India, Dec. 12 -- The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) on Thursday released Rs 6.2 crore under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism to support the conservation of the endangered Red Sanders and strengthen the livelihoods of farmers and forest-dependent communities in five States, the Environment Ministry said.
The ABS funds have been released to state forest departments, state biodiversity boards and Red Sanders growers, who "continue to play a pivotal role in protecting this endemic and globally valued species," the ministry said in a statement.
Of the Rs 6.2 crore, Rs 17.8 lakh will go to farmers in Telangana and Rs 1.1 crore to farmers in Andhra Pradesh. The Tamil Nadu Forest Department will receive Rs 2.98 crore, the Ka...