In News:

• Recently, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) sanctioned ?82 lakh to the Andhra Pradesh Biodiversity Board for the conservation of Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus), an endemic and endangered tree species of India.
• The initiative, undertaken under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (amended in 2023), marks a crucial step towards community-based biodiversity conservation.

About Red Sanders

• Red Sanders, also known as Red Sandalwood, is native to the Southern Eastern Ghats, particularly in the Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa, and Kurnool districts of Andhra Pradesh.
• The species thrives in rocky, red soil regions with a hot and dry climate, often in degraded or fallow lands.
• Renowned for its deep red wood, which commands high demand in international markets for musical instruments, furniture, and medicinal purposes, Red Sanders faces serious threats from illegal felling and smuggling. Due to its restricted distribution and exploitation, it is listed as:

• IUCN: Endangered
• CITES: Appendix II (regulated international trade)
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule IV

Conservation Initiative

• The ?82 lakh grant aims to raise one lakh saplings of Red Sanders, which will be distributed among farmers under the Trees Outside Forests (ToF)programme. This aligns with India’s broader goal of enhancing green cover beyond traditional forest areas.
• The funds are sourced from benefit-sharing amounts collected from users of Red Sanders, ensuring that economic benefits are returned to local stakeholders such as farmers, tribal communities, and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs). The initiative exemplifies how the Access and Benefit Sharing mechanism promotes equitable sharing of biological resources and converts conservation into a community-driven effort.
• In addition, the NBA has previously released ?31.55 crore to the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department for similar conservation and protection activities related to Red Sanders. The present funding will further strengthen grassroots conservation, generating local employment, fostering skill development, and enhancing community stewardship of biodiversity resources.

National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)

The National Biodiversity Authority, headquartered in Chennai, is a statutory body established under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and became operational in 2003. It works in coordination with:

• State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs): Regulate access to biological resources at the state level.
• Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs): Function at the local level to document and conserve biodiversity through People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs).

Composition:

• Chairperson: An eminent expert in biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource use.
• 10 Ex-officio Members: Senior representatives from various ministries.
• 5 Non-official Members: Experts from relevant fields of biodiversity management.