Funding, sourced from ABS mechanism, aims to raise one lakh red sanders saplings for distribution to farmers in Andhra Pradesh.

About ABS mechanism in India:

• Genesis: concept of ABS arises from the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 1992 and its Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing, 2010.
• Definition:  It regulates access to biological resources, while ensuring fair and equitable sharing of benefits with users and providers (e.g. local communities) of resources.
• Legal Framework: India enacted the Biological Diversity (BD) Act, 2002 in line with its commitment to CBD to conserve biological diversity, and ensure its sustainable use.
• Implementation:
  • India implements ABS through a three-tier system: 
    • National Biodiversity Authority (Headquartered in Chennai) at the central level,
    • State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) at the state level,
    • And Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the local level.
  • These statutory bodies manage access, benefit sharing, and distribution under BD Act.
• Example:
  • Kani Tribe (Kerala): Traditional knowledge about a medicinal plant (Arogyapacha) was used to develop a drug ‘Jeevani’.
  • Benefit-sharing agreement ensured royalty distribution to the Kani tribe.