline protection, enhanced patrolling and monitoring infrastructure, research-driven silvicultural practices, expansion of community-based livelihood programmes, and improving the socio-economic resilience of Red Sanders Growers.

With this release, the NBA’s total ABS disbursements have crossed ₹127 crore, reinforcing India’s global leadership in implementing fair and equitable benefit-sharing linked to biological resources. This action drives towards attaining Target-13 and mobilizing financial resources for biodiversity conservation set forth under Target-19 of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2030 and Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework of Conventional on Biological Diversity.

This disbursement is a testament to how the ABS provisions of the Biological Diversity Act can transform conservation into a sustainable livelihood opportunity. These actions underscore India’s leadership in applying ABS principles into practical, result-oriented, bolstering ecological security and sustainable livelihoods.

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VM/SK

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