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!