Sandalwood is a beautiful scent in candles and perfumes beloved the world over.

While most of this ‘essential’ oil comes from Asia, Kenya’s dry forests host a small tree called Osyris Lanceolata or ‘African Sandalwood’. While not a ‘true’ sandalwood, it possesses a similarly scented, high-quality oil that is in high demand, and can apparently fetch up to $3,000 per liter internationally.

Despite protections set by the Kenyan government in 2007, and an ‘Endangered’ classification by CITES, overharvesting has been a longstanding issue.

Slow-growing and requiring specific host plants, cultivation of the species is difficult. And being high-value but hard to grow is an enticing combination for black markets.

These sandalwood trees grow throughout the Chyulu Hills, and we have seen a spike in illegal harvesting incidents recently.

From the start of 2017 to the end of 2025, 26.5 tons of sandalwood has been confiscated in Big Life-supported operations, spanning 92 separate events. 171 people have been arrested.

Just last month, work by Big Life’s intelligence unit led to the confiscation of 820 kg of this precious wood. Along with the 10 people arrested, these busts were a significant disruption to the supply chain in our region.

Our rangers and intelligence teams remain vigilant thanks to your support, doing what we can to stifle the persecution of this little-known species.