Scientific publication (e.g., journal articles and book chapters independently peer-reviewed)
Socio – Economic Benefits and the Associated Environmental Degradation Effects of Osyris lanceolata (Hochst & Steudel) Utilization in Kitui County, Kenya
Unknown/not recorded
Is the species endemic HIDE
No
Population Status
Unknown/not recorded
Formal international protection in place
National Level
Unknown/not recorded
Population Trend
Decreasing
Sub-national Level
Unknown/not recorded
Name
Emma Hemmerlé
Scientific Name
Osyris lanceolata
Common Name(s)
African Sandalwood
Type of Use
Extractive (i.e., the entire organism or parts of the organism are removed from its environment)
If extractive, for the target species, is this use
Lethal
Does this use involve take/extraction of
Only parts or products of the organism (e.g., feathers, leaves, branches, eggs, nuts)
Details of parts/products taken
O. lanceolata is harvested in the wild by uprooting the whole tree including its roots because the essential oil concentration is higher in the roots than the trunk. It is reported that the harvesting methods used are highly destructive since the whole plant needs to be uprooted to get the roots, leading to a serious depletion of its populations. Majority of the respondents 64% reported that it was a taboo to use O. lanceolata for firewood against 36% who reported otherwise.
Are specific characteristics/traits being targeted?
Unknown/not recorded
Purpose of Use
Basic subsistence (meeting day to day essential needs)
Income generation from trade at individual or household or community
Additional Details (if available)
The main purpose of harvesting O. lanceolata was mainly for commercial use (44.2%), with little use for domestic purposes (16.7%).
What is the main end use for any living organisms, parts or products taken/extracted?
Provide Details of resource rights regime where relevant
In Kitui County, incidences of illegal poaching of O. lanceolata have been reported for the last three years due to the demand of the plant as raw material for the manufacturing companies.
Local people (e.g., individuals, communities, co-operatives)
National external (individual, groups. e.g., hunters, anglers, photographers, tourists)
National / local private sector
Is the use part of a strategy to generate conservation incentives, to finance conservation, or to improve tolerance/stewardship?
Unknown/not recorded
Is there evidence that the use is affecting the conservation status of the species? HIDE
Unknown/not recorded
Is there evidence that the use is affecting natural selection?
Unknown/not recorded
Is there evidence that the use is affecting poaching of illegal wildlife trade?
Unknown/not reported
Is there any evidence that this use of the species is having a knock-on effect on the status of non-target species
Unknown/not recorded
Yes, negative (e.g., it destroys/ degrades it due to over-use)
Yes, considered unsustainable
Additional Details (if available)
Majority of the respondents (55%) reported that the major environmental degradation consequences caused by over – exploitation of O. lanceolata plant materials was increased soil erosion. This was followed by the drop in crop production (29.2%), lack of fodder for livestock (8.3%) and diminishing of water resources (7.5%)
During the study, it was found that the main environmental degradation effect associated with unsustainable harvesting of O. lanceolata was degradation of water catchment areas. This in turn has caused increased surface run – off, flash flooding, reduced infiltration and increased soil erosion and siltation of the existing water harvesting structures. This was confirmed by Kieti et al, (2016) who reported that once watershed and catchment ecosystems are interfered with, they cease to supply essential ecological goods and services.
Details of assessment carried out
The study concluded that socio-economic benefits associated with O. lanceolata are contributing to its over-exploitation from the wild, thus calling for multi- faceted interventions to minimize loss of this invaluable plant species from the wild.
Has a valuation of financial flows from this use at the site/national/international level been recorded
The East African sandalwood is among the sandalwoods known for producing fragrance-scented wood and a world-famous essential oil used in various cosmetics and fragrance industries and has gained popularity also in medicine industries
Has any assessment of socio-economic sustainability been recorded
Yes, considered sustainable
Details of assessment
many socio-economic impacts provided to local communities, especially in the form of income. The major beneficiaries in the entire value chain were the manufacturers, middlemen and traders.
Has the use of the species been recorded as resulting in changes to human health in this record?
Unknown/not recorded
Has the species in use been noted as being of particular disease risk to humans?
Unknown/not recorded
Has the use of the species resulted in changes to animal welfare in this record?
Unknown/not recorded
Are there particular practices which have increased the risk to human or animal health or welfare in the use of this species?
Unknown/not recorded
Does the use of this species increase susceptibility to pathogen spread?
Unknown/not recorded
Unknown/not recorded
Strong community governance/institutions/rights for wildlife management
Absent
Supportive policy and legislative framework
Absent
Adequate capacity to implement and enforce governance arrangements
Absent
Good alignment of legal protections with local cultural values and traditional
Absent
Support from NGOs
Absent
Support from Government
Absent
High financial returns from use
Absent
Abundant population of target species
Absent
Biological characteristics of target species
Absent
Capacity building of community
Absent
Establishment and implementation of species and/or area management plan
Absent
Effective private sector approach engagement through certification
Mutisya, M., Mwinzi, M., & Patrick, K. (2022). Socio – Economic Benefits and the Associated Environmental Degradation Effects of Osyris lanceolata (Hochst & Steudel) Utilization in Kitui County, Kenya.
More males were aware and involved in O. lanceolata utilization than females
How are local community members involved?
The major beneficiaries of O. lanceolata business were the manufacturers (45%) followed by the middlemen (30%). The local harvesters only benefited by 17.5% while the transporters benefited by 5.8% (Figure 4).
Is there any gender/age specificity in the various roles
Unknown/not recorded
How many of these local jobs accure to the following categories?
How many people outside the local area are employed
Is there any evidence of other economic benefits associated with this use beyond direct income and jobs