On November 4, 2023, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) released ₹3.00 crore to 199 beneficiaries, covering 198 farmers from Andhra Pradesh and one academic institution, the University of Andhra, for cultivating Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus). This disbursement, facilitated through the Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board, falls under the Access and Benefit-Sharing mechanism of the Biological Diversity Act. This follows earlier NBA releases of ₹8.00 crore to the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department, Karnataka Forest Department, and the Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board, and ₹55.00 lakh to farmers in Tamil Nadu for Red Sanders protection and conservation. Individual farmers will receive between ₹33,000 and ₹22.00 lakh, based on the quantity of Red Sanders wood supplied.
The beneficiaries are from 48 villages across four districts of Andhra Pradesh: Chittoor, Nellore, Tirupati, and Cuddapah. The release lists a number of villages in each of the above districts. This initiative stems from a 2015 policy created by the NBA's Expert Committee on Red Sanders, titled "Policy for Conservation, Sustainable Use, and Fair and Equitable Benefit Sharing Arising from the Utilisation of Red Sanders." A key result of the Committee's work was the 2019 policy relaxation by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), allowing the export of Red Sanders from cultivated sources.
Key Entities Referenced
National Biodiversity Authority (NBA): Central body disbursing funds and promoting biodiversity conservation.
Andhra Pradesh: State where the majority of the beneficiaries and Red Sanders cultivators are located.
Biological Diversity Act: The legislation under which the Access and Benefit-Sharing mechanism operates.
Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS): The framework for sharing benefits derived from the use of biological resources.
Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus): The specific biological resource targeted by the disbursement.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
NBA Releases ₹3.00 Crore to Red Sanders
Farmers in Andhra Pradesh under Access and
Benefit-Sharing Framework
Posted On: 04 NOV 2025 12:59PM by PIB Delhi
A notable series of ABS release initiatives aimed at promoting the sustainable use of India’s
biological resources, the National Biodiversity Authority has disbursed ₹3.00 crore to 199
beneficiaries, covering 198 farmers from Andhra Pradesh and cultivators of Red Sanders
(Pterocarpus santalinus), along with one academic institution, University of Andhra. The
disbursement, facilitated through the Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board, is part of the Access
and Benefit-Sharing mechanism under the Biological Diversity Act.
This initiative builds on a series of benefit-sharing measures undertaken by the NBA to promote
inclusive biodiversity conservation. Previously, NBA had released ₹48.00 crore to the Andhra
Pradesh Forest Department, Karnataka Forest Department, and the Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity
Board for the protection and conservation of Red Sanders, and ₹55.00 lakh to farmers in Tamil Nadu.
Under the current disbursement, each beneficiary i.e. farmers will receive an amount ranging from
₹33,000 to ₹22.00 lakh, depending on the quantity of cultivated Red Sanders wood supplied to the
users. It was also observed that beneficiaries are receiving higher amounts compared to the sale value
of the wood.
The beneficiaries are from 48 villages across four districts of Andhra Pradesh: Chittoor, Nellore,
Tirupati, and Cuddapah. This reflects the broad participation of local farming communities engaged in
cultivating and conserving this highly valued endemic species. The villages are as follows:
Eguvareddy, Varipalle, Nallamanukaluva, Rallakuppam, Varathur, Kandriga, Vengalrajukuppam,
Puram, Ambakam, Perumalllapalli, Mambedu, Durgasamudram, Sitharamapuram, Meriyapaka,
Mitaplem, Alathur, Srirangarajapuram, Chinnatayyuru in Chittoor District; Thallapalli in Nellore
District; Cherrlopally, Peddamallela, Motumallela, Rompicherla, Vadamalapeta, Karuru,
Pulikundram, Sivagir, Pichatur, Aruru, Palamangalam, Vadamalapeta, Sribaripuram, Patha Arcot,
KBR Puram, Kakavedu, Panapakam, Damalcheruvu, Gadanki, Kalyanapuram in Tirupati district; and
Chalivendula, Venkatampalli, Dandlopalli, Puthanavaripalli, Ketharajupalle, Vallurupalli,
Ananthayyagaripalli, Pullampet, and Timmasamudram in Cuddapah District.
The initiative originates from the recommendations of the Expert Committee on Red Sanders, formed
by the NBA in 2015, which created a comprehensive policy titled “Policy for Conservation,
Sustainable Use, and Fair and Equitable Benefit Sharing Arising from the Utilisation of Red Sanders.”A key result of the Committee’s work was the 2019 policy relaxation by the Directorate General of
Foreign Trade (DGFT), allowing the export of Red Sanders from cultivated sources and marking a
significant step in promoting legal and sustainable trade.
It shows how policy tools like ABS can make biodiversity conservation, a viable livelihood option.
This benefit-sharing initiative supports the NBA’s commitment to linking biodiversity conservation
with livelihood improvement, boosting community participation and ensuring that biodiversity
custodians receive their rightful benefits. It represents another milestone in India’s efforts toward fair
benefit-sharing with providers and the long-term conservation of its most valued and iconic species
i.e Red Sanders.
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VM/SK
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