Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh has become the first state in the country to directly disburse Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) funds generated through Red Sanders trade to grassroots communities, as announced by Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board (APSBB) chairman Neelayapalem Vijay Kumar on Friday.
Speaking at the International Day for Biological Diversity celebrations held at Acharya Nagarjuna University, Vijay Kumar stated that the board collected an additional 5% benefit-sharing amount from international companies utilizing Red Sanders under biodiversity laws. These funds have been deposited directly into the accounts of local farmers and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs).
Community-Driven Conservation
Calling biodiversity conservation a community-driven effort, Vijay Kumar emphasized that solutions to global challenges such as climate change and environmental degradation must originate at the local level. He highlighted Andhra Pradesh's ecological wealth, noting that the state hosts diverse ecosystems including the Nallamala forests, an extensive coastline, Ramsar wetlands such as Kolleru and Pulicat, and indigenous breeds like Ongole cattle and Punganur cows.
Upcoming Biodiversity Initiatives
Vijay Kumar outlined several upcoming biodiversity initiatives, including a biodiversity park near Kadapa, proposed parks in Amaravati and Tirupati in coordination with the forest department, and the development of urban micro-forests on unused municipal lands. He also mentioned that biodiversity index studies for Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Tirupati have been completed, with reports to be released shortly.
The chairman described the recent Marine ABS workshop held in Vijayawada as a significant step towards marine conservation and supporting coastal fishing communities.
Biodiversity Management Committees
APSBB member secretary P Ramakrishna (IFS) reported that over 13,500 Biodiversity Management Committees have been formed across the state, and more than 12,000 People's Biodiversity Registers documenting traditional and local knowledge have been prepared. As part of the celebrations, the board presented 'Biodiversity Conservor' awards to ten individuals from across the state for their contributions to biodiversity conservation.
