National Biodiversity Authority sanctions fund for Red Sanders Conservation under Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Mechanism

Posted 30 Sep 2025

2 min read

Article Summary

The National Biodiversity Authority has allocated ABS-mechanism funding to raise and distribute one lakh red sanders saplings to Andhra Pradesh farmers, promoting conservation and sustainable use.

Funding, sourced from ABS mechanism, aims to raise one lakh red sanders saplings for distribution to farmers in Andhra Pradesh.

About ABS mechanism in India:

Genesis: concept of ABS arises from the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 1992 and its Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing, 2010.
Definition: It regulates access to biological resources, while ensuring fair and equitable sharing of benefits with users and providers (e.g. local communities) of resources.
Legal Framework: India enacted the Biological Diversity (BD) Act, 2002 in line with its commitment to CBD to conserve biological diversity, and ensure its sustainable use.
Implementation:
- India implements ABS through a three-tier system:
  - National Biodiversity Authority (Headquartered in Chennai) at the central level,
  - State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) at the state level,
  - And Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the local level.
- These statutory bodies manage access, benefit sharing, and distribution under BD Act.
Example:
- Kani Tribe (Kerala): Traditional knowledge about a medicinal plant (Arogyapacha) was used to develop a drug ‘Jeevani’.
- Benefit-sharing agreement ensured royalty distribution to the Kani tribe.

About Red Sanders (or Red Sandalwood)

Habitat: Native to the Southern Eastern Ghats of andhra pradesh
- Grows in dry deciduous forests between 150–900 meters altitude.
Uses: used in fine furniture, musical instruments, ayurveda and yields a natural red dye.
Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Endangered.
- CITES: Listed in Appendix II
- Protected under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Threats: Illegal logging & smuggling