The uniqueness of working with sandalwood Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples account for an estimated 5 per cent of the world’s population, they care for and protect nearly 22 per cent of the Earth’s surface and 80 per cent of the planet’s remaining biodiversity.
World Bank: Social dimensions of climate change: workshop report 2008 (Washington DC, 2008).
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This statement includes the people we work with - the native title holders and peoples of the Western Rangeland and Central Desert areas of Western Australia. Historically they collectively owned, lived in and thrived across more than 600,000 square kilometres of their homelands (the size of Germany). Also, this is home to the last fragile corner of naturally occurring wild sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) forests - increasing under threat.
For more than 50,000 years the wild sandalwood tree has provided food, medicine, protection and life giving spiritual meaning to the Indigenous peoples. Since the mid 1800s wild and plantation sandalwood has supplied the global markets with premium grade wood, oil, incense, pharmaceutical products. It has been and still is a lucrative industry for those who have owned its production and distribution – until recently, non-Indigenous people. However, recent native title successes mean that Aboriginal communities are finally able to collectively own and manage their land to best benefit their peoples. They are finally able to directly benefit from their land in ways that work with the environment not against it. There is now an unprecedented opportunity to support this emerging Indigenous-led wild sandalwood harvesting industry built on Indigenous expertise, knowledge and culture. They need as much support to protect and preserve their lands as possible. |
There is increasing global recognition that without Indigenous knowledge about environmental natural resource management, there may be no resource legacy left for future generations.
Indigenous peoples are now looking to build direct partnerships that compliment and support their leadership and full participation in the sector. The Dutjahn Foundation is the only Indigenous run organisation that works in this sector. We are accountable to the Indigenous peoples in the wild sandalwood regions who strive to revitalise their communities. We invest in structural capacity-building initiatives and work with global and local partners that are aligned to our vision. Investing in the sandalwood traditional custodians and their communities is the best way, we believe, to safeguard and preserve this fragile bioregion of the wild sandalwood eco-system. |
Partner with us in our project areas
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Conservation & Land Management
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Economic Growth & Livelihoods
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Community Wellbeing
Kids & Youth Projects
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Community Wellbeing
Community Projects
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7 Reasons To Work With Us
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1
Our Foundation is the only Indigenous led foundation working with wild sandalwood communities and traditional owners. 2
The Rangelands and Central Desert regions of Western Australia are the last corner of naturally occurring wild Sandalwood. 3
The highest quality oil comes from wild Sandalwood trees growing in remote desert regions. |
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Indigenous peoples we work with have unique knowledge about Sandalwood trees, its uses and how to care for it. 5
Indigenous peoples we work with have a unique cultural and spiritual relationship with the Sandalwood tree similar to that of family. |
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We are at the very beginning of a new and emerging Indigenous-led wild sandalwood sustainable industry. 7
Unprecedented new partnerships are emerging between local Indigenous actors and international organisations paving the way for meaningful impact. |