Bhubaneswar: In a major boost to biodiversity conservation efforts, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released ₹29.40 lakh to the Odisha Forest Department under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism for the protection and conservation of Red Sanders ( Pterocarpus santalinus ).

The funds were generated as a benefit-sharing amount from the commercial utilization of Red Sanders wood logs that were sourced from the Parlakhemundi Forest Division in Gajapati District, Odisha. These trees, estimated to be over a century old, were originally planted by the then Maharaja of Parlakhemundi. The wood logs became available after the trees naturally fell during the 2018 cyclone, following which the Odisha Forest Development Corporation auctioned the material.

This disbursement m

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