[Greens-Media] WA Greens - Ban exports of wild-harvest sandalwood - Paul Llewellyn

[Anderson, Sonia]

3 December 2008

BAN EXPORTS OF WILD-HARVEST SANDALWOOD

It is time to ban the export of wild-harvested sandalwood that is pulled out roots- and-all from native woodlands around the State, says Greens MLC Paul Llewellyn.

"The Greens fully support the development of plantation-based sandalwood sector that will continue to generate export income, but the Government has missed the opportunity to put the industry on a truly sustainable basis.

"The sandalwood industry plan announced by the new Minister for Forestry should have incorporated an exit strategy for the wild harvest sandalwood industry that is based on native forest and woodland.  It also should have put in place a long term recovery strategy for the woodland ecosystems that have been depleted because of over extraction, and the decline of species such as the woylie, which have been essential to the survival of sandalwood in the wild.

"We currently export two thirds of our wild sandalwood, which is processed overseas usually into relatively low grade products such as incense.

"Western Australia should aim to process sandalwood into high-value products that bring wealth and jobs to regional areas.

"A single sandalwood processor in the Great Southern employs 50 people and operates a $16 to $17 million industry from processing around just 700 tonnes of sandalwood per year."