Context:

Recently, The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), headquartered in Chennai, has sanctioned ₹ 82 lakh to the Andhra Pradesh Biodiversity Board (APBB) for a conservation initiative focused on Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus).  This funding comes under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism, as envisaged in the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

Objectives of the Funds:

• • The initiative plans to raise 1 lakh saplings of Red Sanders, which will then be distributed to farmers under a Trees Outside Forests (ToF) programme. This links conservation with livelihood opportunities.
  • The approach is bottom‑up: involving local stakeholders, Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs), and farmers in nursery development, planting, maintenance, and monitoring.
  • The broader goal is to reduce pressure on wild populations (thus curbing illegal extraction/smuggling) by providing legal, locally supported regeneration pathways.

Significance:

·        This sanction exemplifies how the ABS mechanism enables users to fund conservation, embodying the principle “users pay, communities benefit.”

·        By distributing Red Sanders saplings under ToF, it links ecological restoration with rural livelihoods. Legally grown plantations may reduce illegal harvesting.

·        The step aligns with India’s commitments under the CBD and the Kunming–Montreal Framework on benefit sharing and ecosystem restoration.

About India’s Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism:

India’s Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism, governed by the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, regulates access to biological resources and associated traditional knowledge for commercial and research use. It operates through two key principles:

·         Prior Informed Consent (PIC): Mandatory approval from the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) or State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) before accessing resources.

·         Mutually Agreed Terms (MAT): Negotiated agreements between users and resource providers on how benefits—monetary or non-monetary—will be shared.

About Red Sanders:

Red Sanders is an endemic and endangered tree species found only in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. It is ecologically significant due to its restricted habitat and endangered status (IUCN Red List: Endangered). Economically, it holds high value for its rich red wood, used in cosmetics, medicines, furniture, and musical instruments, particularly in export markets like China and Japan.

Red Sanders is protected under multiple legal frameworks:

·         Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Listed in Schedule IV, offering legal protection from exploitation.

·         Andhra Pradesh Forest Act (Amended 2016): Makes offences related to Red Sanders cognisable and non-bailable.

·         CITES (Appendix II): Controls international trade to prevent exploitation.
These legal instruments aim to address smuggling, habitat loss, and illegal trade, all of which threaten the species’ survival.

Conclusion:

The NBA’s sanctioning of ₹ 82 lakh for Red Sanders conservation in Andhra Pradesh is a notable step in translating ABS policy from principle into practice. It bridges the gap between utilising biodiversity and reinvesting in its conservation, while involving local communities.