ABSTRACT

The harvest and trade of sandalwood (Santalum macgregorii) from natural stands began in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the late nineteenth century. Sporadic harvesting has occurred intermittently since then and continues to this day, with little active management to promote regeneration. This study was undertaken to determine the state of natural sandalwood resources in PNG, clarify the associated regulations for monitoring its trade and export, and identify practical options for local resource restoration through family and clan plantings. We studied export permit data, interviewed resource owners and traders, evaluated forestry legislation and regulation and engaged landowners in three areas of the country to establish sandalwood plantings. We found few regulations or monitoring protocols for sandalwood harvesting and trade in PNG. Export declarations are the only means for reporting the grades and volumes traded. There is evidence that both grades and prices have been underdeclared at point of export. No export permits in the last eight years contained records of any high-grade (A) products, and declared export values were lower than domestic prices paid to resource owners. Export records since 1997 reveal that significant volumes of up to 126 tonnes annually were traded in the early 2000s. The natural resource is yet to fully recover, with much lower volumes exported.

To address the reduction in availability of natural sandalwood, we engaged landowners in three locations to establish sandalwood plantings. The results demonstrate that sandalwood, grown in agroforestry systems, can be productive in PNG, with mean basal stem diameter increments of up to 2.0 cm y⁻¹ recorded. To further develop the sandalwood sector in PNG, we make four recommendations: (1) establish a ten-year moratorium on the sandalwood trade to enable the recovery of natural populations; (2) develop a product grading and sales registry system to improve trade transparency and monitoring; (3) reallocate the tax revenues generated from sandalwood exports to the PNG Forest Authority to fund the monitoring of harvesting and trade; and (4) promote options for resource restoration through family garden, boundary and enrichment plantings. The sandalwood industry in PNG has the potential to be viable and sustainable if the proposed recommendations are adopted by appropriate stakeholders to manage production and regulate the trade in the country and internationally.

摘要

檀香（Santalum macgregorii的收获和贸易）从自然立场开始，始于19世纪后期的巴布亚新几内亚（PNG）。从那时起，零星的收获就断断续续地发生，一直持续到今天，几乎没有积极的管理来促进再生。进行这项研究是为了确定巴布亚新几内亚天然檀香木资源的状况，阐明有关监测其贸易和出口的相关规定，并确定通过家庭和宗族种植来恢复当地资源的实际选择。我们研究了出口许可证数据，采访了资源所有者和贸易商，评估了林业立法和法规，并邀请该国三个地区的土地所有者建立了檀香种植。我们发现有关PNG的檀香木采伐和贸易的法规或监控协议很少。出口报关单是报告贸易等级和数量的唯一方法。有证据表明，在出口时，等级和价格都被低估了。在过去的八年中，没有任何出口许可证包含任何高级（A）产品的记录，并且宣布的出口价值低于支付给资源所有者的国内价格。自1997年以来的出口记录显示，在2000年代初期，每年的交易量高达126吨。自然资源尚未完全恢复，出口量要少得多。自1997年以来的出口记录显示，在2000年代初期，每年的交易量高达126吨。自然资源尚未完全恢复，出口量要少得多。自1997年以来的出口记录显示，在2000年代初期，每年的交易量高达126吨。自然资源尚未完全恢复，出口量要少得多。

为了解决天然檀香木供应量减少的问题，我们在三个地点委派了土地所有者来种植檀香木。结果表明，在农林业系统中生长的檀香可以在PNG中生产，基部茎的平均直径增量最大为2.0 cm y ^-1记录下来。为了进一步发展巴布亚新几内的檀香产业，我们提出了四点建议：（1）暂停十年檀香贸易，以恢复自然种群；（2）开发产品分级和销售注册系统，以提高贸易透明度和监控；（3）将檀香木出口产生的税收重新分配给巴布亚新几内亚森林管理局，以资助对采伐和贸易的监测；（4）通过家庭花园，边界和丰富种植来促进资源恢复的选择。如果适当的利益相关者采用建议的建议来管理该国和国际上的生产并规范贸易，那么巴布亚新几内亚的檀香产业有潜力和可持续发展。