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Dealing with Eco-denial

by Chrissie Wildwood

Everyone would agree that protection of the world’s remaining primary growth forests is fundamental to the Green movement. Indeed, you only have to say ‘Green’ or ‘eco-ethical’ and a forest (usually a rainforest) springs to mind. Why, then, are almost all essential oil suppliers and many other companies dedicated to natural ‘eco-friendly’ body care products continuing to trade on the spoils of deforestation?

Knowingly or unwittingly, a surprising number of ‘ethical’ companies are incorporating into their products certain endangered wild-harvested botanicals. The most common of these are sandalwood (Santalum spp.), usually from India or Australia; rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora and related species) from the Amazonian rainforest; and Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) from Morocco. In order to capture the essential oils of sandalwood and rosewood, found only in the heartwood and roots of these two species, the entire tree must be destroyed in the process. Atlas cedar oil is distilled from the wood chips as a by-product of the lumber industry. Nevertheless, continued use of this endangered botanical is supporting deforestation by the back door.

Since publication of my investigative report entitled, ‘Spotlight on the Trade in Wild Harvested Plants” (first published in 2002), many have written to me in bewilderment. Whilst accepting the validity of the ecological argument, most are stumped for words when confronted with the silver-tongued denials and pass-the-buck tactics adopted by certain essential oil suppliers and companies devoted to ‘green’ body care products in their refusal to stop trading in endangered botanicals.

In the current climate of global ecological crisis, all this is a contradiction, to the say the least: a crime against Nature and humanity, to say the utmost.

As a poignant reminder: the sandalwood belt in Southern India is burning up due to deforestation and associated prolonged drought. This will have devastating consequences for people, wildlife and the environment for centuries to come. Meanwhile the remnant cedar forests of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco are dying through advancing desertification. While in the Amazon Basin alone, the forest debris left behind by industrial logging decomposes and releases millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year – thus, accelerating global climate change. The latest satellite images show that even selective logging of valuable species such as rosewood and mahogany is causing immense ecological destruction and is cited as the main cause of the Amazon’s worst drought in 40 years.

Following are some of the most commonly used diversion tactics employed by certain traders in their misguided belief that the use of sandalwood, rosewood, Atlas cedar (and other endangered wild harvested botanicals) is ecologically sound. Each example of eco-denial is followed by a common sense reply. Concerned devotees of aromatherapy and natural body care products should find this information helpful when dealing with traders who can be intimidating through their assumed superior knowledge.

“Our sandalwood oil is obtained from sustainably managed plantations.”

Some suppliers are making the same claim for rosewood essential oil without a scrap of supporting evidence. In fact, sandalwood and rosewood cultivation is in its infancy. Although attempts have been made to establish sandalwood plantations in various parts of the world, including Australia, India and the South Pacific, as yet there are no supplies of essential oil coming from plantation grown trees. Likewise, there are no commercial supplies of cultivated rosewood oil, whether from the leaves or heartwood. The simple reason is that the plantations are still too young! Regarding sandalwood, it will take 30-50 years (much longer in drought stricken regions) for the trees to mature enough in order to produce a commercially viable quantity of essential oil. That is to say, if the cultivated trees will ever be capable of producing an oil of sufficiently high quality to meet the demands of industry. It’s all experimental at this early stage. In the meantime, already endangered trees will continue to be uprooted from the wild mainly for essential oil production. Some experts are predicting that sandalwood and rosewood may even be driven to extinction within our own lifetime.

“Don’t worry, we only source sustainably wild-harvested (or ‘wildcrafted’) supplies of rosewood.” Alternatively, the supplier may claim the same for sandalwood, amyris, Atlas cedar or some other endangered aromatic species.

There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that ancient or primary growth forests can be felled sustainably in order to meet the demands of a global market. No evidence whatsoever.

“I’ve visited the region myself and have seen that the trees are felled sustainably for oil extraction. As you have not visited the country of origin nor spoken to the people on the ground, then you can’t possibly know the truth.”

This is a classic example of not being able to see the forest for the trees! The latest satellite images are providing us with the holistic viewpoint. The further back we move from the ground, the broader the picture becomes. As reported in the respected journal ‘Science’ (October 21st, 2005) the images from space prove without doubt that selective logging of useful species is every bit as damaging to the forest as that resulting from clear-felling. Forest fires are raging in newly created selective clearings, resulting in a myriad of knock-on effects to the intricate ecosystem. This contradicts the claims being made by the Forest Stewardship Council and others who abide by the notion that the world’s rainforests are nothing more than a lifeless commodity to be selectively hacked, bartered and sold.

As ecologists confirm, a forest is more than a collection of individual trees: it's a WHOLE living ecosystem, maintained through biodiversity and genetic diversity; through the myriad interactions of trees, plants, fungi, insects, animals, soil, micro-organisms - and the traditional ways of forest peoples. Interestingly, holistic therapists recognise a similar pattern of interrelatedness as expressed through the human mind/body complex. What we know for certain is that the intricate balance of a forest, especially tropical forest, is easily upset or destroyed through the excessive demands of commercial wild harvesting.

“Neither sandalwood nor rosewood is recognized as endangered because they do not appear on any official threatened list such as CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna.”

Whilst claiming to be have carried out a great deal of research into sandalwood and rosewood sustainability, thus implying they are experts on the matter, a surprising number of essential oil suppliers continue to maintain that neither sandalwood (Santalum album) nor rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora) are officially recognised as endangered. For some reason, many continue to turn a blind eye to the prominent entry of both species in the World Conservation Union’s Red List of Threatened Species!

"With oils like rosewood and sandalwood, the governments involved have strict procedures in place to control production. Other industries are far more implicated in the loss of these beautiful trees" – Syliva Baker, spokeswoman for the Aromatherapy Trade Council (UK)

The governments in India and Brazil have chosen to monitor the trade in sandalwood and rosewood themselves respectively. Both countries have refused to allow the intervention of CITES, the UN organization mentioned above whose aim is to prevent the extinction of threatened and endangered species commonly traded around the world.

Rather than repeating everything covered in ‘Spotlight in the Trade in Wild Plants, suffice it to say here, it’s well-documented that both India and Brazil are fighting a losing battle against clandestine cutting, illegal distillations and government corruption. There is an alarming decline in stands of sandalwood in India and rosewood species in South America. At the same time, there is continued degradation of entire forest habitats due to human greed and folly.

Even when sandalwood extraction is government certified, the practice is not sustainable by any stretch of the imagination. For tree numbers continue to dwindle with few signs of regeneration due to over-grazing, forest fires and related problems of poor land management. Remember, sustainability is that which can go indefinitely without creating a deficit or any other form of imbalance.

What about the ATC's apportioning of blame for the demise of rosewood and sandalwood? Aromatherapy is supposed to be a caring profession with many practitioners claiming to provide a holistic, non-invasive treatment in harmony with Nature. Surely, then, the aromatherapy industry should not be implicated in deforestation to any degree AT ALL? Blaming other industries for the greater crime is not eco-ethical.

“Most sandalwood trees are felled for use on funeral pyres and for traditional sandalwood carvings.”

Millions of people in India are impoverished and could never afford the luxury of a sandalwood funeral pyre.  Only the bodies of rich dignitaries are cremated on sandalwood, and thus in reality their numbers are few. 

It’s well-documented that the excessive global demand for sandalwood oil is the main reason for the decline in sandalwood forests. Indeed, the smuggling and murders associated with the sandalwood trade have occurred whilst securing wood for oil distillation, not funeral pyres! Sandalwood oil is used mainly in perfumery, cosmetics and aromatherapy. The legally obtained ‘lower grade’ wood (i.e. branches with scant oil content) the Indian government allocates to traditional sandalwood carvers.

The smoke pollution hovering over sandalwood forests, which some erroneously attribute to Hindu funeral pyres, is occurring as a result of poor land management – the seasonal burning of the understorey. This is done to encourage new grass growth for grazing animals. Forest fires are destroying sandalwood seed (and many other types of seed) and causing the spread of spike disease, an incurable fungal infection that is killing off many sandalwood trees in Southern India.

“Our Atlas cedar oil comes from a sustainable source in France and is certified by the Soil Association.”

In fact, the wood chips of wild cedar trees felled from the endangered remnant forests of the Atlas Mountains region of Morocco are imported into France for oil distillation. The Soil Association re-certifies the oil as 'organic' from the French organic certification body Ecocert. The shocking truth is just because a wild harvested aromatic is certified as organic by an EU approved organic inspection body, this does not necessarily mean it's from a sustainable source. The Soil Association, Ecocert and others are novices when it comes to understanding the long-term environmental impact caused by selective 'harvesting' of endangered tree species.

“Most of the world's supply of rosewood goes to Japan to make chop sticks.”

Whilst Japan does indeed import huge quantities of tropical timber to be squandered on disposable chop sticks, it's important to realise that a number of tree species are commonly known as 'rosewood'. For example, Dalbergia nigra (from South America) and a number of other Dalbergia specie from India, Africa and other tropical regions of the world. Yes, most species of rosewood are endangered due to their value as hard wood, but most are not aromatic. The aromatic Aniba rosaeodora (and related aromatic species) from South America are felled solely for essential oil production.

And finally…

Never underestimate the power of the Green coin. By choosing what to buy and what not to buy, together we can change the ethics of business and industry. And when we venture to speak out about unethical practice, although our voices may not always be heard, sometimes they will be. With this knowledge we experience joy in reaping the benefits of Nature’s harvest and remain ever thankful.

REFERENCES

Bantoury, KH 1999. The Wild Medicinal Plants in North Africa: History and Present Status. Acta.Hort (ISHS) 500: 183-188

Camperio, A. et al 2000. The Desertification Process in the Last Natural Forest of the Southern Mediterranean Region. University Padova, Italy

Science, 21 Oct 2005. Selective Logging in the Brazilian Amazon. Vol. 310. 5747: 480-482

Wildwood, C 2002, 2006. Spotlight on the Trade in Wild Plants.