India’s sandalwood trees are grappling with a significant risk posed by Sandalwood Spike Disease (SSD). The natural population of sandalwood in Marymoor Sandal Forest in Kerala and many reserve forests in Karnataka, including MM Hills (Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary), is severely affected by SSD.
Sandalwood Spike Disease: An Overview
Sandalwood Spike Disease is an infectious disease caused by phytoplasma. Phytoplasmas are bacterial parasites present in plant tissues that get transmitted by insect vectors and play a role in plant-to-plant transmission. At present, there is no known cure for this infection. To curb the spread of the disease, the only option is to chop down and get rid of the infected tree. SSD was first observed in Kodagu, Karnataka, in 1899, and between 1903 and 1916, over a million sandalwood trees in the Kodagu and Mysore region were uprooted.
Sandalwood’s Diminishing Population
The high mortality rate of 1% to 5% of sandalwood trees every year due to SSD is alarming. Scientists caution that it could eradicate the entire natural population if preemptive measures aren’t implemented to curtail its proliferation. Delaying action has the potential to allow the disease to spread to cultivated sandalwood trees.
The Accelerating Infection
The current rapid infection rate is largely a result of restrictions on green felling in forests, which have inadvertently allowed vectors to transmit the disease to healthy trees. Green felling or silviculture felling refers to the chopping of green trees of one or more types. Silviculture intends to control the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests to fulfil various societal and owner needs, like wildlife habitat, timber, water resources, restoration, and recreation, sustainably.
Steps Toward Resolving the Issue
To fight this disease outbreak, initiatives such as a three-year long study by the Institute of Wood Science and Technology (IWST), Bangalore, in collaboration with the Pune-based National Centre for Cell Sciences, have been launched. This effort is spearheaded by the Union Ministry of AYUSH with a fund allocation of Rs. 50 lakh. The IWST is renowned for its significant contribution to sandalwood research and wood science.
About Red Sandalwood
Red sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus), found in the Tropical Dry Deciduous forest of the Palakonda and Seshachalam hill ranges of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, are endemic to South India. They thrive in rocky, degraded and fallow lands boasting red soil, within hot and dry climates. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has categorized them as near-threatened, improving their previous endangered species rating. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) also lists them Appendix II.
Red sanders wood, famous for its rich hue and therapeutic properties, is highly sought after across Asia, especially in China and Japan. Its demand extends to segments including cosmetic and medicinal products, woodworking, and musical instruments. The international market values a tonne of red sanders between Rs. 50 lakh and Rs. 1 crore, demonstrating its popularity.
