Bhubaneswar, Nov. 14 -- The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released Rs 29.40 lakh to the Odisha Forest Department under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism to support the conservation and protection of Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus), a rare and endemic species.

The ABS funds were generated from benefit-sharing payments linked to the use of Red Sanders wood logs sourced from the Parlakhemundi Forest Division in Gajapati district.

The trees, estimated to be over a century old and planted by the former Maharaja of Parlakhemundi, had naturally fallen during the 2018 cyclone. The Odisha Forest Development Corporation later auctioned the fallen wood.

This disbursement is part of the NBA's ongoing nationwide effort...