Red sanders smuggling in sheshachalam hills region
On 15th March , The Andhra Pradesh State Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (APSRSASTF) personnel apprehended Tamil Nadu based 14 woodcutters at a forest location between Panapakam and Ithepalle villages, the entry points to the Seshachalam hills.
Red sanders anti-smuggling task force seized 20 red sanders logs and a vehicle used by the smugglers near Mangalam locality abutting the Seshachalam forests near Tirupati .
Recently, Union minister of state for home affairs called upon the state government of Andhra Pradesh to step up efforts in protecting red sanders trees which are endemic to the Seshachalam biosphere by bringing down the smuggling activities to a complete naught in the region.
What is Red sanders :
It is non fragrant variety of sandalwood.
Red sanders tree (Pterocarpus santalinus) is endemic to Andhra Pradesh and found only in the forests adjoining famous Balaji Temple at Tirupati, India. Sheshachalam biosphere reserve and hill areas are the only place in the World where red sanders are grown . The tree is declared endangered and included in International Union for Conservation of Nature (I.U.C.N.) red list and its export is regulated under Appendix-II of Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and under Schedule-II of EXIM Policy of Government of India.
Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) is a highly valuable hard-wood species that is exclusively found in the Seshachalam Forests located in Andhra Pradesh State of India. Red Sanders Wood (RSW) referred to in China as Zitan is used for making exclusive and classical hardwood furniture. The State Government of Andhra Pradesh has monopoly and absolute rights over the management, possession and sale of Red Sanders Wood.
Export of Red sanders :
In view of huge stock of seized and confiscated red sanders wood with Government Agencies, C.I.T.E.S. have given a one time permission to export 11,806 MTs. of red sanders wood from India. Accordingly, Director General of Foreign Trade (D.G.F.T.), Government of India has issued notification amending the EXIM Policy and permitting Government of Andhra Pradesh to export 8584 MTs. of red sanders wood in log form. The major markets for the wood are China, Japan, the Middle East, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal.
Use of Red sanders :
The heartwood of Red Sanders Pterocarpus santalinus is in demand for use in furniture making, in the treatment of diabetes and to reduce inflammation. In India, the timber is also a source of red dye. There is an unsubstantiated belief that red sanders can absorb nuclear radiation. Its primary use, however, is decorative and ornamental. It also yields Santaline dye, which finds use in colouring foodstuff and pharmaceutical preparations and additionally, the extracts obtained from the tree bark and wood are known to have several medicinal properties. It is a good raw material for music instruments and luxury furniture, according to Indian Journal of Applied Research.
The main target for these smugglers are Andhra Pradesh, especially the hills of Seshachalam and Nalgonda forests. To cut these trees, agents source people from Tamil Nadu especially from districts like Tiruvannamalai and more from the tribal villages of Javadumalai (Javadu Hills).
India prohibits the export Red Sanders (also known as Red Sandalwood), except under special circumstances. The species is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which allows international commercial trade under strict regulations. They are found in the Tropical Dry Deciduous forest of the Palakonda and Seshachalam hill ranges of Andhra Pradesh.
