活动名称：木艺木趣国际研讨会暨展览会
时间地点：2011年10月21日，印度班加罗尔J N Tata多功能礼堂
演讲嘉宾：Ramesh Chandra Mishra
演讲题目：Sandalwood - the saviour of ecological balance and super wealth creator

摘要：Nearly 25 species of the genus Santalum L. commonly known as sandalwood are awaiting their turn to transform the ecological balance of nature after suffering serious setback and gross depletion due to indiscriminate hacking in the past. The wild existence of the leading species Santalum album L. has suffered to the highest level. Natural as well as artificial regeneration could conceivably rejuvenate their existence and thus provide an extremely valuable natural resource that could be harvested on a sustainable basis.

Planned plantation of these species individually or in various combinations is capable of fulfilling almost all the luxuries of the futuristic progressive civilization, mainly through their fragrant and beautiful wood and its products. Considering their hemi parasitic nature, additional advantages can also accrue through the intercropping of more than 300 host plants. The flow of food, fodder, fuel, fibre, fruits, flowers and fragrance is likely to provide additional sources of income. Collectively they can form a basis for lucrative and exploitative trade, in future.

Initial establishment of plantations is challenging, however, once established sandalwood trees withstand all the vagaries of nature due to their tough, hardy and tenacious nature. Moreover, they possess good regeneration potential and ability to colonise new and suitable sites. The species can be planted practically anywhere with the help of available modern technologies.

The present paper enumerates, describes and pinpoints the suitable facets of modern planting, maintenance and protective techniques suitable for various circumstances, The existing research gaps which need the immediate attention of the scientists have also been pinpointed.
The production and utilization of woods of this type is perhaps the need of the day .

Ramesh Chandra Mishra, Friends of Santalum Society of India.