₹6.2 crore boost for Red Sanders conservation: 5 states to benefit | India News
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In a major push to conserve the endangered Red Sanders, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released ₹6.2 crore to support farmers and forest-dependent communities in five Indian states. The funds, part of the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism, will help protect the species and improve livelihoods. The NBA has disbursed the funds to state forest departments, biodiversity boards, and Red Sanders growers, who play a crucial role in safeguarding this globally valued species. The funds will be used for frontline protection, enhanced patrolling and monitoring infrastructure, research-driven silvicultural practices, and community-based livelihood programs. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh will receive the largest shares, with ₹17.8 lakh and ₹1.1 crore respectively. Tamil Nadu's Forest Department will get ₹2.98 crore, while Karnataka and Maharashtra will receive ₹1.05 crore and ₹69.2 lakh respectively. State biodiversity boards will share ₹16 lakh. This latest release brings the total ABS disbursements for Red Sanders conservation to ₹101 crore, with 216 farmers benefiting from the mechanism since its inception. The funds have also supported forest departments and biodiversity boards in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha. The NBA's ABS disbursements have now crossed ₹127 crore, reinforcing India's leadership in implementing fair and equitable benefit-sharing linked to biological resources. The move demonstrates how ABS provisions under the Biological Diversity Act can transform conservation into a sustainable livelihood opportunity, underscoring India's commitment to ecological security and sustainable livelihoods.
