Palo Santo - Bursera Graveolens

The Palo Santo tree is commonly known as a native species of the dry-tropical forests of Ecuador. The inhabitants of the surrounding communities live off the trade of Palo Santo. This means that if they do not find clients for it, they will have to cut it down to use the land for livestock or developments etc which has already happened in many other places.

So contrary to what is currently being portrayed in social media about all Palo Santo, the real threat to this wood and also many communities will be if theres no use for it anymore. Rather than avoiding Palo Santo we need to make sure its being sourced ethically.

The vision of the project our wood and oil comes from is the sustainable use of this resource, Palo Santo Bursera Graveolens. They focus on what they can control. One aspect is an educational project, to involve the communities and to teach them not to cut the tree while alive or cause its death unnaturally.  A cut tree has no value, since it does not contain the medicinal properties of the Palo Santo, nor does it have aroma.

We process only naturally dead branches and trunks, without cutting down any living trees, damaging the surrounding area or making new paths. Really the wood isn’t harvested but collected/foraged.

Annually and for 5 consecutive years they have been reforesting Palo Santo trees in a pilot project of 50 hectares. Moreover, for over 10 years they have been reforesting and donating plants to several institutions. 

The national government of Ecuador has also been involved. We are currently waiting for them to declare this 50-hectare area as a "protective forest", to prevent logging, invasions and damages.

Once protected, this forest will be open to universities and communities to learn the experience, and mirror it in other areas of the dry-tropical forest of Manabi.

We are doing our part to contribute to the care of the environment and the preservation of this sacred wood, Palo Santo Bursera Graveolens. Please support the cause and spread the positive projects so the negative stories don’t stop its trade all together.