The sandalwood tree

If every scent tells a story, the Australian Sandalwood Tree (Santalum Spicatum) must be a library; rich with ecological, cultural and economic history books.

But today, much of this history is at risk, with unsustainable harvesting, climate change and feral predators pushing the tree perilously close to extinction.

In this episode, we drive down the Gunbarrel Highway to the Birriliburu Indigenous Protected Area in WA's central deserts to find some of the oldest sandalwood trees in the world. Underneath their scrambling canopies, we ask: How are they going in the wild? What makes these trees so special? And what does their future hold?

Produced by Eliza Herbert and Kate Thorburn.

Support the show

Learn more about the show and our work at www.bushheritage.org.au (use appropriate UTM) or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or X