Thank you very much, hon. Member. Madam Speaker, since 2021, sandalwood is listed as a protected plant in the Forests and Reserves Act. As such, the Forestry Service and the National Plant Protection Office regulates the exploitation and export of sandalwood. I wish to inform the House that sandalwood tree is among the most expensive woods and commands high prices because of its cosmetic and therapeutic value, mainly for its essential oil. And, there is a huge international demand for sandalwood for this fragrant heartwood, its most valuable part, priced at over 400 USD per kg. As regards part (a) of the question, I wish to highlight that there are no licences that are issued in regard to the exploitation and trade of any protected plant. However, dealers of sandalwood are required to register with the Forestry Service to be able to conduct any activity

43 related to exploitation or trade and contraveners are liable to penalties established under the Forests and Reserves Act. During the past five years, 23 companies have been registered as sandalwood dealers by the Forestry Service. And as at date, only 11 of them are still active. Madam Speaker, just for the years 2023 and 2024, my Ministry, through the National Plant Protection Office, has issued 75 and 69 phytosanitary certificates for the exportation of 689 tonnes and 117 tonnes of sandalwood, respectively for export to different countries, namely; United Arab Emirates, India and China. These figures indicate that there is an overexploitation of sandalwood in Mauritius and this overexploitation is causing widespread destruction of sandalwood trees on both state and private properties. To address this issue, regulations were made in October 2024 to prevent the cutting and felling of sandalwood without the authorisation of the Conservator of Forests. Nonetheless, from January 2025 to date, phytosanitary certificates had been issued for the exportation of 98 tonnes of sandalwood. Madam Speaker, with a view to addressing the issue of theft of sandalwood in state lands and the continuous exploitation of the plant, the legislative framework was further strengthened in May 2025 whereby its cutting, felling, exploitation and export were banned for a period of 10 years to allow the species to regenerate as sandalwood is a relatively slow-grower. Any person caught contravening these regulations will inter alia be liable to pay five times the value of the forest-produce in addition to any penalty imposed by Court of law. Madam Speaker, with regard part (b)(i) of the question, the Forestry Service, for its part, is working on a programme for the reforestation of sandalwood species within the island. Moreover, technical advice is being dispensed to those willing to engage in sandalwood plantation. As for part (b)(ii), in order to enforce the regulations banning the exploitation and trade of sandalwood, regular patrols within state lands and reserves are being carried out by the Forestry Service. The assistance of the Special Mobile Force and police force is sought as and when required. Interventions are also carried out on private-owned lands within the island to combat the illegal harvesting of sandalwood.

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Thank you, hon. Minister. Yes, First Member for Rodrigues, Ms Collet. BUDGET SPEECH 2025-2026 – JUSTICE SYSTEM DIGITALISATION – PROJECT STATUS