Australia: Sustainable harvesting of sandalwood and preservation of cultural heritage
Ensuring the heritage of Aboriginal voices in sandalwood sustainability.
Sandalwood is a natural and iconic ingredient widely used in global perfumery. The tree is native to the Western Australia desert and is partly found on lands belonging to Aboriginal communities, such as the Martu.
Ensuring sustainable sandalwood management
Environmental changes have brought about a shift in the sustainability of sandalwood trees in the region and, together with our Australian partner organisation, a resource survey was undertaken, to assess its regeneration. It is of particular interest to the Martu as sandalwood represents a substantial source of income for their community and it provides an important link to the global economy that is also culturally relevant. As part of the program, Martu rangers were trained to detect, record, map and evaluate the different sandalwood categories. Additionally, a new Sustainable Sandalwood Management and Operational Plan was finalised to ensure that protection measures and regeneration strategies of sandalwood resources are in place now and for the future.
The programme also engages young people in the community through a Youth Ranger initiative, bringing them together with their elders for visits on Country, where they learn a combination of modern sandalwood and desert ecosystem management practices alongside traditional ecological knowledge. Participants and their families have reported increased confidence, a stronger interest in their culture, and improved engagement both within the community and at school.
Recording the legacy of the ‘Voices of Wiluna’
The cultural heritage of the Martu people includes stories and practices that relate to sandalwood. Much of this narrative and knowledge resides with the elders of the community, and is traditionally handed down through the generations. The ‘Voices of Wiluna’ is a film created to capture in vivid detail this verbal heritage with the Martu people sharing personal accounts of their lives, experiences, traditions and hopes for the future. A total of 15 interviews were conducted, and while the film is primarily intended for the Martu people themselves, it is also a fascinating testament to the indigenous people’s contribution to an industry that scents the world in perfumery.
Watch 'Voices of Wiluna' trailer:
"The sandalwood tree is special to our people. We have been practicing sustainability for all our lives and that’s why we exist. We do things sustainably for future generations and I encourage young people to join us. Sandalwood is their heritage, and their future."
Extract from ‘Voices of Wiluna’,Clinton, Martu Community Member
