Rosewood Conservation: Safeguarding Biodiversity and Cultural Heritage Through Ethical Practices

Native to the Amazon Basin, rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora) has a rich and lengthy history that connects with both local customs and international trade. For generations, people have valued the tree's aromatic wood and leaves, and essential oil for its cultural, therapeutic, and economic benefits. However, modern exploitation has led to the devastation of its populations, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable practices.

Traditional Uses by Indigenous Communities

For indigenous peoples of the Amazon, particularly the Shipibo-Conibo of the Peruvian Amazon (Ablard, K., personal communication, January 2, 2025), rosewood has been a crucial part of their relationship with the natural world. The tree was valued not only for its aromatic qualities but also for its medicinal and spiritual significance (Ablard, 2016; Ablard, 2019).

The bark and wood were used to create decoctions for treating ailments such as headaches, muscle pain, infections, and depression (Ablard, 2016; Teles et al. 2020; da Trindade et al. 2021). Its high linalool content—a naturally occurring terpene alcohol known for its calming and antimicrobial properties—is likely a key factor in its therapeutic effectiveness. Rosewood tinctures and wood were used in spiritual rituals and ceremonies (Ablard, 2019), often burned or anointed on the body to invoke a sense of peace and connection to nature. Indigenous artisans crafted tools, utensils, and ceremonial objects from rosewood due to its durability and pleasant scent.

The linalool concentration in rosewood oil, which can reach up to 90% (Tisserand & Young, 2014), is primarily due to the presence of the licareol enantiomer. This enantiomer is predominant in the essential oil extracted from the wood, as opposed to the leaves, and gives the oil its signature sweet, floral, and woody aroma. It is also responsible for many of its calming and skin-soothing properties, making it highly sought after in both traditional medicine and modern aromatherapy.

 The Rise of Rosewood in Global Commerce

In the 19th and 20th centuries, rosewood’s fame spread beyond the Amazon. European perfumers discovered the oil’s unique fragrance profile and began incorporating it into luxury perfumes, with iconic scents like Chanel No. 5 featuring rosewood oil as one of the main ingredients. The discovery of rosewood oil’s high linalool content also spurred its use in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries (May & Barata, 2004; Nadine et al. 2015).

Rosewood oil became a valued ingredient due to its ability to blend seamlessly with other oils and create complex, lasting fragrances. Its calming and uplifting properties led to its use in relieving stress, anxiety, and emotional tension (dos Santos et al. 2018). The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects of linalool made rosewood oil a popular addition to skincare products for soothing irritated or acne-prone skin (Teles et al. 2020).

The Destruction of Rosewood in the Modern World

The global demand for rosewood oil skyrocketed in the mid-20th century, fueling unsustainable harvesting practices that have devastated wild populations (May & Barata, 2004; Barstow, 2021). Traditional, selective harvesting methods—often practiced by indigenous communities—were replaced by large-scale logging operations aimed at maximizing profits.

The extraction of rosewood oil, which requires both the heartwood and sapwood, has significantly contributed to the species' decline. Overharvesting practices, including the indiscriminate felling of entire trees and their roots, have left little opportunity for natural regeneration. Additionally, there are no signs of regeneration, as rosewood seeds or seedlings are not being replanted to help mitigate the impact of population decline. Large-scale deforestation to access rosewood has led to the destruction of vast rainforest areas, resulting in the loss of biodiversity and disruption of fragile ecosystems. The high demand for rosewood oil has also fuelled illegal logging, particularly in remote Amazon regions, where proper law enforcement can be problematic.

By the 1990s, it became clear that rosewood populations had reached critically low levels, prompting calls from conservationists for stronger regulations to protect the species.

Rosewood Conservation Status

Rosewood is currently listed as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List (Barstow, 2021) underscoring its risk of extinction in the wild if threats persist. Additionally, it is listed under Appendix II of CITES, which mandates permits for its international trade. These measures aim to regulate its use and prevent further depletion.

Preserving Rosewood and Biodiversity

The decline of rosewood populations is not merely a story of one species in peril; it highlights the cascading effects of biodiversity loss and the urgent need for sustainable practices.

Rosewood trees are integral to the Amazon rainforest ecosystem, acting as one of the potential keystone species that supports a diverse web of life, including countless species of plants, animals, and microorganisms. Protecting rosewood is protecting the balance of life within the rainforest, as it plays a pivotal role in maintaining ecological stability and sustaining the rich biodiversity that depends on it.

Why Protecting Rosewood Matters?

The tree’s flowers provide nectar for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and toucans, which are vital not only for the reproduction of rosewood but also for the survival of countless other plant species in the Amazon rainforest. Its fruits attract seed dispersers like birds and small mammals, ensuring the regeneration of the forest floor. These interactions create a symbiotic network that underpins the health and resilience of the rainforest (Santos et al. 2008).

The decline of rosewood has far-reaching consequences. Without it, pollinators lose a critical food source, leading to cascading effects on other plants that rely on the same pollinators. Seed dispersers, too, face dwindling resources, which can disrupt the natural cycle of forest regrowth. Additionally, rosewood trees contribute to soil health by stabilizing it with their root systems, reducing erosion and helping retain moisture. They also play a role in carbon sequestration, capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide and mitigating climate change impacts (Santos et al. 2008; CITES, 2010).

For indigenous communities, rosewood holds both practical and cultural significance. Its loss threatens not just biodiversity but also the cultural heritage and livelihoods of those who have depended on it for generations (May & Barata, 2004; Santos et al. 2008). Safeguarding rosewood is crucial for maintaining the health of a fragile ecosystem and securing a sustainable future for generations to come. 

"When ethically sourcing, you not only protect one species at a time; you protect thousands."

Kelly Ablard, PhD, RA®, EOT®, MIFPA, Essence of Thyme College's Co-Principal, Sustainability and Conservation Expert

Current Conservation Challenges

Rosewood faces a range of conservation challenges despite its protected status. Some of these include:

• Illegal logging remains rampant, particularly in remote areas where enforcement is difficult. Driven by high market demand for its linalool-rich essential oil, rosewood is often harvested without permits, bypassing international regulations.
• Overharvesting compounds the problem, as unsustainable extraction practices target both mature and young trees, leaving little opportunity for natural regeneration. The destruction often extends to the roots, further hindering any chance of recovery.
• Complicating these issues is the lack of effective enforcement in the Amazon’s inaccessible regions. Limited resources and vast, remote territories make it challenging to monitor and prevent illegal activities.
• Climate change intensifies these threats, as shifting weather patterns and rising temperatures disrupt rosewood’s growth and reproduction cycles. Combined with large-scale deforestation, these factors jeopardize the survival of rosewood populations and the ecosystems they support.

Addressing these challenges requires coordinated global efforts to enforce protections, promote sustainable practices, and mitigate climate impacts.

How Sustainable Practices Can Make a Difference

Sustainability is essential not only for conserving rosewood, but also as a broader model for protecting natural resources worldwide. Ethical and environmentally responsible methods can safeguard rosewood populations while preserving the intricate ecosystems they support.

One critical step is ensuring compliance with CITES regulations, which require permits for rosewood trade. Consumers and businesses alike should prioritize suppliers that demonstrate transparency and adhere to these standards. Supporting community-driven initiatives is equally important; partnering with indigenous and local communities helps maintain ecological balance while respecting cultural traditions.

Reforestation programs also play a pivotal role by actively restoring rosewood populations in deforested areas, rejuvenating habitats and biodiversity in the process.

In addition, some people opt for rosewood oil extracted from the leaves, which offers a more sustainable alternative to the heartwood oil—though it does present a slightly different chemical and fragrance profile.

Consumer Awareness and Education

Consumers hold significant power in influencing sustainable practices. By choosing products from reputable brands committed to ethical sourcing, they can reduce the demand for illegally harvested rosewood. Advocating for transparency in the supply chain further reinforces accountability among suppliers. Additionally, spreading awareness about rosewood’s ecological and cultural importance can inspire others to make more sustainable choices.

A Path Forward: Ethical Aromatherapy

Rosewood essential oil, cherished in aromatherapy for its calming and uplifting properties, faces an uncertain future. Protecting this precious resource hinges on balancing its therapeutic uses with responsible environmental stewardship.

Ethical aromatherapy practices can play a pivotal role in safeguarding rosewood while ensuring that the natural world continues to thrive.

Steps for Ethical Aromatherapy Practices:

1. Explore Sustainable Alternatives: Essential oils like ho wood (Cinnamomum camphora var. glavescens ct. linalool) or lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), which also contain high levels of linalool, offer similar benefits while reducing pressure on rosewood populations.
2. Support Conservation-Focused Brands: Choose companies that actively engage in reforestation and biodiversity conservation initiatives.
3. Educate the Community: Raise awareness among clients and fellow practitioners about how essential oil production impacts biodiversity and the importance of sustainable choices.

What WE Can Do To Help?

At Essence of Thyme College, we prioritize ethical sourcing and sustainability in aromatherapy education. Through our partnership with the Airmid Plant Protection Program, we support plant conservation and promote responsible practices that benefit both people and the planet. Our curriculum, which spans all levels of certification, is designed to teach you how to work with essential oils, carrier oils, and other plant materials within a sustainable framework.

Call for Support: If you can donate rosewood oil samples to the Airmid Institute for a study currently underway in collaboration with Laboratoire Phytochemia, which focuses on highlighting the prevalence of adulteration in this oil, please contact [email protected] for more details.

Download our free e-book, "Ethical Sourcing of Essential Oils: 7 Tips for Compassionate Choices", and start making informed, impactful decisions for a more sustainable future in aromatherapy. Every decision we make when purchasing or choosing a supplier can contribute to a more ethical and sustainable aromatherapy industry. The 7 steps we've outlined will help guide you in making compassionate choices that protect both the environment and the communities that rely on these precious resources.

Preserving the Legacy of Rosewood

Rosewood’s story is one of beauty, resilience, and vulnerability. Its aromatic essence has touched lives across the globe, yet its survival is under threat. We can guarantee that rosewood will continue to flourish—not just as an ingredient but also as an essential part of the biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest—by adopting sustainable methods, educating ourselves and others, and supporting conservation initiatives. We can preserve rosewood, the ecosystems it sustains, and the cultural legacy it embodies if we work together.

References

Ablard, K. (2016). Exploring aromatherapy as a form of traditional aromatic plant medicine in Peru. International Journal of Professional Holistic Aromatherapy, 5(1), 51–60.

Ablard, K. (2019, March 30). Peruvian rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora Ducke): Its threats, therapeutic uses, spiritual qualities, and protectors [Webinar]. National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy.

Barstow, M. (2021). Aniba rosodora. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T33958A88301381. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T33958A88301381.en. Accessed January 2, 2025.

CITES. (2010). Proposal to amend the CITES Appendices I and II: Proposal 29. Fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, Doha, Qatar, 13-25 March 2010. https://cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/cop/15/prop/E-15-Prop-29.pdf

da Trindade, R. C. S., Xavier, J. K. A. M., Setzer, W. N., Maia, J. G. S., & da Silva, J. K. R. (2021). Chemical diversity and therapeutic effects of essential oils of Aniba species from the Amazon: A review. Plants (Basel, Switzerland), 10(9), 1854. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10091854

dos Santos, É. R. Q., Maia, C. S. F., Fontes Junior, E. A., Melo, A. S., Pinheiro, B. G., & Maia, J. G. S. (2018). Linalool-rich essential oils from the Amazon display antidepressant-type effect in rodents. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 212, 43–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2017.10.013

May, P., & Barata, L. (2004). Rosewood exploitation in the Brazilian Amazon: Options for sustainable production. Economic Botany, 58, 257–265. https://doi.org/10.1663/0013-0001(2004)058[0257:REITBA]2.0.CO;2

Nadine, A., Amusant, D., Digeon, A., Descroix, L., Bruneau, O., Bezard, V., & Beauchene, J. (2015). Planting rosewood for sustainable essential oil production: Influence of surrounding forest and seed provenance on tree growth and essential oil yields. BOIS & FORÊTS DES TROPIQUES, 326, 57–65. https://doi.org/10.19182/bft2015.326.a31283

Santos, R. P., Spironello, W. R., & Sampaio, P. T. B. (2008). Genetic diversity in rosewood saplings (Aniba rosaeodora Ducke, Lauraceae): An ecological approach. Acta Amazonica, 38(4). https://doi.org/10.1590/S0044-59672008000400014

Teles, A. M., Silva-Silva, J. V., Fernandes, J. M. P., Calabrese, K. D. S., Abreu-Silva, A. L., Marinho, S. C., Mouchrek, A. N., Filho, V. E. M., & Almeida-Souza, F. (2020). Aniba rosaeodora (Var. amazonica Ducke) essential oil: Chemical composition, antibacterial, antioxidant, and antitrypanosomal activity. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland), 10(1), 24. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10010024

Tisserand, R., & Young, R. (2014). Essential oil safety: A guide for health care professionals (2nd ed.). Churchill Livingstone.

Article by: Essence of Thyme College of Holistic Studies

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Essence of Thyme College of Holistic Studies offers 300- and 630-hour professional aromatherapy certification programs that help you grow a successful, fulfilling career by specializing and creating your market niche. Professional Level Certification prepares graduates to become aromatherapy consultants, launch product lines or retail businesses, or provide services as an adjunct to existing holistic health specializations. Master Level Certification and electives are ideal for certified aromatherapists seeking higher education or a path to clinical aromatherapy practice.

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