'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)