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.