red sanders for 30 September 2025

Red Sanders Latest News

Recently, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has sanctioned an amount of ₹82 lakh to the Andhra Pradesh Biodiversity Board for the conservation of the endemic plant species Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus). 

About Red Sanders

• It is native to the Southern Eastern Ghats and found particularly in the districts of Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa, and Kurnool of Andhra Pradesh.
• Required Climatic Conditions: It usually grows in rocky, degraded and fallow lands with Red Soil and a hot and dry climate.
• Threats: It has been under heavy threat due to its high commercial value, leading to rampant smuggling.
• Conservation Status:

• • IUCN: Endangered
  • CITES: Appendix II
  • The Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule IV

Key Facts about National Biodiversity Authority

• It is a statutory body established under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
• It was formally set up in 2003.
• To ensure effective implementation of the Act at different administrative levels, two additional entities were created alongside the NBA:
  • State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs): Functioning at the state level to regulate access to biological resources within their jurisdiction.
  • Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs): Established at the local village or panchayat level to promote grassroots-level biodiversity conservation and documentation.
• Headquarters: Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Composition of National Biodiversity Authority

• Chairperson: An eminent person with proven knowledge and experience in biodiversity conservation, sustainable use of biological resources, and equitable sharing of benefits.
• 10 Ex-officio Members: Senior representatives from the Government of India, nominated to provide policy insights and ensure inter-ministerial coordination.
• 5 Non-Official Members: Experts and professionals from diverse fields related to biodiversity management, nominated to contribute independent perspectives and specialized expertise.

Source: PIB