Rare sandalwood trees in India are to have microchip implants to protect them from illegal logging.
The state of Kerala’s Forest Department plans to use satellite tracking to alert officials if any attempt is made to cut trees down or take them out of the area.
The move is being made in response to serious deforestation – in just three years the number of sandalwood trees in Kerala’s Marayur Forest has dropped from 62,000 to 55,000.
Sandalwood sources in other countries have already been depleted – in Australia stocks are now protected while in Indonesia there are virtually no trees left.
However, India, which has huge sandalwood reserves, claims it has done much to set up a sustainable trade in the species. It has introduced strict laws on when trees can be felled and on replanting – but the Forest Department says implementation of the laws is poor and it hopes satellite tracking will give better protection.
