End Sandalwood trafficking in South Sudan and the East Africa Region

By Philip Ayuen Dot, Juba-South Sudan

Wednesday, October 13, 2021 (PW) — The exploitation of the East African sandalwood is in such an unprecedented and unsustainable manner could soon lead to the extinction of the species. The East African sandalwood scientifically known as Osyris lanceolata, has come under undue pressure as demand rises globally for it. This has led to a scramble for it as unscrupulous individuals harvest it illegally in the various east African nations and smuggle it.

But this was not always the case.

The East African sandalwood, Osyris lanceolata, has recently entered the international market as a substitute for the traditional sandalwood oil originally sourced from India and Australia. Sandalwood has over centuries been traded for its fragrance, medicinal value, religious value and wood carving potential. The main traded products include aromatic oils extracted from the heartwood, timber for handicrafts, and sawdust for making incense. The oil is useful in making perfumes, is also useful in the pharmaceutical industry and religious practices.

The limited supply, coupled with high demand and escalating prices of sandalwood oil from the traditional source countries has led to exploitation of the East African sandalwood as a preferred alternative. This is occasioned by diminishing populations and strict regulations on Australian sandalwood, Santalum spicatum and Indian Sandalwood Santalum alba. In India and China, Sandalwood is under State protection and is often referred to as a sacred tree and harvesting from the wild is prohibited. This has shifted the trade to the East African sandalwood leading to over-exploitation of the species in the range States.

In East Africa, the main affected countries include Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and South Sudan. Sandalwood is usually illegally harvested from most of these countries and transported to be shipped and sold to other countries. The main market for the East African sandalwood has been found to be Germany, South Africa, France, India, Middle East countries, United Kingdom, among others as reported by the Convention on International Trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora, sixteenth meeting of the conference of the parties Bangkok (Thailand).

The reason why the illegal harvesting of sandalwood is such a big issue is because of the environmental destruction that comes along with it. With the rising demand for the East African sandalwood, it has been harvested intensely and with no management plan in place, leaving those once forested areas bare and empty. This of course contributes to climate change eventually while leaving the communities around the degraded areas prone to floods and droughts and thus putting them in danger.

This has caused the east African sandalwood to enter into the list of endangered species in the world. As the wanton cutting down of these trees in all these east African countries means that in the next few years, the tree will be no more if nothing is done.

The other thing that contributes to the environmental degradation of that illegal sandalwood harvesting causes, is the technique used to harvest it. It is said that the roots produce more oil than an equal quantity of any other part of the tree, and thus unlike other medicinal or pharmaceutical trees where only the leaves, sap or bark are harvested, in the case of the sandalwood, the whole tree is uprooted to get to the roots. This then leaves the whole area where the sandalwood was planted, bare.

But what are the factors that have influenced this illegal and unregulated trade to flourish?

One is the lack of a unified strategy of protecting the East African sandalwood across the main countries that are affected, namely, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and South Sudan. In Kenya, sandalwood harvesting was banned by the previous government back in 2007 and 2011 due to the destruction that was found to be happening in areas such as Samburu and West Pokot where it was available.

However, the trade remained legal in Tanzania, with over four licenses being given to those who wanted to buy the East African sandalwood, process it and export it. This situation gave leeway to illegal sandalwood harvesters in Uganda and South Sudan, and even in Kenya, to continue with the practice and when asked, claim that they are taking the sandalwood to Tanzania for processing.

And the unscrupulous traders are able to do this because there is no certification mechanism that can be able to show that this sandalwood is from South Sudan, Samburu in Kenya, or Uganda. This situation means that sandalwood is thereby easily smuggled from South Sudan to the ports for shipping or to Tanzania for processing as there is nothing to show where it’s from.

In South Sudan specifically, a major contributing factor is the lack of adequate data when it comes to sandalwood. Unlike teak plantations that are well known in size and area and even age, adequate data on sandalwood is lacking. Where is it found, how much of it is there, what area of the forests do sandalwoods occupy and most importantly, what is the state of sandalwood in the country?

Without this data, it is hard to quantify how much illegal harvesting of sandalwood takes place in the country. It also makes it difficult to bring in the affected communities so as to safeguard this endangered species together. It also makes it difficult to ask the government to conserve what is not entirely known in terms of acreage under it.

And this then gives leeway for the illegal harvesters who when asked always say that the wood is from Uganda, even when it’s from South Sudan.

What can be done to prevent the East African sandalwood from becoming extinct in South Sudan?

The first thing is to have accurate data. And South Sudan Environmental Advocates (SSEA) comes in handy in that as an environmental agency on the ground. This means mapping out areas where the sandalwood is found in the country, the state of these sandalwood forests and the dangers facing them and the communities around them.

The next thing is a collaboration with the other East African nations. This is important because as of now, smugglers take advantage of the differing laws in the East African countries when it comes to sandalwood harvesting. They then illegally harvest it and transport it from one country to another while lying about the origin and destination of the endangered species.

These four countries need to have a similar framework of operation when it comes to the East African sandalwood, so as to enable them to be able to track illegal harvesting and inform each other and come up with joint measures of how to deal with the menace. SSEA is in close ties with the Ministry of Environment and forestry of South Sudan and as such is in a good position to work with governments and organizations from neighbouring countries to come up with a sustainable framework for conserving, preserving and sustainable using the East African sandalwood.

Research and Development for improved propagation to enhance the establishment of the species in large scale plantations is another measure that can help this species in South Sudan. The East African sandalwood takes about 15 years to mature enough for the oil to be harvested and thus it is important to ensure that plantations are in place and are well monitored. This not only saves the sandalwood, but it also gives an incentive to people to plant the trees and take care of them. SSEA is well equipped to assist in the research and propagation of the East African sandalwood in South Sudan.

Establishing sustainable harvesting from the wild populations through certification schemes will enhance the conservation of the species both in protected and Non-protected areas. After the data on available sandalwood in South Sudan is gotten, it will be easier to help the government establish protected areas of the sandalwood where it can’t be harvested in those areas and the areas where it is permissible to harvest. This will then be regulated through certification schemes that shows where the legal sandalwood harvesting has taken place. This allows for some areas to be given a break from harvesting and thus allowing the trees to mature and the environment to be conserved.

There is a lot that needs to be done, but thankfully South Sudan Environmental Advocates is already working on this is and is available for collaboration.

The author is the Founder and Executive director of South Sudan environmental Advocates (SSEA) and can be reached via his email: Philipdot57@gmail.com  or the website at: www.sseasouthsudan.org Tel: +211922104999.

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