**Executive Summary**
On December 11, 2025, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) released ₹6.2 crore to beneficiaries under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. These funds will support the conservation of endangered Red Sanders and strengthen the livelihoods of related communities in five states. To date, over ₹101 crore has been disbursed under the ABS mechanism for Red Sanders conservation, bringing the NBA's total ABS disbursements to over ₹127 crore.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Funding & Purpose:**
* ₹6.2 crore released to support the conservation of Red Sanders and enhance livelihoods.
* Aims to promote responsible utilisation and sustained conservation.
* Funds part of the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
* **Beneficiaries:**
* Funds allocated to State Forest Departments, State Biodiversity Boards, and Red Sanders growers.
* ₹7.8 lakh for farmers in Telangana and ₹1.1 crore for farmers in Andhra Pradesh.
* ₹2.98 crore to Tamil Nadu Forest Department, ₹1.05 crore to Karnataka Forest Department, and ₹69.2 lakh to Maharashtra Forest Department, and ₹5.8 lakh to the Telangana Forest Department.
* ₹16.0 lakh shared among state biodiversity boards.
* 216 individual farmers have benefited to date.
* **Fund Usage:**
* Utilised for frontline protection, enhanced patrolling and monitoring infrastructure, and research-driven silvicultural practices.
* Supports the expansion of community-based livelihood programs.
* Aims to improve the socio-economic resilience of Red Sanders growers.
* **Overall Impact:**
* NBA's total ABS disbursements have exceeded ₹127 crore.
* Reinforces India's commitment to fair and equitable benefit-sharing.
* Contributes to achieving Target-13 and mobilising resources for biodiversity conservation under Target-19 of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2030.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Forest Departments (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing conservation efforts with allocated funds.
* **Action Required:** Utilise funds for frontline protection, patrolling, research, and community programs.
**State Biodiversity Boards**
* **Impact:** Supports ongoing conservation efforts with allocated funds.
* **Action Required:** To responsibly use funds for conservation and management of resources in each state.
**Red Sanders Growers**
* **Impact:** Socio-economic resilience is intended to improve through livelihood programs.
* **Action Required:** Participate in community-based livelihood programs and adopt sustainable practices.
**Farmers in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh**
* **Impact:** Livelihoods strengthened through direct financial support.
* **Action Required:** Continue to promote sustainable livelihoods.
Key Entities Referenced
National Biodiversity Authority (NBA): The primary regulator releasing funds under the Access and Benefit Sharing mechanism for Red Sanders conservation.
Biological Diversity Act, 2002: The legislative framework under which the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism operates.
Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS): The central mechanism for distributing benefits from the utilization of biological resources, especially for Red Sanders conservation.
Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus): The specific endangered species targeted for conservation through the ABS mechanism.
State Forest Departments: Key recipients of ABS funds for conservation efforts at the state level.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
NBA Releases ₹6.2 Crore as Access and Benefit
Sharing funds to beneficiaries in Five States
Till date, over ₹101 crore disbursed under ABS mechanism
for Red Sanders conservation, taking NBA’s total ABS
disbursements beyond ₹127 crores
प्रव तथ: 11 DEC 2025 12:31PM by PIB Delhi
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) released ₹6.2 crore to beneficiaries on 11.12.2025 under the
Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. It will support the
conservation of the endangered Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) and strengthen the livelihoods of
farmers and forest- dependent communities in five states.
The ABS funds have been released to State Forest Departments, State Biodiversity Boards, and Red
Sanders growers, who continue to play a pivotal role in protecting this endemic and globally valued
species. The latest disbursement supports the sustained conservation and responsible utilisation of Red
Sanders. Of the newly released ₹6.2 crore, ₹17.8 lakh will go to farmers in Telangana and ₹1.1 crore to
farmers in Andhra Pradesh. The Tamil Nadu Forest Department will receive ₹2.98 crore, the Karnataka
Forest Department will get ₹1.05 crore, the Maharashtra Forest Department will receive ₹69.2 lakh, and
the Telangana Forest Department will receive ₹5.8 lakh. In addition, ₹16.0 lakh is shared amongst the
respective state biodiversity boards.
This latest tranche brings the total ABS funds disbursed exclusively for Red Sanders conservation to over
₹101 crore since the ABS mechanism was operationalised for the species. Till date, 216 individual
farmers, encompassing 198 in Andhra Pradesh and 18 in Tamil Nadu, have benefited under the Red
Sanders ABS mechanism, in addition to Forest Departments and State Biodiversity Boards of Andhra
Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Odisha.
The funds will be utilised for frontline protection, enhanced patrolling and monitoring infrastructure,
research-driven silvicultural practices, expansion of community-based livelihood programmes, and
improving the socio-economic resilience of Red Sanders Growers.
With this release, the NBA’s total ABS disbursements have crossed ₹127 crore, reinforcing India’s global
leadership in implementing fair and equitable benefit-sharing linked to biological resources. This action
drives towards attaining Target-13 and mobilizing financial resources for biodiversity conservation set
forth under Target-19 of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2030 and Kunming
Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework of Conventional on Biological Diversity.
This disbursement is a testament to how the ABS provisions of the Biological Diversity Act can transform
conservation into a sustainable livelihood opportunity. These actions underscore India’s leadership in
applying ABS principles into practical, result-oriented, bolstering ecological security and sustainable
livelihoods.*****
VM/SK
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