Indian Rosewood

  • 06 Sep 2025

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  • Indian rosewood (Dalbergialatifolia in the south and Dalbergia sissoo in the north), often referred to as the “ivory of the forests”, is prized globally for its rich grain, deep colour, and durability.
  • It serves as both a premium timber resource for furniture, handicrafts, and musical instruments, and an ecologically significant species that enhances soil fertility through nitrogen fixation, supports bird and insect diversity, and acts as a long-term carbon sink.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Dalbergialatifolia: Native to the Nilgiris, Anamalai, and Parambikulam ranges in Tamil Nadu, with significant habitats in Karnataka and Kerala.
  • Dalbergia sissoo (North Indian rosewood): Found along the Himalayan foothills, from Afghanistan to Bihar, typically growing along riverbanks between 200–1,400 m elevation.
  • Recent habitat modelling by the Institute of Wood Science and Technology (IWST), Bengaluru, using 3,224 geo-referenced points and 19 bioclimatic variables, found that only 17.2% of India’s suitable habitat lies within protected areas.

Current Status in Tamil Nadu

  • Field surveys (2019–2025) by IWST and the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education revealed that Tamil Nadu has the lowest density of rosewood in South India, with just 2.85 trees per 0.1 hectare, compared to 6.19 in Karnataka and 5.38 in Kerala.
    • The populations are dominated by mature, ageing trees with little or no natural regeneration, and seedlings are rare or absent in many areas.
  • The situation has worsened after the lapse of the Tamil Nadu Rosewood (Conservation) Act, 1995, which had regulated felling of rosewood for nearly three decades.
    • With no renewal after February 2025, privately owned rosewood, especially in tea plantations of the Nilgiris, faces heightened risk of exploitation.

Threats

  • Weak Legal Safeguards – With the lapse of State legislation, most rosewood outside protected areas is exposed to felling and land-use change.
  • Climate Change – IWST modelling projects shrinking suitable habitats in coming decades, further compounding the species’ vulnerability.
  • International Demand – Luxury furniture and musical instruments drive high global demand.
  • Regeneration Crisis – Ageing tree populations without sufficient seedlings threaten long-term survival.

Conservation Status

  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable (since 2018).
  • CITES: Appendix II (regulated trade).
  • India’s Last National Assessment (2011–12): Near Threatened.