Source: BS
Context: India has been removed from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Review of Significant Trade (RST) for Red Sanders.
What is CITES RST?
CITES RST (Review of Significant Trade) is a process where the CITES Standing Committee closely examines a country’s species exports to ensure compliance with CITES regulations.
- Noncompliance may result in disciplinary actions, including trade suspensions.
Why was India exempted from CITES RST?
India has been under RST for Red Sanders since 2004. It has now been exempted, allowing farmers in India to participate in the legitimate trade of Red Sanders. The exemption is attributed to the 2022 amendment to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, aligning with CITES provisions under the CITES National Legislation Programme (NLP).
- This has elevated India’s status from Category 2 to Category 1 by the CITES Standing Committee.
About Red Sanders
Red sanders, classified as endangered by the IUCN, CITES (Appendix II), and Wildlife Protection Act (Schedule IV), are native to a specific region within the Eastern Ghats and are known for their unique flora. It is referred to as ‘the pride of Eastern Ghats’. These trees have a slow growth rate, taking 25 to 40 years to mature, and they display remarkable resistance to droughts.
Red Sanders application:
The Red Sanders heartwood is valued for its wavy grain. Besides its use in furniture, the red dye (called ‘santalin’) extracted from the wood serves as a colouring agent for textiles, medicine, and food.
About CITES:
