Indian landowners are preparing to exploit the liberalisation of the country’s sandalwood sector, with the Indian government giving up a right to own, cut and sell sandal trees dating back to the British Raj.
In future, private sandal tree groves will feed a profitable market. The old restrictions led to a black market, fuelled by inflated government prices for sandalwood, widely used in India for religious rituals and as a fragrance. Hhowever, the Indian government will maintain control of the marketing of sandalwood and its products.
