DSWF - LUSAKA AGREEMENT TASK FORCE (LATF)

Welcome to the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation

		PROJECT: LUSAKA AGREEMENT TASK FORCE (LATF)

		Location: Based in NAIROBI, KENYA Operational in Southern, Central & East Africa.
		DSWF Support: Since 1999
		Funding to date: £141,633

		Project Summary: Support for the fight against wildlife crime and smuggling across international borders.

Project update - November 2005

Illegal traders invade protected areas for the East African Sandalwood

The Lusaka Agreement Task Force undertakes cooperative law enforcement operations against illegal trade in both animals and plants. This article elaborates on the vulnerability of a valuable plant species, known as the sandalwood, to its over-exploitation within the East African region and the imbalance this may cause on the ecosystem.

The East African Sandalwood (Osyris lanceolata) is a shrub used as a raw material in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. The sandalwood has a number of other uses. Traditionally the Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and Chinese have for decades used the sandalwood as incense for its sweet fragrance in their festivities. In some countries, such as Indonesia, finely ground sandalwood mixed with water is rubbed on the body to provide a cooling effect. It is also used for making highly prized walking sticks and jewel boxes.

In Kenya, the sandalwood is of value to different communities in various ways. Its fruits are edible while the roots are used as a remedy to treat both diarrhoea and snake bites. Its valuable root fibres are also used in basketry.

The famous Mt. Kilimanjaro, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Tsavo West, and Chyullu Hills conservation areas traversing Kenyan and Tanzanian boundaries have been targeted by illegal sandalwood traders. Investigations by the Task Force reveal that the sandalwood is being smuggled mainly to South Africa, Asian and European countries for extraction of its valuable oil.

Many countries have put in place mechanisms to protect the sandalwood from over-exploitation. In some countries in the Far East, the protection of the sandalwood trees poses a significant threat to certain industries thus compelling them to source the raw materials from other parts of the world and, in particular, East Africa. Consequently, this foreign demand has created an incentive for the increased illegal exploitation that is prevalent in protected areas, as the sandalwood is already depleted in unrestricted areas. Crude harvesting methods are employed where the plant is wholly uprooted and this may cause a negative environmental impact. The East African sandalwood therefore faces a serious threat to its continued existence if its illegal exploitation continues unabated.

In light of the imminent threat posed by the unsustainable harvesting of the sandalwood, the Task Force, in collaboration with its National Bureaus in Kenya and Tanzania, commenced investigations in June 2005. The investigations revealed that besides the intense illegal harvesting of the sandalwood, other environmental crimes such as snaring of animals and land degradation were being committed in the Parks. The investigation team further established that the attractive prices offered by the illegal dealers, coupled with high poverty levels among the local communities bordering these protected areas cause unprecedented invasion of these areas.

Over 200 tonnes of sandalwood was recovered during the investigations in Kenya and Tanzania and 99 suspects arrested. The escalating illegal exploitation of the sandalwood has caused grave concern, necessitating intervention by authorities to try and stop the alarming situation. For instance, in the month of August 2005, Hon. Zakia Meghji, the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism of the United Republic of Tanzania headed a team that intercepted 105 tonnes of sandalwood chips that were cleverly concealed in 5 40-foot metal containers at the Dar-es-Salaam port. Investigations are still going on to identify the culprits and establish the consignment's destination.

There is an urgent need to protect this species from decimation. The Task Force will continue to collaborate with its National Bureaus and the international community to ensure that this precious natural resource is protected against illegal trade.

The operations noted above have and continue to be facilitated with the generous funding support from the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation. In this regard, the Task Force deeply appreciates the overwhelming support so far received from the Foundation and looks forward to further support to enable it to realize its objectives of protecting our much treasured wild fauna and flora.