The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has recently

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has recently categorized the Red Sanders (Red Sandalwood) into

deficient category
endangered category
near-threatened category
critically endangered category
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2022
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has recently categorized the Red Sanders (Red Sandalwood) as Endangered.
In March 2021, the IUCN Red List re-categorized Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus), a tree species endemic to parts of Andhra Pradesh, from ‘Near Threatened’ back to ‘Endangered’. This change was primarily due to the continued illegal harvesting and trade of the species.
Red Sanders is valued for its rich red colour and is used in furniture, carvings, and traditional medicine. Its illegal logging and smuggling pose a significant threat to its population.