illegal sandlewooding

Forgive my ignorance on this subject but is it illegal to collect sandlewood? Do you have to be licensed? I saw a collector of sandlewood out on the gunbarrel last year but it looked like a legit operation.

wizzer

Ricochet,

2 years ago I passed a big sandalwood operation utilising the Mungili outstation on the Eagle Hwy just north of the Gunbarrel. They appeared a very big and legit concern. We stopped there for water and while my alarm bells were ringing, everything seemed in order. They had the bore connected for water, showers, gensets then works. A very big operation employing mainly islanders. While I'm fully aware that you need a permit for these operations, it would be a big help if perhaps you or even better DEC WA could provide a list of legitimate operations and their locations as it would prevent some possible issues, particularly licensed operations along the major outback routes.

What do you think?

Mick

Down the Eagle 2009

To harvest Sandlewood, you have to be licenced. The whole plant has to be in spected, as well as the harvest area in regards to replanting.

A mate on Gindalbie Station, NE of Kalgoolie harvest samdlewood and send it down to Esperance. Bugger of a job and hard on the equipment.

What actually is Sandlewooding Ricochet - even putting that word into Google hasn't given me an answer.

Is it sort of collecting the wrong firewood ?

Sandlewood is an aromatic timber used for incense, perfume etc. it is worth about $10 000 - $13000 a ton.
Sandlewooding is the process of collecting it for commercial purposes. You have to be licensed and quotas are issued. There is a lot of conditions attached to the license.
The trouble with illegal is apart from taking stocks that legit operators could access the don't operate to conditions, ie they take 100% so nothing left for regen purposes.
The operation at Mungilli is legit. the illegal op on the Gunbarrel was to the east nearer Jackie Junction.
trouble is some of the illegal do look legit because they go in with all the gear and look professional.

so how would anyone know? Just report everyone spotted? Do they have to display a sign with their permit number on as per a charter boat or food establishment?
What is classed as suspicious?