The sneezewood's usefulness has put it in danger of extinction in the Eastern Cape.

The article discusses the historical overutilization of the sneezewood tree (Ptaeroxylon obliquum) in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Topics include the impact of European settlers on sneezewood populations due to industrial demand for its durable timber; the cultural significance of sneezewood for the Xhosa people; and the ongoing challenges in finding mature sneezewood trees today, a legacy of historical exploitation and ecological imbalance.