The National Biodiversity Authority has released ₹39.84 crore to Andhra Pradesh for the protection and conservation of Red Sanders, one of India’s most iconic tree species. Of this, ₹38.36 crore has been allocated to the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department and ₹1.48 crore to the Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board. With this disbursement, India’s Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) contributions have crossed ₹110 crore, making it one of the largest biodiversity-linked releases in the country.
Red Sanders, prized worldwide for its deep red timber, grows naturally only in specific pockets of the Eastern Ghats, particularly in Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa, Prakasam and Kurnool districts. The Andhra Pradesh Forest Department generated ₹87.68 crore through regulated access to auctioned or seized Red Sanders wood as part of benefit-sharing measures. So far, the NBA has released over ₹49 crore to forest departments in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Odisha, as well as to the Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board for conservation, protection and research of Red Sanders. In addition, ₹3 crore has been distributed to 198 farmers in Andhra Pradesh, and ₹55 lakh to 18 farmers in Tamil Nadu.
The latest release will strengthen frontline forest protection, promote scientific management of Red Sanders forests, provide livelihood opportunities through Biodiversity Management Committees, and support long-term monitoring programmes. Officials described it as a significant step towards securing a sustainable future for the species. The NBA has also approved a project to raise one lakh Red Sanders saplings through the Andhra Pradesh Biodiversity Board at a cost of ₹2 crore. An initial amount had been released earlier, with the remaining ₹1.48 crore now transferred. These saplings will be supplied to farmers under the Trees Outside Forests (ToF) initiative, promoting conservation beyond natural habitats.
The Authority said the initiative demonstrates how Access and Benefit Sharing directly supports India’s biodiversity goals, ensuring that conservation-linked benefits reach local communities, farmers and custodians of biodiversity. The NBA will continue to work with State Biodiversity Boards, Forest Departments and local stakeholders to protect India’s biological heritage for future generations.
