This archive report was first published on 5 June 2020.
Why Sandalwood Could Be the Next Big Business for Many Tree Farmers ¶
Published on June 5, 2020, by TIM WANYONYI
Sandalwood (Osyris lanceolata) is a tree with a rich history of medicinal use, particularly in India's alternative ayurvedic medicine. Its parts contain chemicals with anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-cancer properties, making it a valuable resource.
However, the tree is facing a significant threat due to over-harvesting, driven by the global demand for its products. In Kenya and Tanzania, where the tree is native, it has been listed as an endangered species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Despite efforts to ban its export, the trade has gone underground, and widespread corruption in enforcement has made it difficult to catch those behind the illegal trade. As a result, large swathes of land where the tree once grew are now bare.
Efforts are underway to domesticate sandalwood and make its cultivation sustainable. The Kenya Forestry Research Institute (Kefri) is leading this effort by helping to take the tree from the wild to private and public farms. The tree can be propagated by cuttings, seeds, and layering, with seeds and layering being the most preferred methods for large-scale production.
At Kefri, trees are sown in greenhouses and then transferred to nurseries where they remain for 15 months before they are ready for planting on the farms. Air-layering or marcotting is another method of propagation, which involves inducing branches to develop roots.
With the trees maturing for harvesting after 15 to 20 years, farmers need training and permits to grow and trade in this tree. However, with the right support, farmers could be a crucial buffer between sandalwood and extinction, making some good money while doing so.
