Amaravati, Dec. 19 -- The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released Rs 14.88 crore (USD 1.65 million) to the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department as part of its Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism.

The funds will support protection, conservation, regeneration, research and development, awareness creation, and capacity-building activities related to Red Sanders, arising from benefit-sharing obligations linked to 29 Form-I applications.

With the latest disbursement, cumulative ABS payouts across the country have exceeded Rs 143 crore (USD 15.8 million).

Of this, over Rs 104 crore (USD 12.5 million) has been released to Andhra Pradesh for Red Sanders conservation and benefit claimers.

Additional disbursements exceeding Rs 15 ...