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Q53 (IAS/2016) Environment & Ecology › Biodiversity & Protected Areas › Forest and vegetation Official Key

With reference to 'Red Sanders', sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements : 1. It is a tree species found in a part of South India. 2. It is one of the most important trees in the tropical rain forest arcas of South India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The correct answer is option A (1 only).

Pterocarpus santalinus is an Indian endemic tree species, commonly known as Red Sandalwood or Red Sanders.[1] Studies have documented Red Sanders in protected habitats in Andhra Pradesh, India[3], confirming that statement 1 is correct - it is indeed a tree species found in a part of South India.

However, statement 2 is incorrect. Red Sanders is not primarily associated with tropical rainforest areas. The species is found in dry deciduous forest regions of South India, particularly in Andhra Pradesh. The term "tropical rainforest" refers to evergreen forests with high rainfall, which is not the typical habitat for Red Sanders. While Red Sanders is reported to be one of India's most exploited tree species and is under severe pressure from illegal logging and harvesting[4], this exploitation relates to its commercial value rather than its ecological importance in tropical rainforests specifically.

Therefore, only statement 1 is correct, making option A the right answer.

Sources
  1. [1] https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/pdf/187622484
  2. [2] https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/pdf/187622484
  3. [3] https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/pdf/187622484
  4. [4] https://www.downtoearth.org.in/wildlife-biodiversity/about-20-000-tonnes-of-red-sanders-were-smuggled-from-india-between-2016-and-2020-report-87458
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PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. With reference to 'Red Sanders', sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements : 1. It is a tree species found in a part …
At a glance
Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 10/10
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This is a classic 'Biome Swap' trap. The question validates if you know the specific ecological niche (Dry Deciduous) rather than just the broad region (South India). When a species hits the headlines (smuggling), map it instantly to its rainfall zone and forest type, not just its state.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Is Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) a tree species native to or found in parts of South India?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Pterocarpus santalinus is an Indian endemic tree species, commonly known as Red Sandalwood or Red Sanders."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly identifies Pterocarpus santalinus as an Indian endemic tree species.
  • States its restricted geographic range in the Eastern Ghats, in the state of Andhra Pradesh (South India).
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"A study on the density, population structure and regeneration of Red Sanders Pterocarpus santalinus (Fabales: Fabaceae) in a protected natural habitat -Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlfe Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India."
Why this source?
  • Documents field research on Red Sanders specifically in Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India.
  • Provides location-level evidence of the species occurring in a protected area in South India.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Pollination ecology of the Red Sanders Pterocarpus santalinus (Fabaceae), an endemic and endangered tree species."
Why this source?
  • Refers to ecological research (pollination ecology) on Red Sanders and labels it an endemic and endangered tree species.
  • Reinforces the species' status as native/endemic (implying occurrence in its native Indian range).

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 9: Indian Biodiversity Diverse Landscape > g.4.3. Tropical rai.n forest region > p. 159
Strength: 4/5
“U nJ) Distributed in areas of western ghats and north east India. Flora: Extensive grasslands interspersed with densely forested gorses of evergreen vegetation known as sholas occur in the Nilgiris (an offshoot from Western ghats). Sholas also occur in Anaimalai and Palani hills. The rainforests of the Western ghats have dense and lofty trees with much species diversity. Mosses, ferns, epiphytes, orchids, lianas and vines, herbs, shrubs make diverse habitat. Ebony trees predominate in these forests. A variety of tropical orchids are found.”
Why relevant

Notes that the Western Ghats (a South Indian region) have very diverse evergreen vegetation with dominance of valuable timber species (e.g., ebony).

How to extend

A student could note that many valuable hardwoods occur in the Western Ghats and therefore check if Red Sanders is another hardwood native to that region.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > social relevance of forests > p. 21
Strength: 5/5
“• Col1: 1.; Types of Forest: Tropical Wet-evergreen Forests; States/Union Territories: Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Western Ghats; Species of vegetation: Betel-nut-palm, fern, hillock, jack-fruit, rubber, cincona, rose-wood, iron wood, orchids, etc. • Col1: 2.; Types of Forest: Tropical Semi-evergreen Forests; States/Union Territories: Andaman and Nicobar, Eastern Himalayas and Western Ghats; Species of vegetation: Mixture of wet and dry evergreen trees • Col1: 3.; Types of Forest: Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests; States/Union Territories: Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, North Eastern Hills of India,; Species of vegetation: Tall trees, thick trunks, thick bark, long branches with butts, trees drop their leaves in dry season, teak, sal, shisum, bamboo, etc. • Col1: 4.; Types of Forest: Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest; States/Union Territories: Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Northeast Hilly States; Species of vegetation: Acacia, bamboo, Mahuva, sal, teak, etc. • Col1: 5.; Types of Forest: Tropical Torn Forests; States/Union Territories: Black earth region, North-west and Peninsular India; Species of vegetation: Caper, cactus, spurge, stunted fat topped trees (less than ten meters in height) • Col1: 6.; Types of Forest: Tropical Dry Evergreen Forests; States/Union Territories: Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana; Species of vegetation: Hard leaved evergreen trees with fragrant fowers mixed with a few decidu ous trees • Col1: 7.; Types of Forest: Subtropical Broad-leaved Forest; States/Union Territories: Eastern Himalayas, Western Ghats, Silent Valley; Species of vegetation: Cinnamon, fragrant grasses, poonspar, rhodo dendron.”
Why relevant

Lists Western Ghats under Tropical Wet-evergreen and Semi-evergreen forests and examples of commercially important trees (rose-wood, sandalwood, ironwood) found there.

How to extend

Use this pattern (Western Ghats as habitat for commercially valuable hardwoods) to hypothesize that Red Sanders, a valuable timber species, may also be found in South India and then verify from species-specific sources or maps.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > Table 5.5 > p. 15
Strength: 4/5
“The tropical moist deciduous forests are found in Sahyadris, the north-eastern parts of the peninsula and along the foothills of the Himalayas (Fig. 5.3). These forests on the whole have gregarious species. The typical landscape consists of tall teak trees with sal, bamboos, and shrubs growing fairly close together to form thickets. Both teak and sal are economically important and so are the Sandalwood (Santalum album), Shisham (Dalbergia”
Why relevant

States that tropical moist deciduous forests (including Sahyadris/Western Ghats) contain economically important trees including Sandalwood and Shisham.

How to extend

Since related commercial hardwoods occur in these South Indian forest types, a student could check whether Red Sanders occupies similar forest types in peninsular India.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 10: Indian Forest > 10.1.5. Tropical Dry deciduous forest > p. 161
Strength: 3/5
“Dry deciduous forests are found throughout the northern part of the country except in the North-East. It is also found in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. The canopy of the trees does not normally exceed fifteen metres. The common trees are the sal, a variety of acacia, and bamboo. All Rights Reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form or by any means, \\'ithout Permission in writing. ffi”
Why relevant

Shows that tropical dry deciduous forests extend into southern states (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu), indicating a range of forest types present in South India.

How to extend

A student could use the map of these forest types and species' habitat preferences to narrow where to look for Red Sanders occurrences in South India.

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