The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released ₹6.2 crore under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, to support conservation of the endangered Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) and enhance the livelihoods of farmers and forest-dependent communities across five states.
The funds, disbursed on 11 December 2025, have been allocated to State Forest Departments, State Biodiversity Boards, and Red Sanders growers who play a crucial role in safeguarding this globally valued and endemic species. This latest release reinforces efforts to promote responsible utilisation and long-term protection of Red Sanders.
Breakup of the ₹6.2 crore ABS disbursement:
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Tamil Nadu Forest Department: ₹2.98 crore
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Karnataka Forest Department: ₹1.05 crore
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Maharashtra Forest Department: ₹69.2 lakh
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Telangana Forest Department: ₹5.8 lakh
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Farmers in Andhra Pradesh: ₹1.1 crore
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Farmers in Telangana: ₹17.8 lakh
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State Biodiversity Boards (combined): ₹16 lakh
With this tranche, total ABS disbursements specifically for Red Sanders conservation have now crossed ₹101 crore since the mechanism was introduced for the species. So far, 216 farmers—198 in Andhra Pradesh and 18 in Tamil Nadu—have benefited from the Red Sanders ABS mechanism, in addition to Forest Departments and Biodiversity Boards of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha.
The newly released funds will support:
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Strengthened frontline protection and enhanced patrolling
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Improved monitoring and conservation infrastructure
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Research-led silvicultural and regeneration practices
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Expansion of community-based livelihood programmes
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Increased socio-economic resilience of Red Sanders growers
With this disbursement, the NBA’s total ABS allocations have crossed ₹127 crore, underscoring India’s global leadership in implementing fair and equitable benefit-sharing linked to biological resources. These actions contribute directly to Target-13 and the mobilisation goals of Target-19 under the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2024–2030 and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
The NBA emphasised that this milestone demonstrates how effective ABS mechanisms can transform conservation into a sustainable livelihood opportunity, strengthening both ecological security and community prosperity while establishing India as a global model for biodiversity governance.