In a landmark initiative under India’s Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released ₹55 lakh to 18 farmers cultivating Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvallur district through the State Biodiversity Board.
This first-of-its-kind farmer-level benefit-sharing model links biodiversity conservation with livelihood incentives. It follows earlier disbursements of ₹48 crore to the Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka Forest Departments and the Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board for Red Sanders protection.
The initiative stems from recommendations of an Expert Committee on Red Sanders (2015), whose report—Policy for Conservation, Sustainable Use and Fair Benefit Sharing of Red Sanders—led to a 2019 DGFT policy relaxation allowing export of cultivated Red Sanders. The move supports farm-based conservation and helps meet market demand through legally sourced, sustainably grown trees, thereby reducing pressure on wild populations.
The benefit-sharing model operationalises India’s Biodiversity Act (2002) goal of equitable access and benefit distribution, translating conservation into livelihood gains for local communities. It also reinforces the principle that farmers as biodiversity stewards deserve a fair share of economic returns. The initiative complements India’s National Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan (2024–30) and aligns with Mission LiFE and Viksit Bharat @ 2047 priorities for sustainable natural-resource use.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can India replicate this farmer-linked benefit-sharing model for other commercially valuable and endemic species to promote conservation-led rural growth?
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