National Biodiversity Authority Disburses Funds for the First Time to Cultivators of the Endangered Species
In a historic first, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has sanctioned and disbursed ₹55 lakh to 18 farmers from Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu, who are engaged in the cultivation of the endangered Red Sander tree (Pterocarpus santalinus).
The financial release, made under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism, benefits cultivators from eight villages — Kannabhirannagar, Kothur, Vembedu, Siruniyum, Goonipalayam, Ammambakkam, Alikuzhi, and Thimmaboopulapuram.
Government Launches First-Ever Red Sander Benefit Sharing Initiative
The initiative, formally announced on October 28, 2025, by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change through the Press Information Bureau, marks the first implementation of the Red Sander Benefit Sharing Scheme.
A key enabling reform for this programme was the 2019 notification by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which allowed the export of Red Sander wood from cultivated sources, paving the way for legitimate, sustainable trade.
Why the Funding Matters
Described as a milestone in biodiversity-linked livelihood support, this initiative brings together conservation objectives and economic incentives for farmers.
The NBA’s latest release follows earlier large-scale benefit-sharing distributions — including around ₹48 crore previously allocated to Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka for Red Sander conservation — under its ABS framework.
Native to the Eastern Ghats, the Red Sander tree holds significant ecological, cultural, and commercial importance but remains vulnerable due to illegal logging and smuggling of wild-grown wood.
Key Highlights and Impact of the Scheme
This landmark funding initiative carries several important implications:
- Promotes farm-based conservation: The scheme shifts the focus from traditional forestry to farmer-led cultivation of an endangered but valuable species.
- Supports legal trade: By incentivizing cultivation, the initiative helps build a legitimate supply chain, reducing dependence on illegally sourced timber.
- Integrates livelihoods with conservation: Farmers are directly compensated for contributing to biodiversity protection, strengthening community stewardship.
- Advances India’s global commitments: The scheme reinforces the nation’s pledge to sustainable biodiversity use and its contribution toward international conservation goals.
- Eases pressure on wild populations: Encouraging cultivated Red Sander plantations helps protect natural forests while improving rural incomes.
The Red Sander Tree: A Brief Overview
The Red Sander (Pterocarpus santalinus) is an endemic species native to the southern Eastern Ghats, particularly in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Odisha. It is prized for its deep red heartwood, which commands high commercial value in domestic and international markets.
Excessive exploitation of wild populations has placed the species under strict legal protection within India and under international conventions such as CITES. Cultivation on private farmlands offers a sustainable and lawful alternative, balancing trade interests with conservation imperatives.
Wider Implications of the Red Sander Benefit Sharing Model
- Empowering Farmers: Direct financial transfers recognize and reward cultivators for conserving an endangered species, linking environmental protection with livelihood enhancement.
- Creating Sustainable Trade Pathways: Farm-grown Red Sander provides a traceable and regulated supply chain, reducing illegal extraction and strengthening compliance with biodiversity laws.
This pioneering step by the NBA represents a turning point in India’s approach to biodiversity management, merging economic benefit with ecological responsibility and positioning Tamil Nadu’s farmers at the forefront of a sustainable conservation model.
