On October 28, 2023, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) released ₹55 lakh to 18 farmers/cultivators of Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) in Tamil Nadu through the State Biodiversity Board. The farmers belong to 8 villages, including Kannabhiran nagar, Kothur, Vembedu, Siruniyum, Goonipalayam, Ammambakkam, Alikuzhi, Thimmaboopola puram, under Tiruvallur District.
This initiative, under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework, builds upon the NBA's earlier release of ₹48.00 crores to the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department, Karnataka Forest Department and Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board for protection and conservation of Red Sanders.
The initiative stems from the recommendations of an Expert Committee on Red Sanders constituted by the NBA in 2015. The Committee's recommendations included the 2019 policy relaxation by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), permitting the export of Red Sanders from cultivated sources.
Key Entities Referenced
National Biodiversity Authority (NBA): Authority responsible for promoting sustainable use of biological resources in India, particularly through Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) frameworks.
Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus): An endemic tree species with ecological, economic, and cultural significance. The focus of conservation and sustainable use efforts, including benefit sharing with farmers.
Tamil Nadu: Location where the released funds were allocated to farmers cultivating Red Sanders. This initiative directly impacts the livelihoods of the local farming community and the region's biodiversity conservation efforts.
Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS): Framework for promoting the sustainable use of India's biological resources by sharing the benefits.
Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT): Agency that relaxed policy in 2019, permitting the export of Red Sanders from cultivated sources.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
National Biodiversity Authority released ₹55
Lakh to Farmers of Red Sanders in Tamil Nadu
Posted On: 28 OCT 2025 11:19AM by PIB Delhi
In a landmark initiative under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework for promoting the
sustainable use of India’s biological resources, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has
released ₹55 lakh to 18 farmers/ cultivators of Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) in Tamil Nadu
through the State Biodiversity Board. These farmers belong to 8 villages namely Kannabhiran nagar,
Kothur, Vembedu, Siruniyum, Goonipalayam, Ammambakkam, Alikuzhi, Thimmaboopola puram
under Tiruvallur District.
This first-of-its-kind benefit sharing initiative to farmers/ cultivators marks a historic step towards
inclusive biodiversity conservation. It builds upon the NBA’s earlier release of ABS share of ₹48.00
crores to the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department, Karnataka Forest Department and Andhra Pradesh
State Biodiversity Board for protection and conservation of Red sanders.
This initiative stems from the recommendations of an Expert Committee on Red Sanders constituted
by the NBA in 2015. It prepared a comprehensive report titled ‘Policy for Conservation, Sustainable
Use and Fair and Equitable Benefit Sharing Arising from the Utilisation of Red Sanders’. One of the
key outcomes of the Committee’s recommendations was the 2019 policy relaxation by the Directorate
General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), permitting the export of Red Sanders from cultivated sources. It is
a significant boost for farm-based conservation and trade.
Red Sanders, an endemic species to Eastern Ghats found in Andhra Pradesh alone, has ecological,
economic, and cultural significance. It is also cultivated in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka,
Odisha and other States. Promoting cultivated Red Sanders not only supports farmer’s livelihood, but
also helps to meet the growing market demand through legally sourced and sustainably grown Red
Sanders, thereby reducing pressure on wild populations of the species.
This benefit-sharing model reinforces community participation in conservation while ensuring that
those safeguarding biodiversity are duly compensated. The NBA is committed to link conservation
with livelihoods, strengthening community stewardship, and ensuring that the custodians of
biodiversity receive their rightful share of the benefits by safeguarding one of India’s most valued and
endemic tree species for future generations.
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VM
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