**Executive Summary**
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released ₹14.88 crore (USD 1.65 million) in Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) funds to the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department. These funds will support Red Sanders-related initiatives, including protection, conservation, research, and development. This disbursement increases the total ABS funds disbursed to over ₹143 crore (USD 15.8 million). The release date of this information is December 19, 2023.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **ABS Disbursement:**
* ₹14.88 crore (USD 1.65 million) disbursed to the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department.
* Funds are for protection, conservation, regeneration, research, development, awareness, and capacity building related to Red Sanders.
* Cumulative ABS disbursements have exceeded ₹143 crore (USD 15.8 million).
* Over ₹104 crore (USD 12.5 million) has been released to Andhra Pradesh towards Red Sanders conservation.
* Over ₹15 crore (USD 1.8 million) released to other states including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Telangana.
* **Red Sanders Information:**
* Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) is endemic to limited pockets of the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh.
* Benefit-sharing contributions came from auctioning 1,115 tonnes of confiscated Red Sanders wood.
* **Research and Development Support:**
* NBA supported research projects on Red Sanders covering conservation, sustainable use, and genetic improvement.
* Field surveys documented 1,513 genetic resources and assessed over 15,000 standing trees.
* Efforts underway to establish a National Red Sanders Field Gene Bank.
* Propagation technologies strengthened, and preliminary Seed Production Area guidelines developed.
* Value-added products developed, including Royalseema RS Soap® (trademarked) and Royal Red lipstick.
* **NBA's Commitment:**
* The NBA reaffirms its commitment to fair benefit sharing, prevention of illegal trade, and strengthening biodiversity governance.
* Long-term protection of Red Sanders is ensured through reinvesting ABS proceeds.
**Impact Analysis**
**Andhra Pradesh Forest Department**
* **Impact**: Receives ₹14.88 crore for Red Sanders initiatives.
* **Action Required**: Utilize funds for protection, conservation, regeneration, research, and development of Red Sanders.
**Central Government Agencies (Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, State Trading Corporation of India Ltd., MMTC Limited, PEC Limited)**
* **Impact**: Their auctioned confiscated Red Sanders wood contributes to ABS funds.
* **Action Required**: Continue to collaborate with NBA on Red Sanders conservation efforts.
**Reputed Government Research Institutions (ICFRE-IFGTB, ICFRE-IWST, CSIR-IICB, ICFRE)**
* **Impact**: Receive support for research projects on Red Sanders.
* **Action Required**: Conduct research on Red Sanders conservation, sustainable use, genetic improvement, and value addition.
**Local Communities in Red Sanders regions**
* **Impact**: Benefit from conservation, scientific innovation, and community-linked development efforts.
* **Action Required**: Participate in and support Red Sanders conservation initiatives.
**Other States (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana)**
* **Impact**: Receive funds for Red Sanders conservation projects.
* **Action Required**: Utilize funds for Red Sanders conservation and protection initiatives.
Key Entities Referenced
National Biodiversity Authority (NBA): The primary organization responsible for the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) disbursements.
Andhra Pradesh Forest Department: The recipient of the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) funds for Red Sanders conservation.
Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS): The mechanism under which funds are disbursed for conservation and related activities, in this case, specifically for Red Sanders.
Red Sanders: The specific species (Pterocarpus santalinus) for whose conservation the funds are being utilized.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
NBA Releases ₹14.88 Crore as Access and
Benefit Sharing funds to Andhra Pradesh Forest
Department
Till date, over ₹104 crore disbursed under ABS mechanism
for Red Sanders conservation to Andhra Pradesh, taking
NBA’s total ABS disbursements beyond ₹143 crores
प्रव तथ: 19 DEC 2025 12:05PM by PIB Delhi
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has continued its succession of Access and Benefit Sharing
(ABS) disbursements with the release of ₹14.88 crore (USD 1.65 million) to the Andhra Pradesh Forest
Department. The funds are earmarked for the protection, conservation, regeneration, research and
development, awareness creation, and capacity-building programmes related to Red Sanders, as benefit-
sharing contributions arising from 29 Form-I applications.
With this release, India’s cumulative ABS disbursements have crossed above ₹143 crore (USD 15.8
million). To date, the NBA has released over ₹104 crore (USD 12.5 million) to the State of Andhra
Pradesh towards Red Sanders conservation as well as benefit claimers, and over ₹15 crore (USD 1.8
million) released to various states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha and Telangana.
Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus), globally valued for its distinctive deep red timber, is endemic to
limited pockets of the Eastern Ghats, notably in the Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa, Prakasam and Kurnool
districts of Andhra Pradesh. The benefit-sharing contributions have accrued from the auction of 1,115
tonnes of Red Sanders wood confiscated and seized by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and
subsequently auctioned by Central Government agencies, including the State Trading Corporation of India
Ltd., MMTC Limited and PEC Limited.
Noteworthy to mention that through the Red Sanders access and benefit-sharing amount, NBA supported
research projects on Red Sanders, covering conservation, sustainable use, genetic improvement, and value
addition through reputed government research institutions like ICFRE-IFGTB, ICFRE-IWST, CSIR-IICB.
Field surveys across forest divisions of Andhra Pradesh resulted in the documentation of 1,513 genetic
resources with geo-referenced traits and assessed over 15,000 standing trees for variability and
reproductive behaviour. Seeds from elite resources were collected for ex situ conservation, with ongoing
efforts to establish a National Red Sanders Field Gene Bank. Propagation technologies were strengthened
through standardised tissue culture, improved germination, and high-success vegetative propagation
methods. Preliminary Seed Production Area guidelines were also developed to support long-term
sustainability.
Value-added products such as soaps, creams, lip care products, and wood coatings were successfully
developed from bark and heartwood. Notably, Royalseema RS Soap® was trademarked (Trademark No.
5870030) and Royal Red lipstick met Bureau of Indian Standards specifications, demonstrating translationof research into practical applications by ICFRE – Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding,
Coimbatore.
The initiative reaffirms the NBA’s sustained commitment to fair and equitable benefit sharing, prevention
of illegal trade, and strengthening of collective action in biodiversity governance. NBA is ensuring long-
term protection of the ecological, genetic, and socio-economic values of Red Sanders by reinvesting ABS
proceeds into conservation, scientific innovation, and community-linked development. These efforts
collectively safeguard this endemic species for present and future generations while reinforcing India’s
leadership in biodiversity governance.
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VM/SK
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