Red Sanders IUCN Assessment

The Red Sanders (or Red Sandalwood) was recently reclassified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature () as ‘endangered’ on its Red List.

Highlights:

Pterocarpus santalinus is the scientific name for the Red Sanders species.

It is an endemic tree species to India, with a geographical range limited to the Eastern Ghats.

The species is only found in a small area of woodland in Andhra Pradesh.

In 2018, it was designated as a ‘near threatened’ species.

When a species was removed from the endangered list for the first time since 1997, it was a cause for celebration.

For the past three generations, the Red Sanders species has seen its Population drop by 50-80%.

As a result, it was once again placed in the Endangered category. Red Sanders are prized for their deep color and medicinal benefits.