Context:
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) recently released ₹55 lakh as benefit-sharing funds to 18 farmers cultivating Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) in Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu. The funds were transferred through the Tamil Nadu State Biodiversity Board (TNSBB) under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
About Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus):
|
Feature |
Details |
|
Scientific Name |
Pterocarpus santalinus |
|
Common Name |
Red Sandalwood or Red Sanders |
|
Family |
Fabaceae |
|
IUCN Status |
Endangered (2021 IUCN Red List) |
|
CITES Listing |
Appendix II (regulated international trade) |
|
Geographical Range |
Endemic to the southern Eastern Ghats, mainly Andhra Pradesh, with some cultivation in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka |
|
Uses |
High-value timber for musical instruments, furniture, medicine, dyes, and cosmetics |
|
Conservation Concern |
Rampant smuggling and illegal trade due to global demand — especially from East Asia; slow growth and restricted natural range |
Procedure for Fund Release under Access & Benefit Sharing (ABS):
The Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism is the operational heart of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
It ensures that benefits arising from the use of India’s biological resources are shared fairly with the people and communities that conserve or cultivate them.
Step-by-Step Procedure:
1. Commercial Utilization / Access Request:
o When a company or trader seeks to use or export a biological resource (like Red Sanders wood), they must apply to the NBA or the relevant State Biodiversity Board for approval.
2. Benefit Calculation:
o The NBA assesses the commercial value and determines a benefit-sharing fee (royalty or percentage of profits).
o This may include monetary compensation, technology transfer, training, or support for conservation efforts.
3. Deposit of Funds:
o The user (e.g., exporter) pays the determined amount into the National Biodiversity Fund (NBF) or a designated State fund.
4. Identification of Beneficiaries:
o The State Biodiversity Board identifies farmers, local communities, or cultivators who are custodians or producers of the biological resource.
About the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA):
|
Aspect |
Details |
|
Established Under |
Biological Diversity Act, 2002 |
|
Headquarters |
Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
|
Parent Ministry |
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) |
|
Nature |
Statutory, autonomous body |
|
Chairperson (as of 2025) |
Appointed by the Central Government |
Mandate and Functions:
-
- Regulate access to India’s biological resources and associated traditional knowledge.
- Ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use (ABS).
- Advise the Central Government on biodiversity conservation, sustainable use, and related policies.
- Coordinate with State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at local levels.
- Regulate access to India’s biological resources and associated traditional knowledge.
Conclusion:
The ₹55 lakh released by the National Biodiversity Authority to Tamil Nadu’s Red Sanders farmers marks a turning point in India’s biodiversity governance — turning abstract principles of equity into tangible action.
It demonstrates that conservation can be profitable, that farmers can be custodians of endangered species, and that sustainable use of biological resources can drive both environmental protection and rural prosperity.
