The Rosewood Protection Law in Tamil Nadu, India, which had been in effect for three decades, has expired. The legislation was designed to safeguard this rare species, widely used in luxury furniture and musical instruments. With the law now lapsed and not extended, environmental activists fear a surge in uncontrolled logging.
The absence of regulation could open the door to illegal trade, threatening local forests. Some farmers view the lack of enforcement as an opportunity for quick income from timber sales. However, ecologists warn of long-term biodiversity loss. Rosewood trees are considered part of the region’s natural and cultural heritage. Environmental organizations have called on the government to enact a stricter new law, highlighting the ongoing tension between economic interests and natural resource conservation in India.
