Red Sanders tree, Pterocarpus Santalinus, is a dry land tree grows without irrigation, used as medicine species, & others, world wide demand, but mistakenly classified as endangered, misunderstood and curtailed.

1. My views on our
Red Sanders Tree
for Expert Committee
of BDA
Ganesan RP, a farmer
My views on our
Red Sanders Tree
for Expert Committee
of BDA
Ganesan RP, a farmer

2. Red Sanders Tree
(Pterocarpus santalinus)
• Native of India, grows only in India
• Valued similar to Sandal wood
• Medicinally, Scientifically, Ornamentally very
Important & Essential Tree
• Best tree to grow in increasing temp, Climate Change
in degraded dry lands (60% of India)
• Used in traditional Ayurvedic, Sidha medicines little
• Needs to be promoted more (NMDB does some)
• Native of India, grows only in India
• Valued similar to Sandal wood
• Medicinally, Scientifically, Ornamentally very
Important & Essential Tree
• Best tree to grow in increasing temp, Climate Change
in degraded dry lands (60% of India)
• Used in traditional Ayurvedic, Sidha medicines little
• Needs to be promoted more (NMDB does some)

3. Red Sanders, Growing
• Grows in
– Rocky, Degraded & Fallow lands with Red soil
– Hot & Dry Climate
• Without
– Irrigation & Fertilizer
• Not to be grown in fertile Soil
• Should not be Irrigated
– (If irrigated, will not have its special properties)
Hence, will not disturb food production security
• Grows in
– Rocky, Degraded & Fallow lands with Red soil
– Hot & Dry Climate
• Without
– Irrigation & Fertilizer
• Not to be grown in fertile Soil
• Should not be Irrigated
– (If irrigated, will not have its special properties)
Hence, will not disturb food production security

4. Red sanders, a Medicine, Benefits World
• High demand in China as Immunity medicine
• China / Japan uses in Atomic power plants, a Secret
• Japan uses for bride’s Musical instrument
• Europe / US uses as Food dye / spices
• China uses for Furniture – status symbol
• India uses little in Ayurvedic / Sidha medicine
• Used in Dye Sensitized Solar panels, better efficiency
• US makes Cancer & other medicines with this
• High demand in China as Immunity medicine
• China / Japan uses in Atomic power plants, a Secret
• Japan uses for bride’s Musical instrument
• Europe / US uses as Food dye / spices
• China uses for Furniture – status symbol
• India uses little in Ayurvedic / Sidha medicine
• Used in Dye Sensitized Solar panels, better efficiency
• US makes Cancer & other medicines with this

5. Dry land Farmer’s Export Item
• One of very few item for dry land farmer to export
• Frees him from
– Water scarcity, reduces going for 1000 ft bore-well
expenses (now, 1 bore-well / pa)
– Fertilizer expenses / loan
• Facilitates sheep grazing, an annual income
• Felling gets good amount, long term needs like
education, housing, marriage, medical etc
• Farmers also will become crore-pathi & respected
• One of very few item for dry land farmer to export
• Frees him from
– Water scarcity, reduces going for 1000 ft bore-well
expenses (now, 1 bore-well / pa)
– Fertilizer expenses / loan
• Facilitates sheep grazing, an annual income
• Felling gets good amount, long term needs like
education, housing, marriage, medical etc
• Farmers also will become crore-pathi & respected

6. Export, Commercial/ Comparison
Sugar Iron Ore Red Sanders
Rate, Rs / Kg 20 3 3000
Competition High, Over
produced
Medium Monopoly
Cost High High Very less
Subsidies High Nil Nil
Renewable Yes No Yes
Environmental
damage
Lot of inputs
Degrades Soil.
Very High Lot of Benefits
Water Use
Efficiency
Very Bad
2000 litres / kg
Medium Improves ground water /
Soil / Air Moisture
Risk High, Drought Medium Only changing laws
Lobby Sugar Industry Mining Industry ????

7. Red sanders, India’s tree - Status
• US has got 47 patents using Red sanders, Japan 14,
Korea 10, Australia, Canada …
– but India has got only 1 patent of it’s tree.
• Classified wrongly as Endangered species by IUCN,
• So, CITES added Appendix II and prohibits export it
from Wild Forest but allows 310 from private lands
• But, GOI /DGFT restricts private land wood also
• But due to international demand, smuggling has
increased – more black money & social disturbance
• US has got 47 patents using Red sanders, Japan 14,
Korea 10, Australia, Canada …
– but India has got only 1 patent of it’s tree.
• Classified wrongly as Endangered species by IUCN,
• So, CITES added Appendix II and prohibits export it
from Wild Forest but allows 310 from private lands
• But, GOI /DGFT restricts private land wood also
• But due to international demand, smuggling has
increased – more black money & social disturbance

8. A solution to India’s Dry lands,
60% in India
• Only some trees grow in dry, few viable, only
selected are essential and gets forex
• Sandal, Neem, Pungam also suits dry land
• Even if 15% of dry land grows this, revenue may
overtake polluting Knitting industry
• Dry lands will become profitable , avert suicide
• Will reduce temperature, increase air / soil humidity,
which will help other crops / human
• Will improve rain & rainwater percolation,
important as clean water is becoming an major issue
• Only some trees grow in dry, few viable, only
selected are essential and gets forex
• Sandal, Neem, Pungam also suits dry land
• Even if 15% of dry land grows this, revenue may
overtake polluting Knitting industry
• Dry lands will become profitable , avert suicide
• Will reduce temperature, increase air / soil humidity,
which will help other crops / human
• Will improve rain & rainwater percolation,
important as clean water is becoming an major issue

9. Red Sanders, a case study
• My land, in 2004, Rocky, Dry, Red Soil & Sloppy
• Mango failed & even Tamarind also failed

10. Red sanders, case study contd.
It has grown well in my rocky land
Without Irrigation & Fertilizer,
Sheep grazes weed & manures tree

11. Difficulties of
Red Sanders -Tree Growers
• Many in Tamil nadu, AP also in other states
• More than 10 lakh trees are grown in private lands
• Taking risk of long term gestation
• No proper guidance / financial support
• No proper policy, marketing setup, future price
• Govt itself in difficult to safeguard, imagine Farmers
• So, Farmers Life is in Danger by Smugglers
• Buyers / Dealers does not buy nowadays saying
policy restrictions
• Many in Tamil nadu, AP also in other states
• More than 10 lakh trees are grown in private lands
• Taking risk of long term gestation
• No proper guidance / financial support
• No proper policy, marketing setup, future price
• Govt itself in difficult to safeguard, imagine Farmers
• So, Farmers Life is in Danger by Smugglers
• Buyers / Dealers does not buy nowadays saying
policy restrictions

12. Policy Restriction, no clarity, so delays
• DGFT prohibits raw wood export, only value added
products, like dye, handicrafts- as CITES says
• WCCB (CITES MA) delays permission, as CITES
does not allow even for private lands, NDF lapse
• CITES says because it is Appendix II of Endangered
• IUCN classified as Endangered in a camp 1998
• IFGTB (CITES SA) did not include Red sanders
population of TN / Karnataka forest and private lands
in NDF report of 2011.
• Certificate of origin PCCF delayed, no clear policy
• Custom delays, even for value added products
• DGFT prohibits raw wood export, only value added
products, like dye, handicrafts- as CITES says
• WCCB (CITES MA) delays permission, as CITES
does not allow even for private lands, NDF lapse
• CITES says because it is Appendix II of Endangered
• IUCN classified as Endangered in a camp 1998
• IFGTB (CITES SA) did not include Red sanders
population of TN / Karnataka forest and private lands
in NDF report of 2011.
• Certificate of origin PCCF delayed, no clear policy
• Custom delays, even for value added products

13. Another case,
A Law made a tree extinct, Sandal
• Tipu Sultan started, said Royal tree, GOI continued as
property of Govt, including farmer’s land
• Farmers harassed, if found missing from their land
• So, they removed from their lands, still removing
• Supply is reduced, demand more, became valuable
• Became smugglers item, Verrappan was hero, special
task forces, political issues
• Finally, tree became Extinct, (including, from Hosur
DFO office)
Now, TN Govt spends 100 crores to promote, but
farmers are not coming forward for danger of life.
• Tipu Sultan started, said Royal tree, GOI continued as
property of Govt, including farmer’s land
• Farmers harassed, if found missing from their land
• So, they removed from their lands, still removing
• Supply is reduced, demand more, became valuable
• Became smugglers item, Verrappan was hero, special
task forces, political issues
• Finally, tree became Extinct, (including, from Hosur
DFO office)
Now, TN Govt spends 100 crores to promote, but
farmers are not coming forward for danger of life.

14. So,
Ambiguous law makes,
dry lands usage ineffective,
these essential plants are very high value,
becoming smuggling item
then extinct . . . .
in the end
We starve for
Cool Climate, Good Air and Water
Ambiguous law makes,
dry lands usage ineffective,
these essential plants are very high value,
becoming smuggling item
then extinct . . . .
in the end
We starve for
Cool Climate, Good Air and Water

15. CITES, Restricts - why / what
• CITES restricts, endangered species trade from Wild
Forest to save from extinction, objective of CITES
• CITES expansion is Convention on International
Trade of Endangered Species from Wild forest, very
clear from name itself, it is for wild.
• IUCN, International Union for Conservation of
Nature, classified it as Endangered in 1998, as per
feedback in medicinal plant camp in 1997
• CITES added it Appendix II, so, restrictions apply
• CITES restricts, endangered species trade from Wild
Forest to save from extinction, objective of CITES
• CITES expansion is Convention on International
Trade of Endangered Species from Wild forest, very
clear from name itself, it is for wild.
• IUCN, International Union for Conservation of
Nature, classified it as Endangered in 1998, as per
feedback in medicinal plant camp in 1997
• CITES added it Appendix II, so, restrictions apply

16. CITES, Allows – What / Why
• Allows / encourages from cultivated lands, to meet
the needs and reduce the damage to wild forest
• CITES Red Sanders export quota says “India will
authorize specimens of any type from 310 tons wood
per year from artificially (propagated) source “A”
• So, it has different policy for Wild (Restrictive) &
Cultivated /Propagated ( Allows ) with NDF report
But India did not differentiate, sad
Malaysia is doing well, lot of export quoto by
submitting NDF, refer CITES export quoto 2016
• Allows / encourages from cultivated lands, to meet
the needs and reduce the damage to wild forest
• CITES Red Sanders export quota says “India will
authorize specimens of any type from 310 tons wood
per year from artificially (propagated) source “A”
• So, it has different policy for Wild (Restrictive) &
Cultivated /Propagated ( Allows ) with NDF report
But India did not differentiate, sad
Malaysia is doing well, lot of export quoto by
submitting NDF, refer CITES export quoto 2016

17. Root cause of problem
• IUCN Classified as EN B1+2de ver 2.3 1998
• Based on feedback in a workshop in India,
without data, yet to submit
• EN B1+2de ver 2.3 1998 Means
– EN, Endangered & Ver 2.3, Version 2.3 in 1998
– B1+2de
• Extend of Occurrence < 5000 sq Km
• Area of Occupancy <500 sq Km
• No of location < 5 places
• IUCN Classified as EN B1+2de ver 2.3 1998
• Based on feedback in a workshop in India,
without data, yet to submit
• EN B1+2de ver 2.3 1998 Means
– EN, Endangered & Ver 2.3, Version 2.3 in 1998
– B1+2de
• Extend of Occurrence < 5000 sq Km
• Area of Occupancy <500 sq Km
• No of location < 5 places
Actual extend, area, locations are much more
A blatant lapse, not corrected for decades

18. IUCN Endangered, criteria ver 3.1, now
Code Criteria Condition Actual
1 / A2 Population Reduction > 50% Coppice, So no such chance
2 / B1 Extend of Occurrence <5000 sqkm More in AP itself
AOO Area of Occurrence < 500 sqkm More, RTI reply
NOL No of location < 5 More than 100
3 / C No of Mature species <2500 > 2 crore in Forest, > 10 lakhs
in Private of all states
Population reduction
In 5 years
20 % Coppice, no Chance
4 /D No of Mature species < 250 > 2 crores in Total
5 / E Probability of Extintion
in Wild
> 20% Coppice property, no chance

19. Another lapse for
Red sanders problem
• IFGTB ( CITES- SA) conduted a survey to submit a
NDF report to CITES in 2011
• Unfortunately, it did not include Red sanders
population in TN, Karnataka, Orissa, Gujarat etc
and Private lands.
• NDF report is elobarative, not objective.
• Need to be submit as per new format V1.0
• May not be required, if removed from Endangered
list by IUCN, CITES has to say
• IFGTB ( CITES- SA) conduted a survey to submit a
NDF report to CITES in 2011
• Unfortunately, it did not include Red sanders
population in TN, Karnataka, Orissa, Gujarat etc
and Private lands.
• NDF report is elobarative, not objective.
• Need to be submit as per new format V1.0
• May not be required, if removed from Endangered
list by IUCN, CITES has to say

20. NEEDS TO BE DONE
• MoEF / CITES –SA (IFGTB) / BDA has to
conduct population study in forest and private
lands of all the states
• Submit as per latest format 3.1 to IUCN for
delisting it from Endangered list,
• Submit NDF in latest format V1.0 to CITES
to get more quota
– Note : may be by default CITES also will remove
from Appendix II
• MoEF / CITES –SA (IFGTB) / BDA has to
conduct population study in forest and private
lands of all the states
• Submit as per latest format 3.1 to IUCN for
delisting it from Endangered list,
• Submit NDF in latest format V1.0 to CITES
to get more quota
– Note : may be by default CITES also will remove
from Appendix II

21. To Solve all these Hurdles
CREATE
Red Sanders Development Board
• Will facilitate in removing the hurdles in policy.
• Single window system for farmers, exporters,
• Understands IUCN / CITES, clearly and interacts
It will make
An endangered species populous
then dissolve, in 5 years max 10 years
Or
CREATE Endangered species Revival Board,
permanently
• Will facilitate in removing the hurdles in policy.
• Single window system for farmers, exporters,
• Understands IUCN / CITES, clearly and interacts
It will make
An endangered species populous
then dissolve, in 5 years max 10 years
Or
CREATE Endangered species Revival Board,
permanently

22. Finally
• Restructure CITES India
• CITES MA and SA shall be this Timber
development board (TDB)
• Note This idea is derived from CITES Malaysia
setup, Malaysia has timber development board,
which is CITES MA &SA for Timber.
• Proven, It Exports Timber, India Imports timber for
Rs 50000 yearly, not utilizing its resources.
• Another proof, Malaysia gets lot of export
quota for endangered species itself
• Restructure CITES India
• CITES MA and SA shall be this Timber
development board (TDB)
• Note This idea is derived from CITES Malaysia
setup, Malaysia has timber development board,
which is CITES MA &SA for Timber.
• Proven, It Exports Timber, India Imports timber for
Rs 50000 yearly, not utilizing its resources.
• Another proof, Malaysia gets lot of export
quota for endangered species itself

23. So, DGFT / CITES needs to do urgently
• DGFT / CITES has exempted AP for Red Sanders
raw wood export vide Notification No. 47 (RE-
2013) /2009-2014
• If so, Please remove such restrictions for farmers
also, proving CITES of private lands wood
• EXIM shall be, to improve the legal export, reduce
the price, reduce smuggling from wild forest
“Red sanders wood, cultivated (propagated as CITES
says) from farmer’s private dry land,
shall be exported in any form.”
• DGFT / CITES has exempted AP for Red Sanders
raw wood export vide Notification No. 47 (RE-
2013) /2009-2014
• If so, Please remove such restrictions for farmers
also, proving CITES of private lands wood
• EXIM shall be, to improve the legal export, reduce
the price, reduce smuggling from wild forest
“Red sanders wood, cultivated (propagated as CITES
says) from farmer’s private dry land,
shall be exported in any form.”

24. Certificate of Origin
• Certificate of origin, to ensure it is not from
forest / wild required by CITES.
• Now it is be provided by PCCF, generally
delayed, lack of clarity, shortage of man
power & priority of Forest Management.
• Change to Timber Development Board,
within a month of on-line application, based
on specified documents,
• Certificate of origin, to ensure it is not from
forest / wild required by CITES.
• Now it is be provided by PCCF, generally
delayed, lack of clarity, shortage of man
power & priority of Forest Management.
• Change to Timber Development Board,
within a month of on-line application, based
on specified documents,

25. Customs / Export
• Shall give all permission within a month for
private land wood export, treating it as
priority sector, considering danger involved
in stocking it
Note: MSTC / STC shall be made to do
e-auction for farmers also, as doing it for AP
govt.
• Shall give all permission within a month for
private land wood export, treating it as
priority sector, considering danger involved
in stocking it
Note: MSTC / STC shall be made to do
e-auction for farmers also, as doing it for AP
govt.

26. BDA role, to revive endangered species
• Organize for Red Sanders population study
• A division to deal with IUCN / CITES, with
qualified persons like Dr. Ajay Kumar Sexana
• Target, revival of 5 species / year from endangered
status or improvement
• 5% income from export shall be used for reviving
the respective species, with a time frame.
• Identify exotic species in biodiversity hotspots and
plan to change to native species
• Create a database native species, its propagation
requirements, uses, industries, population statics etc
• Organize for Red Sanders population study
• A division to deal with IUCN / CITES, with
qualified persons like Dr. Ajay Kumar Sexana
• Target, revival of 5 species / year from endangered
status or improvement
• 5% income from export shall be used for reviving
the respective species, with a time frame.
• Identify exotic species in biodiversity hotspots and
plan to change to native species
• Create a database native species, its propagation
requirements, uses, industries, population statics etc

27. General points
Included since, this is presentation sent
to Expert Members, who are from
many states and rank.
Included since, this is presentation sent
to Expert Members, who are from
many states and rank.

28. Reform, Perform & Transform - PM
• Why Scheduled Timber list
• Has it served it purpose or worsened
• India’s Sandal, Rosewood, Red sanders .. Now ???
• So, there shall be
– Forest species / timber ( Needs to be protected)
– Private land timbers (Needs to be facilitated to
sell, process and meet the demand)
• Why Scheduled Timber list
• Has it served it purpose or worsened
• India’s Sandal, Rosewood, Red sanders .. Now ???
• So, there shall be
– Forest species / timber ( Needs to be protected)
– Private land timbers (Needs to be facilitated to
sell, process and meet the demand)
70 years of Independence
Should not just following Colonial laws
We need to create policies for our country

29. Reform Policies, for Tree growing
Objective
– Achieve 33 % Tree cover
– Meet 3 Billion MT carbon sink
– Meet India’s Timber need, at least in another
10 years
– Reduce Water usage for agri by tree crops
– Increase farmers Income
– Reduce Timber Import, now Rs 50000 crore
– Make India green
– Better environment for Healthy life
Objective
– Achieve 33 % Tree cover
– Meet 3 Billion MT carbon sink
– Meet India’s Timber need, at least in another
10 years
– Reduce Water usage for agri by tree crops
– Increase farmers Income
– Reduce Timber Import, now Rs 50000 crore
– Make India green
– Better environment for Healthy life

30. Reform Policies
• Create a “Timber Development Board”
• An Act / Policy, “Farmers can Grow any tree,
Cut Anytime, Sell / Export legally, whenever
they wish”.
• Permissions thro single window system. Farmers
ignorant / difficult to runaround (single , can’t
avoid daily routines, far-off)
• Simplify procedures to get cutting permission
within 1 month of online application, with latest
technologies like GPS detailed photo proofs, etc.
• Create a “Timber Development Board”
• An Act / Policy, “Farmers can Grow any tree,
Cut Anytime, Sell / Export legally, whenever
they wish”.
• Permissions thro single window system. Farmers
ignorant / difficult to runaround (single , can’t
avoid daily routines, far-off)
• Simplify procedures to get cutting permission
within 1 month of online application, with latest
technologies like GPS detailed photo proofs, etc.

31. Reform Policies contd..
• Water use Efficiency (WUE), Water use Yield
(WUY) and Water use income (WUI), shall be done
for all the trees / crops.
– Ref: Autralia’s Irrigation Insights :5, National program
on Sustainable Irrigation, too good
• Environmental Impact Assesment (EIA) like water
depletion, soil degradation, air pollution, pesticide
contamination etc for different crops shall be
conducted, to understand better and plan for future.
• Convert parts of lands from over-producing crop’s
area like Coconut to Teak, Sugar cane to Mango etc
• Water use Efficiency (WUE), Water use Yield
(WUY) and Water use income (WUI), shall be done
for all the trees / crops.
– Ref: Autralia’s Irrigation Insights :5, National program
on Sustainable Irrigation, too good
• Environmental Impact Assesment (EIA) like water
depletion, soil degradation, air pollution, pesticide
contamination etc for different crops shall be
conducted, to understand better and plan for future.
• Convert parts of lands from over-producing crop’s
area like Coconut to Teak, Sugar cane to Mango etc

32. Reform Policies contd..
• Private certification, as done in other countries, like
passport issue with private entity.
• More Research shall be done & transferred to
industries / farmers for Value addition, Medicines
& Export
• Timber Demand , Tree Species, Location mapping
needs to be done and future demand
• Increase import duty on wood, in Indiawood2016
exhibition many tree growers from other country,
none from India
• Private certification, as done in other countries, like
passport issue with private entity.
• More Research shall be done & transferred to
industries / farmers for Value addition, Medicines
& Export
• Timber Demand , Tree Species, Location mapping
needs to be done and future demand
• Increase import duty on wood, in Indiawood2016
exhibition many tree growers from other country,
none from India

33. Reform Policies with Digital India
contd..
• Update policies / rules in website, digital India,
which will make transparent
• Online data base of trees, to choose based on soil,
water, temp and market potential with cultivation /
management techniques.
• Incentive of Rs 2000 / acre / year for long term
timbers, directly to farmers bank ac
Actually, it is only for their
environmental service, not incentive
• Update policies / rules in website, digital India,
which will make transparent
• Online data base of trees, to choose based on soil,
water, temp and market potential with cultivation /
management techniques.
• Incentive of Rs 2000 / acre / year for long term
timbers, directly to farmers bank ac
Actually, it is only for their
environmental service, not incentive

34. Be Strict with Forest policy for Forest
• Don’t allow any to cut, any tree from wild forest, to
improve the green cover.
• Only provide seeds from mature forest trees
• Convert Eucalyptus & etc forest lands to promote
endangered species & other Indian species with
bio-diversity , as forest policy envisages
• Let paper industries source their wood from
converting rice / sugar / coconut areas
• If aged trees are cut from planted forest,
compensate 5 times , 5 years before cutting.
• Don’t allow any to cut, any tree from wild forest, to
improve the green cover.
• Only provide seeds from mature forest trees
• Convert Eucalyptus & etc forest lands to promote
endangered species & other Indian species with
bio-diversity , as forest policy envisages
• Let paper industries source their wood from
converting rice / sugar / coconut areas
• If aged trees are cut from planted forest,
compensate 5 times , 5 years before cutting.

35. Bibliography
• IFGTB’s 2011 NDF Report
• IUCN Summary Sheet - five criteria (A-E) used to evaluate,
If a taxon belongs in an IUCN red list Threatened category
(critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable)
• http://www.cites.org/common/com/pc/17/X-PC17-Inf-
10.pdf
• http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/Chap-8-
new.pdf
• http://iwst.icfre.gov.in/database/Redsanders/index.htm
• http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/9403/1/N
PR%203(2)%2083-84.pdf
• IFGTB’s 2011 NDF Report
• IUCN Summary Sheet - five criteria (A-E) used to evaluate,
If a taxon belongs in an IUCN red list Threatened category
(critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable)
• http://www.cites.org/common/com/pc/17/X-PC17-Inf-
10.pdf
• http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/Chap-8-
new.pdf
• http://iwst.icfre.gov.in/database/Redsanders/index.htm
• http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/9403/1/N
PR%203(2)%2083-84.pdf

36. Thanking BDA
for Reviving an Endangered species
Hope EC will resolve issues once for all
Ganesan RP
Brahmavanam
H – 96, New ASTC Hudco
Hosur 635109
Tamilnadu, India
ganesanrp@gmail.com
Ganesan RP
Brahmavanam
H – 96, New ASTC Hudco
Hosur 635109
Tamilnadu, India
ganesanrp@gmail.com
Our Trees greens & cleans India