The CITES trade database has recorded 28 incidents of Red Sanders confiscation, seizure, and specimen from the wild being exported from India, says “RED SANDERS: Factsheet on India’s Red Sanders in illegal wildlife trade” prepared by TRAFFIC.
- TRAFFIC is a global wildlife trade monitoring organisation.
- According to the factsheet, China remains the largest importer with more than 13,618 tonnes of the products, followed by Hong Kong (5,215 tonnes) and Singapore (216 tonnes).
About Red Sanders
- Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus), or red sandalwood, is an endemic tree species with distribution restricted to the Eastern Ghats of India.
- The species is found in Andhra Pradesh and grows up to a height of 10 to 15 metres.
- Red Sanders is a very slow-growing tree species that attains maturity in natural forests after 25-40 years.
- Under the foreign trade policy of India, the import of Red Sanders is prohibited, while export is restricted.
- Its heartwood is in demand in both domestic and international markets and is used to make furniture and handicrafts, while the red dye obtained from the wood is used as a colouring agent in textiles and medicines.
Threats
- It is reported to be one of India’s most exploited tree species, and is under severe pressure from illegal logging and harvesting.
- Red Sanders is under severe pressure from illegal logging and harvesting.
- Rampant illegal logging has been reported across its range State.
- It listed under Schedule IV of The Wildlife Protection Act and Endangered as per IUCN Red List.
Suggestions
- The publication called declaring the Red Sanders harbouring forests within the species’ geographical range as ‘High Conservation Areas’, to provide an adequate legal framework for protecting the species and its habitat.
- Enforcement agencies must coordinate efforts to curb the Red Sanders trafficking by sharing information on hotspots and transit routes and real-time intelligence related to the Red Sanders smuggling.
(Source: The Hindu)
