Australia's largest private sandalwood grower, harvester, processor and exporter embarked on a name change last week, and with it a commitment to expand its Indigenous partnerships as it looks to increase export products into Asia.
Silvalis – formerly known as WA Sandalwood Plantations – manages and part-owns 15,000 hectares of sandalwood plantations, growing six million sandalwood trees across several sites in WA's Wheatbelt.
Darren Farmer is one of many Traditional Owners who work in collaboration with Silvalis, which has a consistent plantation supply of sandalwood and capacity to harvest at least 3000-4000 tonnes a year during the next two decades.
Mr Farmer said Traditional Owners had always had "a seat at the table" when it came to managing partnerships with Silvalis.
"These opportunities allow our people to not only live on the land, but work on the land," he said.
"It's a win-win for both sides. We could not have asked for a better partnership."
Silvalis said it was proud of its work with many Traditional Owners during the past decade, saying the partnerships were crucially important.
Executive chairman and co-founder Keith Drage said it was an honour and privilege to grow, promote and export "this beautiful and sustainable natural wood for more than 20 years, and we are all looking forward to the next 20 years a great deal".
"We plan to take a more active leadership role in the industry and work with all stakeholders – including the Federal Government, the WA Government and Traditional Owners – to continue to grow this extraordinary industry," he said.
Mr Drage successfully sourced funding over two decades to buy plantations in the late 1990s, aided by WA Government policy to attract major investments.
Along with current executive director and co-founder Ron Mulder, Silvalis has remained a consistent supplier of sandalwood, sourcing other sandalwood growers in the Wheatbelt and Traditional Owners across the Gascoyne, Goldfields and Gibson Desert in WA.
Sandalwood is one of the world's most fragrant and expensive woods, and first exported from WA by Europeans almost two centuries ago. Aboriginal communities, however, were trading the wood much earlier, using the tree's leaves, branches and wood for spiritual purposes in smoking ceremonies.
The sandalwood nut also has traditional uses in wound healing and as a food source.
Silvalis expects to export 1400 tonnes in the 2025 calendar year as demand globally increases, primarily due to the wellness industry and increased spend from emerging middle-class Chinese and India markets.