Identification of optimum genetic resources for establishment of local species of sandalwood for plantations and agroforests in Vanuatu and Cape York Peninsula

FST/2002/097: Identification of optimum genetic resources for establishment of local species of sandalwood for plantations and agroforests in Vanuatu and Cape York Peninsula

Vanuatu

James Cook University, Australia

Professor Roger Leakey
Phone: 07 4042 1573
Fax: 07 4042 1319
Email: roger.leakey@jcu.edu.au

• Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Australia
• Queensland Department of State Development, Australia
• Department of Forests, Vanuatu

$722,510

01/07/2004 - 30/06/2007

Dr Russell Haines

Sandalwood oil, produced from the heartwood of sandalwood trees is a valuable commodity. The aromatic oil is widely used in perfumery, medicines and incense joss-sticks. The sandalwood tree (genus Santalum) occurs throughout South and Southeast Asia, Australia and the Pacific. All are hemi-parasitic on a wide-range of species. Demand for sandalwood oil continues to rise, but over-exploitation of the natural resource base has led to a worldwide shortage.
In Vanuatu sandalwood is found on the western parts of seven islands, the largest quantities on Santo and Erromango. Almost all these trees are of wild origin. Forestry is a vital industry in Vanuatu, with sandalwood royalties accounting for almost half of that paid for all timber species. Most growers on Erromango have small 'garden' plantings of between five and 10 trees as an income supplement. Aboriginal communities on Cape York Peninsula have cultivated a different sandalwood species for oil, food, fibre and medicinal purposes.
Common problems for both communities were a lack of information and inadequate management techniques. In both locations reseeding of improved stock was needed. Increasing information on native forest management, tree improvement, silvicultural systems, value adding and utilisation were all barriers to producing more oil. Morphological characteristics such as variations in oil yields and quality were also poorly understood. Focusing research on these areas was central to this project.

The project goal is to enhance the livelihoods of local sandalwood producers, as well as to stimulate the development of the emerging sandalwood oil industry, through the genetic improvement of the planted resource of S. austrocaledonicum in Vanuatu, and S. lanceolatum in Queensland.

The project scientists described the variation in oil content and quality, and other traits in natural populations of sandalwood in Vanuatu and Queensland, and reviewed knowledge about the biology of the species, its variability, exploitation and processing. They also quantitatively characterised intra and inter population variation in sandalwood of Vanuatu and Qld with regard to geographic /geological origin, plant morphology, sapwood and heartwood characteristics, wood anatomy, bark characteristics, oil content and oil quality.

Next the team partitioned the genetic components of the phenotypic variation they had identified by replicating provenance/family trials over different environments in Vanuatu and Queensland.
Team members developed and implemented tree domestication strategies for Vanuatu and Queensland, to ensure that future plantings of sandalwood are composed of high-yielding trees producing high-quality sandalwood oil.

Other activities included developing practical strategies for genetic improvement and seed supply of sandalwood in Vanuatu and Queensland, initiating integrated tree improvement programs based on the selected strategies through the development of research protocols and the establishment of a small number of field trials/orchards, and assessing Genotype x Host interactions to determine the relative importance of different host plants.

Throughout the project they provided scientific and technical training to build the capacity of local staff, and to disseminate and implement the project findings.

The project studies gave cause for hope that sandalwood agroforestry could be developed as a commercial opportunity for both communities in Vanuatu and Indigenous communities of Cape York. In both study areas the scientists discovered that 3-4% of local sandalwood tree populations possess exceptional oil qualities. These qualities exceed the industry standards set by Indian sandalwood (a different species), making them a valuable resource for the domestication of the species. Until now neither the Cape York nor the Vanuatu species were thought to have trees of this quality.
The project team embarked on sandalwood domestication projects in Cape York and Vanuatu. The team had a breakthrough in developing techniques of vegetative propagation that offer opportunities for the rapid development of superior cultivars. This new discovery opens a way for local communities to make a greater contribution to the sandalwood industry through planting of these superior varieties, which would then be expected to produce some of the highest quality sandalwood oil in the world.
The project established a 'host' trial in Port Vila (sandalwood is a root parasite and must have a host of another species). Species under trial are Canarium indicum, Casuarina equisetifolia and Pterocarpus indicus. Ni-Vanuatu project participants received instruction in sandalwood plantings establishment, nursery establishment and procedures, sandalwood propagation, plantation establishment and plant improvement.
For a small nation such as Vanuatu, a significant sandalwood plantation estate obviously could make a major contribution to the national economy. It is evident, however, that there is a window of opportunity - if Vanuatu establishes a significant area of successful plantations over the next few years, it will capture the opportunity to ride the wave of high prices; if it delays, then the opportunity will be lost to others. The priority in Vanuatu is therefore to stimulate and promote rapid development of the planted sandalwood industry.
A new ACIAR project is under development, focusing on maximising the adoption of outputs from the earlier project research. It will include the development of a promotion strategy, which will include technical extension material and a prospectus document outlining the investment potential for sandalwood plantings in Vanuatu.
By supporting the development of community sandalwood agroforestry this project can potentially result in positive social, economic and environmental benefits to the people of Vanuatu. Such a move also paves the way for a similar undertaking by indigenous communities in north Queensland.
These activities are significant for the Australian sandalwood oil industry, which stands to benefit through future access to a consistent supply of the high quality oil necessary for producing premium branded products.