Summary of TRAFFIC Report "Heart of the Matter"

Heart of the Matter: Agarwood Use and Trade and CITES Implementation for Aquilaria malaccensis

By Barden A., Noorainie A.A., Mulliken T. and Song, M.

Aquilaria malaccensis is one of 15 tree species of genus Aquilaria, family of Thymelaeaceae. Sometimes it can produce resin-impregnated heartwood fragrant that is highly valuable. There are many names for this resinous wood, including agar, agarwood, aleoswood, eaglewood, gaharu and kalambak. It has a high demand for medicine, incense and perfumes across Asia and the Middle East countries.

A. malaccensis is widely distributed in south and south-east Asia. It is found in 10 countries which included Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Aquilaria species have adapted to live in various habitats, including those that are rocky, sandy or calcareous, well-drained slopes and ridges and land near swamps.

There are seven other Aquilaria species that are also considered threatened according to the IUCN Red List Categories where five of them are considered to be at risk from overexploitation for agarwood which are:

1. A. beccariana (Vulnerable),
2. A. crassna (Critically Endangered),
3. A. cumingiana (Vulnerable),
4. A. hirta (Vulnerable), and
5. A. microcarpa (Vulnerable).

Agarwood is not a uniform product, but instead possesses different characteristics. It is classified according to various grading systems that differ according to the product in trade and country in which trade is taking place. The grade and value of agarwood and agarwood derivatives such as oil is determined by a complex set of factors including:

1. Country of origin,
2. Fragrance strength and longevity,
3. Wood density,
4. Product purity,
5. Resin content,
6. Colour, and
7. Size of the form traded.

Uses of agarwood

Agarwood has three principal uses: medicine, perfume and incense. Smaller quantities are used for other purposes such as carvings. The uses are described in more detail below.

Use in medicine:

Agarwood has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years, and continues to be used in Ayurvedic, Tibetan and traditional East Asian medicine. Agarwood is prescribed in traditional East Asian medicine to promote the flow of qi, relieve pain, arrest vomiting by warming the stomach and relieving asthma. High quality agarwood powder is prescribed in Chinese medicine and it is also used in the production of pharmaceutical tinctures. Malaysians used agarwood mixed with coconut oil as a liniment; and also used in a boiled concoction to treat rheumatism and other body pain. Agarwood is also prescribe for dropsy, as a carminative, a stimulant, for heart palpitation, and as a tonic taken particularly during pregnancy, after childbirth and for diseases of female genital organs.

Use in perfume:

Both agarwood smoke and oil are customarily used as perfume in the Middle East countries. In India, various grades of agarwood are distilled separately before blending to produce final ‘attar’ which is traditionally used by Muslims to lace prayer clothes.

Use in incense:

Agarwood incense is burned to produce a pleasant aroma, its use ranging from a general perfume to an element of important religious occasions. Both Indians and Chinese have used agarwood as an essential ingredient of incense sticks in the past. However, nowadays, incense sticks generally do not contain agarwood. Instead, the light cream/brown powdery waste materials obtained from oil distillation are used to provide a basic carrier for other, cheaper, fragrant ingredients.

Other uses:

Except for the three uses listed above, agarwood also used in Malaysia for cosmetic purposes (particularly during sickness and after childbirth), ornamental boxes or tea boxes from healthy agarwood wood, sculptures which usually Buddhist figures, agarwood bead and necklaces, aromatic ingredient for wine in Taiwan, insect repellent, funeral pyres and many more.

Status and distribution in Malaysia

Three species of Aquilaria are found in Malaysia: A. hirta, A. malaccensis and A. rostrata. A. malaccensis is well distributed throughout Peninsular Malaysia, except for the States of Kedah and Perlis. It is confined mainly to plains, hill slopes and ridges up to 750m in both primary and secondary Malaysian lowland and hill dipterocarp forests. Although A. malaccensis enjoys good geographical coverage, its occurrence is rather rare. La Frankie studied Pasoh Forest Reserve, a typical lowland Malaysian forest density of 2.5/ha is found with agarwood tree with varied growth rate between 0 – 1.95cm/year.

One of the first attempts to cultivate Aquilaria occurred in 1982. However, original population density of 833/ha reduced to 31/ha in 1995 due to natural mortality and it is unknown whether any of these trees produce agarwood. Additional research has shown that Aquilaria can be artificially propagated and there are continuing laboratory experiments regarding artificial induction of agarwood formation.

Conclusion

Agarwood has been valued, used and traded internationally for more than 2,000 years. Recently, eight of Aquilaria species have been considered threatened and being listed in CITES Appendix. However, concern still remains for excessive illegal exploitation and trades of Aquilaria species. Available information indicates that, failing changes in current harvest and trade patterns continually decreasing the availability of agarwood and wild population of this Aquilaria species that produce it. Coordinate and cooperative actions between consumer country governments, businesses engaged in agarwood harvest, trades and related industries, research institutions and conservation organizations are required to derive a sustainable use of agarwood producing species.

So, let’s take our parts in sustaining this valuable agarwood producing species.

Together we can make a difference!

Gaharu wood new

Gaharu wood has high demand, but limited supply. Therefore, gaharu wood feeds a high value. Even the low quality gaharu wood can be sold at one gram with few hundreds to thousand Ringgit Malaysia. However, there is no generally acknowledged successful inoculation technology. Thus, they look for wild gaharu trees. 

On 27th February 2014, New Straits Times reported cases of illegal harvesting of wild gaharu trees. Director of Perak Forest Department, Datuk Roslan Ariffin announced the largest illegal harvesting of wild gaharu trees and these cases happened in the area of Royal Belum State Park in Nothern Perak. The following is the details of the news. 

IPOH: There has been an alarming increase in the number of foreigners encroaching on state forests and stealing precious wood, says the Perak Forestry Department yesterday.

Its director, Datuk Roslan Ariffin, said 10 foreigners and two locals were nabbed trying to smuggle gaharu from the Royal Belum State Park in three incidents recently.

"In the first arrest last Thursday, the Perak Anti-Smuggling Unit stopped four foreigners at Sungai Lebey Bandariang in Gerik and found gaharu on them."

In the second arrest on Saturday, a foreigner driving a four-wheel-drive was caught in Jalan Timur Barat Gerik-Jeli at 4.30pm.

On the same day, seven men, including five foreigners, were arrested in Bersia, Gerik, at 8.30pm.

"All suspects are aged between 25 and 35, and the gaharu seized are worth RM2 million," Roslan said, adding that the total amount of gaharu seized were 400kg.

Roslan urged villagers staying near the forest areas to be the department's eyes and ears to keep such illegal activities in check.

"Call us or the police," he said.

沉香木的报道

沉香木的需求高，但是，它的供应有限。因此，沉香木的价值很高。低品质的香木也可以以一克几千零吉的价钱卖出。而在沉香树种植的市场上，还没有一个公认有效的沉香诱导技术。因此大家都会打野生沉香树的主意。

就在今年4月26号，星洲日报报道了野生沉香树盗伐的案件。霹雳州森林局局长拿督罗期兰在发布会上公布了今年最大宗的野生沉香树盗伐的案件。而这起案件发生在北霹雳的森林保护区里。以下是这则新闻的报道。 

（霹靂‧怡保26日訊）霹靂州森林局局長拿督羅斯蘭說，該局於2月20及22日在北霹靂的森林保護區，破獲今年最大宗的盜伐原始沉香樹，12名本地和外籍人士分別涉及3項走私活動而被扣，起獲400公斤的沉香木，估計市值高達200萬令吉。

他今日召開新聞發佈會說，12名被扣者介於25至35歲，包括2名本地巫裔男子、5名越南籍男子和5名巴基斯坦籍男子，他們被控触犯1984年森林局法令（313法令）第68和84條文，罪成者可被判罰款不超過5萬令吉，或監禁不超過5年或兩者兼施。

“用來走私的四驅車、貨車、國產轎車、鋼鐵工具、塑料麻包袋已被充公。”

他說，這3宗走私案分別發生在20日凌晨1時（由內政部的防範走私單位執法）、22日下午4時30分（由防範走私單位巡邏發現）及晚上8時30分（由霹靂國家公園與野生動物保護局、皇家柏隆公園及大馬世界自然基金會巡邏發現）。

“執法人員偽裝成普通人，在森林保護區及附近公路上發現可疑的外籍人士，背著大袋木材和車輛載有木材，揭發不法活動。”

他將執法行動的成就歸功於各單位參與的國家藍海策略與“一個天然資源和環境部執法組”。他說，走私地點位於北霹靂的皇家柏隆公園（總面積11萬7千500公頃）和安定繁榮森林保護區（總面積1萬8千866公頃）。

走私沉香木或製香薰產品

羅斯蘭說，走私的沉香木很可能被加工製成香薰產品如值錢的精油，短如尾指的小瓶精油市值500至2千令吉。

他指出，市場上的沉香木分為A（市值每公斤8千至1萬令吉）、B（市值每公斤5千至8千令吉）和C級（市值每公斤1千至5千令吉），越高級（A級）的沉香木色澤越黑香味越濃。

霹森林保護區通大路易走私

羅斯蘭說，由於公路穿梭霹靂州的森林保護區，如東西大道、新邦波賴金馬崙大道及打巴金馬崙公路，所以走私人士容易盜伐原始樹木。

“他們開車到森林的公路旁，放下外勞就離開。”他呼吁居住在森林保護區附近的人士，若發現當地出現可疑人士和交通工具，可聯絡森林局或警方。

Identification and selection of gaharu

There is a China gaharu authority website that teaches us how to identify and select gaharu products. The following article is taken and translated from this gaharu authority website.

Identification and selection of gaharu

The aroma will enter into the heart through nose and mouth. Thus, it has a very direct impact on the physical and mental aspects. Therefore, good quality aromas need to have pleasant smell, without bringing risk to the health and can recuperate our physical and mental. These are the basic principles in identification of gaharu products. Its aroma has various forms. In terms of cultures (Wén), its about living a healthy lifestyle; in terms of quality (zhì), its about enhancing one's health. With the healthy lifestyle and enhanced health, it’s the essence and real beauty for gaharu.

            However, there are wide ranges of gaharu. Thus, it is unsuitable to generalise the identification of gaharu. So, the following aspects listed should be paid attention during the identification.

Raw materials, formulation and processing

Natural flavours (including natural spices extracts) have higher health value as compared to synthetic fragrances. Synthetic fragrances are mostly made from coals chemicals, petrochemicals and other chemical raw materials that contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and other elements. It smells good, however, the chemical substances do bring a different levels of health hazards especially for smouldering incense products.

            Natural spices, as a contrast, it has high health values, nice aroma and rich in nutrient. Precious spice incense products are generally categorized as “chén tán lóng shè” which refers to gaharu, sandalwood, ambergris and musk. Gaharu is the essence in these four types of high quality spices. There are also other good quality spices that are widely used which are turmeric, roses and more.

            A good quality spices just like medicine. Both of them need to have good materials and good recipe. Single spice’s potency is usually biased. Thus, when we have two same quality spices (pure and mixture of spices), often, mixture of spices is more effective as compared to the pure spice.

Aroma characteristics

For people with general usage of incense, it is difficult for them to determine the incense quality from its appearance. So, smelling is the most direct and reliable determination method. However, there is a higher requirement on the person. There are some people that unawarely using poor quality incense. Unconsciously they formed habits of using low quality incense which can lead to low evaluation criteria. For new incense products, even experienced incense connoisseur might not able to have the right judgement. But, everything has a learning process. With more attention and careful during identification of gaharu quality, you will be more experienced. Thus, being able to determine a good quality gaharu will not be a problem. 

Due to different types of gaharu, there is no standard method in the identification. However, good quality of gaharu generally has the following characteristics:

• Fresh aroma and would not feel dizziness even smell it for a long time.
• Feeling refresh and sense of pleasure that would not cause impatient.
• Mellow smell, would not feel irritate even take a deep breath.
• Even it smell rich, you will not feel greasy. Or if the smell indifferent, its aroma also clearly discernible.
• Cannot trace any artificial flavour in the aroma even when the smell is obvious. You still can experience the natural smell.
• Its smell can make people relax and be in quiet and beautiful mood.
• It could produce a sense of physical and mental nourishment which make people willing to be in it.
• Mellow smell and you would not feel tired or bored with the smell.
• Long lasting.
• Natural gaharu can often reveal bitter and herbs smell from the aroma.
• Higher quality smouldering incense often have pale green whitish smoke, slightly smoke or smoke free.

            Abovementioned is just the general quality characteristics of gaharu. For the highest quality of gaharu, without personal experience, its smell is far beyond your imagination. Ancients describe high quality incense is panacea. It can help people with diseases. To have this high quality incense, your need to have superior quality gaharu, extraordinary recipe and professional incense maker. However, these are very hard to find in nowadays market.

Appearance

Basically, ordinary people are unable to determine gaharu quality just from its appearance. To make incense, all the materials need to go through a meticulous grinding and mixing processes. So, you can hardly see even one spice extract characteristic from its appearance. Low quality chemical additives can be used in making the incense surface look more attractive, smooth and clean while for most natural spices, its is in grey colour. Other than that, low quality chemical fragrance also can be used in producing pleasant aroma. Packaging also can be used in feigning a high quality and high grade incense. For a medium or low quality gaharu raw materials, it is unlikely that you cannot differentiate it. However, there are many ways could be applied to cover up and modify its quality.

            Hence, appearance could only provide limited information. High quality gaharu may look indifferent while low quality gaharu may look gorgeous. Therefore, we should be careful while determine the quality so that we would not mislead by its appearance. Basically, the most reliable identification method is through its aroma. For incense and incense coil, it could be determined with its weight. Although it’s not saying that heavier incense is better quality, but generally, lighter incense are mostly made from low quality raw materials such as plant ashes. Nevertheless, you cannot determine its quality by looking at their “volume”. There are many thick and long incense is made without proper compression which also means its materials bind very loose. 

For more information, please feel free to contact me with following contact details:

Office: +60 82 456095 (Ms. Jong)

Email: +60 14 6995976

沉香的鉴别与选择

中国权威沉香门户的沉香网当中有教我们该如何鉴别。而以下的文章就是从沉香网当中刊登的。

香气从口鼻入，通于肺腑气血，对身心两方面都有很直接的影响。所以，好香既要芳香宜人，还须不危害健康，且能调养身心，这应是鉴别香品的基本原则。可以说，其芳香是形式的，“文”的方面；其养生是内容的，“质”的方面。以养生养心为基础，达到芳香宜人，才是文质相成，真正的美轮美奂。

对于香品的鉴别，由于种类繁多，不便一概而论，但应注意以下几个方面：

原料、配方、工艺

天然香料（包括天然香料的萃取物）的养生价值远高于合成香料。合成香料系化学制品，其原料取自煤化工原料、石油化工原料等含有碳、氢、氧等元素的化学材料，虽然气味芳香，但作为化学制剂，对健康都存在不同程度的危害，熏烧类的香品尤其明显。

而天然香料正好相反，几乎都是药用植物，不仅有香气，还含有十分丰富的营养成分。名贵的品香香料一般是：“沉檀龙麝”，指的是沉香、檀香、龙涎香、麝香，以沉香为首，其它的还有郁金、玖瑰等，

好香就像良药，既要有好的材料，还要有好的配方。单一香料药性常有偏颇，所以若原料品级相同，其功效常不及多种香料配成的合香。而在两种合香之间，品质的高下则取决于香方的水准。

香气特征

对于普通的用香者来说，很难从外观上判断出香品的质量，所以品味香气是最直接也是较为可靠的鉴别方法。不过，这也对鉴赏者的水平有较高的要求。有些人可能长期使用品质较差的香而不觉察，不知不觉中形成了一些不好的用香习惯和评价标准；对于新接触的香品，即使有经验的用香者也未必能有正确的判断。但凡事都有一个学习的过程，只要注意多积累经验，多用心，培养出较好的判断力也不是件难事。

由于不同的香品其风格各异，没有划一的鉴别方法，但品质较好的香其香气一般都具有以下特点：

•香气清新，爽神，久用也不会有头晕的感觉；

•醒脑提神，有愉悦之感，但并不使人心浮气躁；

•香味醇和，浓淡适中，深呼吸也不觉得冲鼻；

•香味即使浓郁，也不会感觉气腻，即使恬淡，其香也清晰可辨；

•没有“人造香味”的痕迹，香气即使较为明显，也能体会到一种自然品质；

•使人身心放松，心绪沉静幽美；

•有滋养身心之感，使人愿意亲之近之；

•气息醇厚，耐品味，多用也无厌倦之感；

•留香较为持久；

•天然香料作的香，常能感觉到在芳香之中透出一些轻微的涩味和药材味；

•较好的熏烧类的香品，其烟气浅淡，为青白色，或微烟、无烟。

以上只是普通优质香的特点，至于上乘的极品合香，其美妙神奇则远远超出常人的经验，没有切身的体会难以想象。古人所云好香如妙药灵丹，可助人化病疗疾，开窍通关，悟妙成真，皆非虚言。要制出这样的好香，不仅要有上乘的香材，妙验的香方，还须有极高明的制香家，现在一般的市面上已很难见到了。

香品的外观

对普通人而言，基本上无法从香品的外观判断其品质。

香的原料在制作过程中都要经过细致的粉碎、搅拌处理，在成品中丝毫看不出材质的特点；利用劣质的染色剂可以调出漂亮的颜色（而天然香料做的香，颜色其实大多偏灰）；利用特殊的化学添加剂可以轻易使香品表面变得光滑洁净；利用低档的化学香精就可以芳香怡人；在包装上更容易貌似优质与高档。即使对于原态香材，也仅仅是稍好一点，不至于完全看不出优劣，但也有很多办法来掩盖和修改。

所以，香品外观所能提供的信息非常有限，质优香可能外观平平，质劣香可能外观华美。所以，应注意别被香品的外观所误导，基本上还是要靠香气来鉴别。

对于线香和盘香，还可以掂量其重量，虽然不是越重越好，但一般而言，很轻的香质量都较差，大多是使用了草木灰之类的原料。但不要看其“体积”，许多很粗很长的香，其实材料很疏松。

如有任何疑问，欢迎您联系我。
办公室号码：+60 82 456095
Email: hopebiotech.jong@gmail.com