Sun Aug 31 08:34:20 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten version as a news article, suitable for “The Hindu”:

**Summary:**

A recent report by the Institute of Wood Science and Technology (IWST) reveals that only a small fraction of Indian rosewood’s (Dalbergia latifolia) suitable habitat in India lies within protected areas, leaving the species vulnerable to exploitation. The situation is particularly dire in Tamil Nadu, where rosewood populations have declined significantly, and the state government recently allowed the Tamil Nadu Rosewood (Conservation) Act to lapse. This law had previously protected rosewood trees from being cut without government permission. Researchers have observed limited regeneration and a dominance of older trees, further jeopardizing the species. Experts are urging the Tamil Nadu government to reinstate legal protections and implement a tagging system to combat illegal harvesting, especially as international demand for rosewood continues to drive exploitation. Climate change is also predicted to shrink suitable habitats.

**News Article:**

**Tamil Nadu Rosewood Faces Dire Threat as Legal Protections Lapse**

**CHENNAI, August 31, 2025 (The Hindu)** – India’s prized Indian rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia) is facing a critical threat, particularly in Tamil Nadu, as the State government chose not to renew the Tamil Nadu Rosewood (Conservation) Act, 1995 in February this year. A new report by the Institute of Wood Science and Technology (IWST), Bengaluru, indicates that a mere 17.2% of the species’ suitable habitat in India lies within protected areas.

The study, which utilized habitat modeling and field studies across 12 states, reveals a sharp decline in rosewood populations in Tamil Nadu, recording only 2.85 trees per 0.1 hectare, significantly lower than neighboring Karnataka and Kerala. Researchers have noted a lack of regeneration, with populations dominated by mature, aging trees and a scarcity of seedlings.

The lapse of the Tamil Nadu Rosewood (Conservation) Act, which prohibited the cutting of rosewood without government permission, has sparked considerable concern among conservationists. Experts fear that privately owned trees, particularly those found in tea plantations of the Nilgiris, are now at increased risk. These trees serve as vital genetic seed sources, essential for the species’ long-term survival.

IWST’s habitat modelling identifies six core districts in Tamil Nadu with high habitat suitability: Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruppur, Dindigul, and Theni. However, the limited overlap between these areas and existing protected zones leaves the majority of the rosewood population vulnerable to legal felling and land-use changes.

According to T.N. Manohara, Scientist-F at IWST, climate change is also projected to reduce suitable habitats in the future, exacerbating the species’ vulnerability. He also highlighted the pressure from international demand for luxury furniture and musical instruments as a key driver of exploitation.

While Indian rosewood is listed under Appendix II of CITES and classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, domestic regulation in India has lagged behind.

Mr. Manohara urges the Tamil Nadu government to urgently reinstate legal protections and implement a tagging and certification system to differentiate between plantation-grown and illegally harvested timber. “This is crucial to ensuring the long-term survival of this ecologically important and economically valuable species,” he said.

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