Enviro News Asia, Chennai — The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released ₹55 lakh to 18 farmers cultivating Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) in Tamil Nadu, marking a milestone in India’s biodiversity conservation efforts under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework. The funds were disbursed through the Tamil Nadu State Biodiversity Board to farmers from eight villages in Tiruvallur District, including Kannabhiran Nagar, Kothur, Vembedu, Siruniyum, Goonipalayam, Ammambakkam, Alikuzhi, and Thimmaboopolapuram.
This first-of-its-kind benefit-sharing initiative represents a significant step toward inclusive biodiversity conservation by ensuring that communities protecting and cultivating valuable biological resources receive equitable benefits. The initiative follows NBA’s earlier release of ₹48 crore to the Forest Departments and Biodiversity Boards of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka for the protection and conservation of Red Sanders.
The move stems from the recommendations of an Expert Committee on Red Sanders constituted by the NBA in 2015. The committee developed a comprehensive policy titled “Policy for Conservation, Sustainable Use and Fair and Equitable Benefit Sharing Arising from the Utilisation of Red Sanders.” A key outcome was the 2019 policy relaxation by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), allowing exports of cultivated Red Sanders — a major boost to sustainable trade and farm-based conservation.
Red Sanders, an endemic tree species found primarily in the Eastern Ghats, holds ecological, economic, and cultural importance. Although naturally distributed in Andhra Pradesh, it is also cultivated in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Odisha, and other states. Promoting farm-grown Red Sanders supports rural livelihoods, meets global market demand through legal trade, and reduces exploitation of wild populations.
The NBA stated that this benefit-sharing model strengthens community participation in biodiversity management and ensures fair compensation for custodians of natural resources. The Authority reaffirmed its commitment to link conservation with livelihoods, fostering community stewardship and safeguarding one of India’s most valuable endemic species for future generations. (*)
