Amaravati, Nov. 4 -- The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released Rs 3.00 crore to 199 beneficiaries, including 198 Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) cultivators from Andhra Pradesh and the University of Andhra, under India's Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) mechanism.

The disbursement, facilitated through the Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board, supports the sustainable use of biological resources and ensures equitable sharing of benefits under the Biological Diversity Act.

This initiative follows a series of benefit-sharing efforts by the NBA, which previously released Rs 48.00 crore to the Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka Forest Departments and Rs 55.00 lakh to farmers in Tamil Nadu.

Under the current disbursement, each...