NBA Disburses ₹45 Lakh to Red Sanders Farmers, Strengthening Livelihoods and Sustainable Conservation
The ABS initiative highlights the dual income opportunity available to Red Sanders cultivators—first, through the lawful sale of cultivated Red Sanders wood and logs, and second, through direct monetary benefits under the ABS framework.
New Delhi, January 2: The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released ₹45 lakh (USD 50,000) as part of its Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism to Red Sanders farmers in Andhra Pradesh, routed through the Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board.
With this latest disbursement, India’s cumulative ABS payouts have crossed ₹143.5 crore (USD 16 million), reinforcing the country’s commitment to equitable benefit sharing under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
Dual income for Red Sanders cultivators
The ABS initiative highlights the dual income opportunity available to Red Sanders cultivators—first, through the lawful sale of cultivated Red Sanders wood and logs, and second, through direct monetary benefits under the ABS framework. Officials said this approach rewards farmers for conserving and sustainably utilising a globally valued endemic species, while aligning livelihood incentives with conservation outcomes.
To date, the NBA has disbursed over ₹104 crore (USD 11.5 million) to Andhra Pradesh for Red Sanders conservation, protection and benefit-sharing, and more than ₹15 crore (USD 1.66 million) to other States, including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha and Telangana.
Recent payouts across States
In the last three months alone, the NBA has released ₹5.35 crore in ABS benefits to over 220 Red Sanders farmers across Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, officials said, indicating an acceleration in benefit distribution to primary stakeholders.
Promoting sustainable use, curbing illegal trade
According to the NBA, the ABS framework plays a critical role in discouraging illegal trade and over-exploitation by linking conservation with tangible bio-economic returns. By transforming Red Sanders from a purely protected species into a livelihood-supporting asset, the mechanism incentivises compliance, stewardship and long-term sustainability among farming communities.
The authority said continued facilitation of ABS payouts supports conservation, scientific research and socio-economic development, while strengthening India’s leadership in global biodiversity governance. The NBA reiterated its commitment to conserving Red Sanders for future generations, ensuring that biodiversity protection goes hand in hand with community welfare.
