In Kenya’s Samburu County, women are both the key protectors and exploiters of the threatened tree.  The sandalwood tree, known as Losesiai in Samburu language, is of immense traditional value to the people of Kenya’s Samburu County. Growing naturally in the region’s drylands, the tree signifies richness and its parts are used in numerous rituals and activities. It is used in marriages and circumcisions; its branches can help ward off snakes or make it rain; and its scent is said to help bring feuding couples back together.  “We believe that by tying sandalwood leaves around a newborn’s neck it brings … Continue reading From rituals to raids: The struggle to save the sacred sandalwood