Ethical Aromatherapy – update on endangered species

Not so long ago in our post on ethical aromatherapy, we introduced the idea of using and practising Aromatherapy with regard for the environment. With the aid of the updated report by Cropwatch we have highlighted a few of the more commonly used oils in Aromatherapy that may warrant closer consideration before purchase or use.

Cropwatch aggregates (for want of a better expression) assessments from various organisations as to the endangered status of a species. It is the only self-proclaimed truly independent watchdog for those working with natural aromatic materials. They keep an updated list of threatened aromatic plants used in the aroma & cosmetic industries, the latest of which was updated in January 2010. They closely refer to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The IUCN is the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, and their Red List details 45,000 species, estimated to rise to between 50,000-60,000 in 2010.

Following the green movement over the last decade, Greenwood (2008) states that “economics and ethics have stopped endangered species from turning up in perfume formulas” however this is not the case, as certainly reading some labels will testify. Cropwatch state that the ignorance of ecological and socio-political fall-out from trading in scarce or threatened species is “depressingly common”. So for all the millions that is spent on marketing “green”, “organic”, “natural” and “sustainable”, much of it is green washing designed to hide the dirty truth about un-savoury business practices that endanger the survival of species (as well as pollute our environment and poorly compensate indigenous peoples).

As you may have read in the “About” tab on this blog, Aromamuse aims to raise awareness about a more conscious way of living through Aromatherapy, by empowering you to be conscious aromacitizens.

Buying & using certified organic, wild crafted or bio-dynamically cultivated essential oils, carrier oils and hydrosols from ethical & sustainable suppliers and businesses helps to ensure:

That endangered species are protected (both animals and plants), minimising diversity loss and forest depletion
That our food chain and delicate ecosystems are not being poisoned by the use of pesticides & other chemicals/ toxins
That the welfare of indigenous peoples is put before business
That we are using the best possible quality products made from the purest ingredients for a positive & enduring affect on our mood, health and beauty over the long-term

We’ve highlighted the species of some of the more commonly used essential oils on the Cropwatch list, to help empower you to be as environmentally sound in your use and practice of Aromatherapy as possible. The full report can be downloaded at www.cropwatch.org. Given the vast number of alternatives for any given essential or carrier oil, you can decide whether you take a closer look at your supplier or even stop from using them at all. The following is a dip in the ocean, so be sure to check the list especially if you use the more unusual oils.

FYI Cropwatch has drawn attention to differences between individual status listing designations for the same threatened species between different organizations such as IUCN, TRAFFIC, FRA (Forests Resources Authority) etc. Google search the terms for more info on those.

AMYRIS OIL

“West Indian Sandalwood”. Amyris balsamifera L.

Distribution: The 3-6m. tree is distributed in S. Florida (where it is severely endangered), Belize; Costa Rica; Honduras; Nicaragua, Caribbean: Cuba; Hispaniola; Jamaica; Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Colombia; Ecuador

Status: Vulnerable Cropwatch (2004). For a number of years there have been predictions that this essential oil will eventually disappear from the market because of over-exploitation of the tree and habitat degradation (e.g. Joulain predicted depletion within 20 years in 1994).

ANISE SCENTED MYRTLE syn. ANISEED MYRTLE, AUSTRALIAN

Backhousia anisata Vickery (now renamed Anetholia anisata (Vickery) Peter G. Wilson).

Habitat: Restricted to Bellinger and Nambucca valleys of NE part of NSW, Australia. Some examples of this rare species are protected in the Dorringo National Park.

Status: Vulnerable (Cropwatch 2004). Briggs and Leigh (1995) list B. anisata as a rare or threatened plant, with a geographic range in Australia of less than 100 km. More than 1000 trees of the species exist in natural reserves and Briggs and Leigh (1995) consider the species’ status as adequate inside the reserves.

ARGAN

Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels. [Fixed oil pressed from the kernels in the drupes is used in cosmetics].

Distribution: This tree of twisted and convoluted appearance grows the Agadir region (S.W. Morocco) on calcarious and silicaceous soils around 1800 and can reach 10-12 meters.

Status: UNESCO declares 25,000 sq km of Argan forests a biosphere reserve in 1998. Vulnerable in Morocco (FRA 2005). IUCN: Not evaluated.

ARNICA syn. MOUNTAIN TOBACCO

Arnica montana L.

Distribution: 50,000 Kg of dried flowers are traded annually, generally being gathered non-sustainably from the Balkans & European countries, including Romania, Spain, Denmark & Norway. Germany is the largest importer of the dried flowers.

Status: TRAFFIC (2005) reports the plant as being critically endangered in Belgium, Bosnia, Croatia and Luxembourg; endangered in Belarus and the Netherlands; Vulnerable in Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal and Romania; and near threatened in Denmark and Norway (TRAFFIC Network, 2005).

CEDARWOOD ATLAS

Cedrus atlantica (Endl.) Manetti ex Carr

Distribution: At 1400-2500m. in the Moroccan Middle Atlas, Rif Central and Grand Atlas Oriental and Middle Atlas Oriental mountains (Mardaga 1999).

Status: Cedrus atlantica In: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2009 Version 2009.2. Reported as vulnerable in Morocco (FRA 2005). Endangered: FAO Panel of Experts 5th Report on Forest Gene Resources 7th Appendix. Conifer forests of N. Morocco (largely consisting of C. atlantica) which cover some 133,653 ha have been classified by WWF as Critical/Endangered. While cedarwood Atlas trees are well conserved in specific protected areas, the ecosystem is very fragile, and often the margins are subject to degradation by erosion, demineralization, dehydration, and desertification, occasionally resulting in areas of complete desolation, in spite of heroic attempts by the Moroccan authorities to maintain them (Cropwatch 2004).

FIR, BALSAM, syn FIR CANADIAN

Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.

Status: LR/lc Conifer Specialist Group (1998). Abies balsamea In: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2009. Version 2009.2.

FIR, SILVER

Abies alba (L.) Mill. syn. Abies pectinata (Lam.) DC

Status: LR/lc. Conifer Specialist Group (1998). Abies alba In: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2009. Version 2009.2. Critically endangered in Belarus (FRA 2005)

PINE, SCOTCH

Pinus silvestris L. Distribution: Austria, Sweden, Norway, and former USSR, also cultivated in the USA. It grows widely throughout Europe and parts of Asia. Status: LR/lc. Conifer Specialist Group (1998). Pinus sylvestris. In: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2009. Version 2009.2. Endangered: Albania (FRA 2005)

RAVENSARA

R. anisata Danguy et Choux (pseudonym for R. aromatica). Distribution: Madagascar.

Status: Destructive harvesting of bark (100 t/y) for production of essential oil from stem-bark threatens the species (Rasoanaivo 1997).

ROSEWOOD – ANIBA SPP.

aka Bois de Rose.

Distribution: Brazil (Amapá, Amazonas, Pará), Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Surinam, Venezuela.

Status Endangered (1998). Aniba rosaedora In: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2009. Version 2009.2. Threatened in Brazil: IBAMA (1992) Threatened in Columbia (Calderton 1997) Threatened in Surinam (Werkhoven 1997). Endangered.

SANDALWOOD, (SW) AUSTRALIAN

Santalum spicatum (R. Br.) A. DC Distribution: Northern S. Australia & S.W. Australia. The Forest Products Commission (FPC) suggests that distribution area of S. spicatum is 161,000 ha of which 80,000 ha is protected. The FPC further state that 2,000 t/y of dead or green sandalwood are exported to S.E. Asia for joss-stick making, or to India for distillation.

Status: Much reduced (in wild) through exploitation: (Mabberley 1998).

“…once grew throughout the medium- to low-rainfall areas of the south-western agricultural region of Australia; however, this resource has been exhausted by over-exploitation” Woodall & Robinson (2003) Protected in some reserves. Non-sustainably harvested in wild.

SPIKENARD

Nardostachys grandiflora (Jones) DC.

Distribution: Himalayas, Tibet, Bhutan, W. China.

Status: Annex V of the EU Habitats, Fauna and Flora Directive: (EUROPA 2003) Banned for export from Nepal (Forest Act 1993) & Uttah Pradesh. Vulnerable in Nepal: CAMP meeting Pokhara (2001).

SPRUCE, NORWAY

Picea abies (L.) Karst. syn. P. excelsa Link.

Distribution: Distributed over 14 countries in Central & NE Europe including Norway & Poland, Balkans etc.

Status: LR/lc Conifer Specialist Group (1998) Picea abies. In: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2009.

Take all research with a pinch of salt, do your own follow up research to qualify your sources and abide by your own conscience.