The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), has released ₹55 Lakh to 18 farmers and cultivators of Red Sander (Pterocarpus santalinus) in Tamil Nadu, a first-of-its-kind benefit-sharing initiative under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework.
The funds were disbursed through the Tamil Nadu State Biodiversity Board (TNSBB) and cover 8 villages in Tiruvallur District: Kannabhiran Nagar, Kothur, Vembedu, Siruniyum, Goonipalayam, Ammambakkam, Alikuzhi and Thimmaboopola Puram.
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The initiative builds on the NBA’s earlier release of ₹48 crore to the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department, Karnataka Forest Department and Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board for conservation and sustainable use of Red Sander.
The move stems from recommendations made by an Expert Committee on Red Sander constituted by the NBA in 2015, which produced a report titled “Policy for Conservation, Sustainable Use and Fair and Equitable Benefit Sharing Arising from the Utilisation of Red Sander”. One of the key outcomes was a 2019 policy change permitting the export of Red Sander from cultivated sources.
