Red Sanders

Red Sanders Latest News

Recently, forest officials said that the busy Tirupati pilgrimage route makes Red Sanders smuggling easy in south Andhra Pradesh.

About Red Sanders

• Red Sanders Pterocarpus santalinus, or Red Sandalwood, is an endemic tree species with distribution restricted to the Eastern Ghats of India.
• Required Climatic Conditions: It usually grows in rocky, degraded and fallow lands with Red Soil and a hot and dry climate.
• Characteristics of  Red Sanders
  • The species is also fire-hardy and resistant to droughts. 
  • Maturity: It takes 25-40 years to reach maturity being a slow-growing species.
  • The Red Sanders wood is a bit brittle when compared to other timber such as teak.
• Applications
  • ‘Santalin’ is a natural dye obtained from its heartwood and is used in pharmaceutical preparations, food articles, leather, and textile industries.
  • Wood can be used for the perfume industry, medicinal purposes.
• Threats: It has been under heavy threat due to its high commercial value, leading to rampant smuggling.

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Conservation Status of  Red Sanders

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

Source: DTE