Red Sanders (red sandalwood) has again been listed in the ‘Endangered’ category in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List. Earlier, IUCN categorized it as ‘Near Threatened’.
Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) is an Indian endemic tree species with a restricted geographical range in the Eastern Ghats.
It is known for its therapeutic properties and is in high demand for its cosmetic and medicinal properties.
In 2019, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, an agency of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry had revised its export policy to permit the export of red sander timber, if it is obtained from cultivated land.
