The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has sanctioned Rs 82 lakh to the Andhra Pradesh Biodiversity Board for the protection and propagation of Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus), an endemic and endangered species native to the Southern Eastern Ghats.
The initiative aims to raise one lakh saplings to be distributed to farmers under the Trees Outside Forests (ToF) programme, promoting ecological restoration and sustainable livelihoods. The funding, sourced from benefit-sharing contributions by Red Sanders users, exemplifies the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (amended in 2023), ensuring equitable returns to local communities and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs).
Red Sanders, found in Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa, and Kurnool districts, faces threats from illegal trade due to its high commercial value. Protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and listed in CITES, its conservation is critical to India’s biodiversity goals.
This latest funding complements previous allocations of ₹31.55 crore by NBA to the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department. The current initiative emphasizes grassroots involvement, with tribal and local communities engaged in nursery development, plantation, and long-term care—creating employment, building skills, and fostering stewardship.
By aligning with India’s National Biodiversity Targets and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the project sets a precedent for policy-led, community-powered conservation.
