Government Sanctions ₹82 Lakh for Red Sanders Conservation in Andhra Pradesh

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has sanctioned an amount of ₹82 lakh to the Andhra Pradesh Biodiversity Board for the conservation of the endemic plant species Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus).

The initiative aims to raise one lakh saplings of Red Sanders, which will subsequently be supplied to farmers, thereby contributing to the Trees Outside Forests (ToF) programme and marking a significant step towards conserving a species unique to the region.

Based in Chennai, NBA is an autonomous, statutory body of India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), established under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

The funding has been provided from the benefit-sharing amount collected from Red Sanders users and is being channelled back to the concerned stakeholders for conservation-related activities. These funds are in addition to the sale proceeds or sale values realised by stakeholders.

The sanction demonstrates the application of the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (amended in 2023). The ABS mechanism regulates access to biological resources, while ensuring fair and equitable sharing of benefits with beneficiaries, including local communities, individuals and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs). The initiative thus demonstrates how policies can transform conservation into community-driven action.

Red Sanders, native to the Southern Eastern Ghats and found particularly in the districts of Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa, and Kurnool, has been under heavy threat due to its high commercial value, leading to rampant smuggling.

In 2022, the popular movie Pushpa, loosely inspired by real-life events, highlighted the challenges surrounding the illegal trade of this endangered wood. 

Red Sanders is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which strictly regulates its international trade.

The National Biodiversity Authority has already released over ₹31.55 crore to the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department for Red Sanders conservation and protection activities in the past.

The present release is expected to flow directly into grassroots-level conservation involving Biodiversity Management Committees. Local and tribal communities will participate in nursery development, plantation, and long-term care, creating employment opportunities, promoting skill-building, and enhancing local stewardship in the conservation of biological resources.

The initiative not only strengthens India’s National Biodiversity Targets but also further reinforces the country’s commitment to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on the global stage.