'Cendana' nearly extinct

'Cendana' nearly extinct

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): Sandalwood trees, locally
known as cendana (santalum album), are on the brink of extinction
in the province of East Nusa Tenggara due to excessive
exploitation, an official said on Tuesday.

"Plantations of cendana suitable for industry are rare now as
they have been exploited both by locals and state-run companies
in several areas of the province," an official with the local
office of the Ministry for Forestry, Murdadi, said.

Cendana has made a significant contribution to the local
government's revenues. In the market, the wood is sold at between
Rp 25,000 and Rp 50,000 per kilogram, while additional earnings
are derived from craft products produced and sold.

Murdadi said his office attempted to establish new habitats
for the trees in 1993 by sowing seeds on up to 900 hectares of
land in four regencies: Kupang, Central South Timor, Central
North Timor and Belu.

"But the trees will only be ready for use after 40 to 50
years.

"Cendana also needs meticulous treatment, especially in its
early years, as it has difficulty adjusting to new environments,
different to its native habitat, and is very sensitive to the
weather," he said.

Data from 1997 showed that there were only 5,127 mature trees
and 107,521 young trees growing in West Sumba regency; 822 mature
trees and 90,584 young trees in East Sumba; 80,655 mature trees
and 193,365 young trees in Central South Timor; 42,266 mature
trees and 85,235 young trees in Central North Timor; and, 43,504
mature trees and 92,334 young trees in Belu.

"None of those trees can be used for industry. The mature
trees are too old, while the young ones still require many years
of growth before they can be harvested," he said. (30/emf)