The 77th meeting of the Standing Committee of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) has confirmed the placement of the CITES legislation of India in Category 1 of the National Legislation Project of CITES.
- India was under Review of Significant Trade (RST) process for Red Sanders since 2004.
- This action will help the farmers growing Red sanders to increase their income through cultivation and export of Red Sanders from the plantations.
- It would also help in motivating farmers to grow more red sanders trees as a source of sustainable income.
Review of Significant Trade (RST)
- The Red sanders species was listed for Review of Significant Trade (RST) process more or less since 2004. The CITES RST process enables disciplinary action in the form of trade suspensions directed at countries that do not meet their obligations.
- This is a process through which the CITES Standing Committee places increased scrutiny on the exports of a species from a country to determine if the Convention is being properly implemented.
- In the past, it has even led to a recommendation to suspend trade with India.
Red sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus)
- The Red sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) is a high market value tree, endemic to few districts in Andhra Pradesh.
- The species is listed as Appendix II under CITES since 1994.
- The species has been subjected to threats of illegal harvesting and smuggling leading to their depletion from natural forest.
- However, red sanders wood sourced from artificially propagation (plantations) comprise a major part of legal export.
CITES
- The 77th meeting of the Standing Committee of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) was held in Geneva (Switzerland) from 6th to 10th November 2023.
- India is a Party to the CITES since 1976.
- The CITES provides that every Party align its national legislation to accommodate CITES provisions.
- India was listed in Category 2 for CITES National Legislation programme.
- The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 was, therefore, amended in the year 2022, wherein the provisions of CITES was incorporated in the Act.
