Red Sanders tree, Pterocarpus Santalinus, is a dry land tree. It grows in degraded land of hot climate and withstands erratic rain fall. It was classified as an Endangered species in 1998, without an objective study. Sadly it was not assessed for 20 years. Good that now IUCN, Global Tree Campaign is assessing it. Hence I have represented to them the facts and proofs, as a farmer, to remove it from endangered list. Sadly, there is no interaction between BSI (Botanical Survey of India ) and IUCN. No-one is part of assessment team. They may not even know that it is being assessed by IUCN. Hope their assessment will remove it from Endangered list, which will be a starting point for removal of hurdles for growing it. I understand that they will be publishing it by 28th June 2018.

1. Red Sanders Tree
(Pterocarpus Santalinus)
Not at all an EndangErEd SpEciES
But, Classified as Endangered by Oversight
May become Extinct
If not properly assessed / Reclassified

2. Thank IUCN / Global Tree Campaign
for taking Red Sanders Tree for assessment
• Red Sanders tree is one of the best option for dry land
farmers of south India, who hold small areas.
• Many farmers are interested to grow – water scarcity
• But classification of this as an Endangered Species
created lot of hurdles.
• Actually it is not an Endangered species as per IUCN
criteria Ver 3.1 2001
• In the Root cause analysis, we understood the lapses,
as explained here
So, Request IUCN look into the facts before publishing

3. IUCN - Red Sanders Tree (RDS) in the Past
• IUCN classified RDS as EN B1+2de ver. 2.3 1998
• EN, Endangered
• B1, Extend of Occurrence < 5000 sq Km
• B2, Area of Occupancy <500 sq Km
• de, No of location < 5 places
– Ver. 2.3, version 2.3, 1998, year of classification
• There was no objective assessment, classified based
on oral / subjective feedback in a meet.
• There was lack of clarity among Indian participants
as the concept was new to them

4. IUCN – Red Sanders in Past contd..
• But, there was lack of objective understanding
• The fact is, still there is no clarity in India
• There is no comprehensive survey till now
• For CITES NDF 2011 study also, comprehensive
population survey was not conducted
Red Sanders tree not endangered. There would
had been 25 million in number, more than 100
locations, area of extend and area of occurrence
were also more.
None of the condition would have classified
Red Sander Tree as Endangered.

5. Some basic Misconception
in understanding IUCN & it’s Criteria
• Endangered is confused with Endemic
• Endemic is one of the criteria of Endangered
• IUCN clearly specifies with objective method
for Endemic (Area of Occurrence & Extent)
• IUCN clearly specifies all other criteria for
Endangered with clear Illustration, in Ver.3.1
IUCN and Botanical Survey of India Kolkatta
/ IFGTB Coimbatore needs more Interaction

6. IUCN criteria Ver.3.1, 2001 (current)
S.No Code Criteria Condition RDS, Actual / Facts
1 A2 Population Reduction > 50% RDS Coppice, So no such
chance
2 B1 Extend of Occurrence <5000 sq km More in AP / TN itself
AOO Area of Occurrence < 500 sq km Much More, RTI reply
NOL No of location < 5 More than 100 locations
3 C No of Mature species <2500 >20 Million in Forest, > 10
million in farm lands
Population reduction
In 5 years
20 % Grows again (Coppice)
So, no Chance
4 D No of Mature species < 250 > 30 Million in Total
5 E Probability of
Extinction in Wild
> 20% Coppice property, no chance

7. Proof for Population
• For Forest Population, Refer IWST (Institute of
Wood Science & Technology, Bangalore)
http://iwst.icfre.gov.in/database/Redsanders/treeimpr
ovement/plantation.htm
• Total area of Red Sanders = around 220000 ha
• Spacing is 10 ft in general, comes to 1000 /ha,
considering mortality, take it as 500 / ha
• So total population would be around 22 million

8. Red Sanders Population in farmland
• No body knows exactly
• From the nursery level survey, every year
around half a million saplings are sold
• From tree growers meet, it was estimated
that there would be around 10 million
Enough is there in cultivation to meet the need.
Farmers are ready to plant more, to meet any demand,
including for furniture uses .
Need of the hour
Removal of hurdles from IUCN / CITES / GOI

9. CIRCA –SITUM
A conservation method
• A proven method of conservation of species by
growing it in farmers field to meet the need /
demand
• If the demand is not met from legal source, then
illegal activity will endanger it
• There is rare proof, where demand is not met
legally and trade ban saved a species.
Conservation of Endangered animal may be difficult,
needs suitable habitat but not this kind of dry land Tree.
Note: 60% arable lands of India are dry

10. Red Sanders, a case study, farmers field
Soil
Gravel, Fallow
Dry and Red
Sloppy
20-45 deg C
750 mm Rain
30-60 % humidity
Mango &
Tamarind failed
RS Grew well

11. Red sanders, case study contd.
In 12 Years
It has grown well
in the rocky land
High WUE
Water Use Efficiency
No irrigation
Only Rain
No chemical Fertilizer
No chemical PesticideInspired by many

12. Red Sanders is best for
Silvopastoral Model
• RDS + Sheep
• Sheep doesn’t eat
RDS from 1st year
• Improves soil
• Trees grow well
• Fire risk reduced
• Annual income for
protection exp
See Photo:
In-situ RWH

13. Symbiotic with many other native
species, including wild animals
• Grows with
– Albizia Lebbek
– Neem / Sandal
– Shrubs / Grass
• Grass for 10 years
– IF 6x6 spacing
• Grass for 15 years
– If 8x8 spacing
• Also, birds, animals

14. EIA of Red Sanders Tree
• No ground water use
• WUE is high
• No pesticide / Fert.
• Soil improves
• 1000 T CO2 Sink/ acre
• Improves habitats
• Income
– Rs 2 crores/acre/25 yrs
Degraded Dry Land
Zero damage

15. Red Sanders is a Good Habitat
• Not like Eucalyptus
• Now RS farm has
Termites / Bees
Peacock / Fowl
Wolf / Iguana
Rabbit / Snakes
Python visited once
and Sheep grazes
Tamarind (Photo) did not give much fruit due to dry land,
Drought resistant, but no fruit !! Forest dept gave it in 1980

16. Climate Adaption
Red Sanders / Teak are alternative to Coconut
Today’s condition
Ground water below1000ft
Dry soil
Normal rain - not enough
Erratic rain
Coconut dries
RS an alternative for gravel
soil / no water
Teak / Mango for
fertile soil / little water
Sad, Indian dry land farmers are growing coconut and
struggle, as there are hurdles for timber tree growing

17. So,
Wrong Classification makes,
Hurdles for easily growable, dry land species
dry lands usage unviable, desertification,
these essential plants become high value,
becoming smuggling items
then finally extinct . . . .
in the end
We starve for
Cool Climate, Good Air and Water
cry and say “Climate Changing”

18. Red Sanders will not become Endangered
Because, Grows after cut (Coppice)
• RDS regenerates after cutting
• Actually maturity of
regenerated tree is faster
• It is confirmed by Sub
Committee report by IFGTB
– Refer Photo cards of
subcommittee report
– Fig 3, Field Memories
– Very good natural
regeneration Ammoor

19. Red Sanders will not become Endangered
Because, Withstood the worst drought
that occurred after 146 years, 2017
April 2017 15 days after Rain
Mango, Eucalyptus died
RDS, Neem, Sandal, A. Lebbek survived

20. Believe me - Survived Fire !!!
Little damages, some sprouted new
Some stem damaged, but growing
Fire, 2014 Now, in 2015

21. Red Sanders - Other factors
• No major diseases or pest attacks reported.
• We have not seen any in 20 years of our cultivation,
as monocrop (25 hectares) also.
• Millions of ha is barren and dry in south India, which
is suitable for Red Sanders
• More is becoming dry due to depletion of ground
water, which has touched 1000 ft below the ground
Many areas are becoming desert like in condition
(No grass for 6 months)
Many farmers eagerly waiting for removal of
hurdles, as I update in slideshare

22. Red sanders will not become
EndangErEd
Unless our Policy does it !!!
Else, It may Exist even after Mankind
It needs comprehensive assessment,
understanding the objectives and criteria of
IUCN clearly.
Objective is to SAVE all Species.
Not to make it extinct with wrong
Assessments.

23. Hard Truth
• Nobody assessed it last 20 years, in spite of the
fact that it was classified without an assessment
• IFGTB did NDF study in 2011 for CiTES
• But, they considered Red sanders population
of AP Forest only, not TN etc & Farm lands
• Their 7th recommendation is to include all &
harvestable stock in future.
• Now, BSI (Botanical Survey of India, Kolkatta)
is planning to conduct NDF study.
• Need IUCN & BSI Interaction

24. Honourable Supreme Court of India
• Honourable Supreme court of India gave a
Judgment in 2013, vide IA no 100 of WP Civil
337 of 1995 with IA no 3452 of WP Civil 202
of 1995
“Ministry of Environment and Forest with
IUCN should conduct periodic reviews of flora
and fauna species status and correlate the same ”
Need to Plan for Revival, Not Conservation alone

25. An Endangered Species
Reclassified as Vulnerable
In 2017,
Snow Leopard (Panthera Uncia)
was reclassified as Vulnerable C1 Ver 3.1
from Endangered , as they found more
than 2500 nos as per 2016-11-08
assessment

26. • As the Population is more than 20 million in
forest (10 million in farm lands), coppice
nature, no major pest attack or disease
reported, spread across south India in more
than 220000 ha, farmers are ready to grow,
there is no major threat for population
reduction (except by policy hurdles due to
lapses in classification and procedures}
Requesting IUCN to remove
Red Sanders Tree from Endangered Species List
It may not be even VULNERABLE (VU)

27. Red Sanders Tree in General
(Pterocarpus santalinus)
• Endemic to India
• Medicinally, Scientifically, Ornamentally very
Important & Essential Tree
• Valued very similarly as Sandal wood.
• Best tree to grow in dry degraded land, which is
increasing in India due to temp. rise & low soil
moisture.
• IUCN classified as Endangered species, EN B1+2de
ver 2.3 in 1998, in a camp, without objective survey
• CITES- added in Appendix II

28. Red sanders, benefits the World
• Europe / US uses it as Food dye / spices.
• As Immunity medicine in China
• China / Japan uses it in Atomic power plants
• Japan uses it for bride’s Musical instrument,
Shamisen.
• China uses it for Furniture – a status symbol.
• India uses it in Ayurvedic medicine.
• Used in Dye Sensitized Solar panels, efficient than
photovoltaic cell (conventional solar panel).
• US makes medicine for Cancer & other diseases

29. Red Sanders, Growing
• Grows in
– Degraded, Gravel Red soil and
– In Hot & Dry Climate
• Without
– Irrigation & Fertilizer
• Not to be grown in fertile Soil
• Should not be Irrigated, after 4th year
– (If irrigated, will not have its special properties)
Hence, will not disturb food production security

30. A solution to Climate Change
• India has got more dry lands
• Only some trees grow in it, a few economically
viable, only selected are essential for the world.
• Will reduce temperature, increase air / soil humidity,
which will help other crops / human / animal.
• Will improve rain & rainwater percolation. Most
important as Fresh water is becoming Scarce.
• Forest area can not be increased, we need to use only
dry farm lands to improve the Tree cover
Will be major contributor Tree Cover / Climate Change

31. A survival for Indian dry land farmer
• One of very few viable trees for dry land farmer.
• Unviable small holding of dry lands will become
profitable by growing this tree, less urbanization
• Will avert farmers suicide.
• Facilitates sheep grazing, an annual income.
• Felling gets a good amount. Meets long term needs
like education, housing, marriage, medical etc.
• Farmers also will become rich & respected.
Traditional / organic Farming will continue to exist

32. Red Sanders, a case study
• My land then in 2005 - Rocky, Dry & Sloppy with
Red soil
• Even Mango & Tamarind tress failed to sustain.

33. Red sanders, case study contd.
It has grown well in my rocky land
Without any irrigation. Fertilizer production:
sheep grazing and its poo.

34. Difficulties of Red Sanders Tree growers
• Many farmers are growing in Tamilnadu, Andra
Pradesh, Telangana in India, also few in other states.
• Taking a risk of long term gestation.
• Without much guidance / financial support.
• Buyers / dealers say policy restrictions.
• Policy restriction increases smuggling & prices.
• Farmers neither could run around for permission to
harvest nor protect himself, being a small land
holding( 1- 10 acres).
So, farmer’s life is in danger from smugglers

35. Difficulties of Red Sanders -Tree Growers
• DGFT prohibits wood export, even from propagated
source, being classified as Endangered
• Certificate of Origin is confused with Genetic
Identification (GI)
• Hope Certificate of origin is to know the place of
felling (Forest or Farm land)
• Latest proofs like Geo tagged photo yet to be accepted
• Customs departments denial, even for value added
products.
So, dealers say they do not deal with it now a days

36. Red Sanders Tree - Status
• US has got 47 patents using Red sanders, Japan 14,
Korea 10, Australia, Canada …
• Due to endangered status CITES added it inn
appendices II, hence export is prohibited by DGFT .
• So, smuggling has increased –hence more black
marketing, unwanted activity & social disturbance
• Became highly difficult to protect this tree in
forests.
• Lots of policy hurdles, more than 25 killed and
5000 arrested.
So, Nowadays, Forest dept. also do not plant it

37. Red sanders tree - status, contd..,
• Export data shows 5000 MT p.a. till 1990s.
• Nil., after CITES added it in Appendices II.
• CITES export quota of 310 MT from propagated
source also is not utilized due to cumbersome
procedures and permissions.
• International demands met purely by smuggling.
So, Classification as Endangered discouraged
plantation, facilitates smuggling and leads to
extinction
Right Assessment and Guidelines are important

38. Another Case study
Sandal Tree, Santalum Album
• Long time back Indian govt. said, Sandal is property of
Govt. wherever it was found, including farmer’s land
• Farmers harassed, if found missing from their land
• So, they removed naturally sprouted trees from their
lands, still removing , another dry land species
• Supply is reduced, demand more, became valuable
• Became smugglers item, there was big smuggler-hero,
special police forces & Inter state political issues
• Theft from Forest Office also, now CR, almost extinct
Sandal tree can make world smell Good

39. Sad, one more dry land tree
may be added to Appendix II from Appendix III
in CoP17, Johannesburg
African Rosewood
(Pterocarpus Erinaceus)

40. Needs International Understanding
• Some words have different meaning or definition in
other countries, creates problem in understanding
as per law.
• UNEP – Ensure No harassment for tree growing
• FAO – In the process of defining “Forest”, Need
to define “Treeculture”, Compensatory Forest ,
Conservation Forest, Urban Forest, Lake Forest

41. UNEP
• Main objective is to improve environment.
• Good public transportation, organic foods,
sustainable buildings, solar energy will reduce
environmental damages.
• Trees are the core to increase water-cycle,
ground water & soil moisture, quality of air,
carbon sequestration & to improve soil, habitat
for animal etc.
But Tree growers are harassed
Right Policy / Guidelines are essential than Funds

42. UNEP
• UNEP shall co-ordinate to avoid over production
of water consuming Sugar, Coconut, Rice etc
• Shall promote restoration of deserted lands with
suitable trees / shrubs.
• Environmental damaging steel / metal / plastics
shall be green taxed, no tax for wood products.
• Easy trade of Farm land woods & wooden
products shall be facilitated.
• Biodiversity authorities shall be given
responsibility of revival of endangered species.

43. UNEP shall insist Countries to have
Farm Land Tree Development Ministry
• Will facilitate in removing the hurdles in policy.
• Will make use of most of barren / deserted lands.
• Will facilitate research to suit local need / condition.
• Helps Farmers to get long term income.
• Helps to Green 33% which cleans the Globe.
• Helps to meet carbon sink targets.
• An economic activity, aligned with nature.
• No pollution but improves environment.
Now Steel / Plastic industries are more facilitated

44. IUCN
• Objective to save all the naturally evolved species.
• Along with assessment, It shall workout
REVIVAL PLAN, not conservation alone
• In every five years there shall be One Level UP
(EX – EW- CR – EN- VU-NT- LC)
• Separate revival plan for animal & plants..
• Ensure potential, high demand tree is not
hampered for cultivation in any manner
Dry land trees Revival is easiest,
as more lands are becoming dry due to climate change

45. CITES
• Clearly differentiate Forest species and Farmland
(Propagated species)
• Facilitating procedures for propagated (cultivated)
source to meet the needs & demands.
• Be strict on Forest source, even for confiscated.
Govts discourage farmers wood to get money from
confiscated wood export.
• Dissemination of e-toolkit / online approval for
hassle free, monitoring and analysis
• Special incentives for dry land endangered species
Allow trade only after revival of one step or more
( ex CR to EN / EN to VU )

46. Need Clear Definition & Distinguishing
• Define “Forest” . Public land, Wilderness, with
natural habitats.
• Define “Conservation Forest” Public land, Planted
Trees with Threatened species.
• Define “Treeculture”. Private lands, Meant to
meet the demand, facilitated, shall be under
Agriculture Depts.
• Define “Forest of Importance” Public land, shall
be declared as “No-Go” area, to maintain natural
wilderness, to avoid any kind of disturbance.

47. Need to study
• Water use efficiency (WUE), water use Yield (WUY)
and water use income (WUI), studied for all the trees
/ crops for every region.
– Ref: Australia’s Irrigation Insights :5, National program
on Sustainable Irrigation, too good
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) like water
depletion, soil degradation, air pollution, pesticide
contamination , animal population etc. for different
crops shall be conducted for better usage.

48. Protect Forest / Endangered species
• Declare many “No-Go” areas, to avoid any
kind disturbance for wild species
• Reduce plantation / monocrop in forest
• Create more Urban Forest, grow using
urban waste water
• Compensate 3 times of deforested area with
endemic / endangered species
• Forest no-more for Production, only for
Conservation (India Forest Policy 1988)

49. But, Facilitate Treeculture
• Distinguish Farmland trees (Treeculture) and
Forest in all respects.
• Suggest separate Policies & Procedures for it.
• Make it simple, “Farmers can Grow any
tree, Cut Anytime, Sell / Export legally,
whenever they wish”.
• Permissions thru single window system,
Farmers are ignorant or unable to run around
as they are located remotely.

50. Facilitating Treeculture
• Certificate of Origin, shall be provided by private
organization like FSC and GPS photos.
• Impose Green tax on Metal, to facilitate more use of
Ecofriendly wood , which sinks carbon.
• Suggest, Incentives for their environmental service for
tree growing either by Govt. or Intl. orgs.
• More Research & Products development shall be
done & transferred to industries / farmers for Value
addition, Medicines & Export

51. A Revival Plan for Endangered Tree Species
• Compensatory Forest shall have endangered species
• Convert Exotic species in public / govt. lands to
endemic & endangered species.
• Incentive for threatened species growers
• Honor them on Biodiversity day in local level, one
from a country - internationally.
– Today 22nd May 2018, we added 5 species in our park
If a country has > 33% green cover
Allow them to fell aged endangered trees from planted
forest, with a condition to compensate 5 times and 5
years before export.

52. So, IUCN’s, Reclassification of
Red Sanders Tree as Least Concern
• Will be a starting point for removal of hurdles
• I will be able to inspire my fellow farmers to grow
Red sanders in degraded dry lands, which is
abundant in Tamil nadu first, then southern states
of India
It is easy to inspire Indian Farmers, once economic
returns are proved without policy hurdles
Revive Threatened Species
Not Conservation alone

53. We can make Red Sanders Populous
• Will achieve plantation of Red sanders in
10,000 hectares in 5-7 years.
• May be 20000 hectares in 10 years.
• Which will have >10 million added to it.
• Will make more products out of it.
• Then, It will not be a smuggler’s item.
Wild Population Undisturbed
Let us set an example by making
An Endangered species a populous one

54. Myself, Ganesan RP
An engineer turned tree-farmer, growing more than
25000 of this Red Sanders tree in dry degraded lands,
without water & fertilizer, in dry zone 20-45 deg C,
750 mm rainfall, with sheep and natural habitats,
simulating nature .
Now it is worth 2 million USD
Some farmers started following me
but many awaiting for clear Policy
Also refer my blog, World congress on Agro-forestry
http://wca2014.org/healthy-wealth-from-degraded-dry-
lands-with-trees/#.V7azfPl97IU

55. Ganesan RP
Brahmavanam
H 96, New ASTC Hudco,
Hosur – 635109 ganesanrp@gmail.com
Tamilnadu, India +91 9443415023
Prosper Harmoniously with Nature
Thanking you

56. Bibliography
I do not want to reproduce from other sources,
whatever I said is ground reality. Just for
confirmation I added some sources
• http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/Chap-8-
new.pdf
• http://www.cites.org/common/com/pc/17/X-PC17-Inf-
10.pdf
• http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/9403/1/N
PR%203(2)%2083-84.pdf