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Traceability

An overview of new and existing resources to promote ethical and sustainable forestry

Illegal harvesting poses a serious threat to sandalwood and other valuable tree species. Illegal logging is a growing issue that fuels international crime, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and violations of human rights. There are few ways to prove the origin of timber, which makes it difficult to prosecute illegal loggers successfully. To track the origin of lumber, new analytical methods have been created. By ensuring that commercially available forest products originate from sustainable sources and offering proof to prosecute illicit harvesters, these techniques, when combined with the establishment of sustainable sources of forest resources, can help safeguard fragile species.

Sandalwood: Overview, Economic Factors, and Conservation Challenges

The significant value of sandalwood, coupled with the challenges in enforcing laws against illegal logging, makes these species especially susceptible to poaching. There is an urgent need to create tools capable of identifying both illegally sourced and adulterated sandalwood products. This paper examines the existing and emerging scientific methods that can assist in detecting and managing illegal activities within sandalwood supply chains and offers suggestions for future research. Topics covered include isotope and DNA analysis for tracking unlawfully harvested sandalwood, chemical profiling for ensuring the quality of sandalwood oils, and the development of networks and policies to create a framework for future regulation of the sandalwood trade.