The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has disbursed Rs 45 lakh to Red Sanders cultivators in Andhra Pradesh through the State Biodiversity Board. This marks India’s cumulative ABS releases surpassing Rs 143.5 crore.
The initiative provides economic opportunities to Red Sanders cultivators, offering income from the legal sale of Red Sanders wood and logs. Additionally, they benefit from monetary rewards under the ABS mechanism mandated by the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
The ABS framework aims to reward farmers for conserving and sustainably utilizing the globally valued endemic species. NBA has allocated over Rs 104 crore to Andhra Pradesh for Red Sanders conservation and more than Rs 15 crore to states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Telangana.
In the recent three months, NBA disbursed ABS funds totaling Rs 5.35 crore to over 220 Red Sanders farmers in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. The ABS framework not only ensures fair benefit sharing but also promotes sustainable practices, discouraging illegal trade and over-exploitation.
By connecting conservation efforts with tangible economic returns, the ABS framework has turned Red Sanders into a livelihood asset for farming communities. NBA’s consistent efforts in channeling ABS funds back to beneficiaries support conservation, scientific research, and socio-economic development.
NBA’s ongoing work in conserving Red Sanders for future generations while bolstering livelihoods underscores India’s commitment to global biodiversity conservation.
