Agarwood

Agarwood Latest News

Recently, the Assam government shipped the first legally approved export of agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis) chips to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

About Agarwood

• It is a species of tree belonging to the Thymelaeaceae family.
• It is also known as Oud, Gaharu or Agar
• The Aquilaria tree is a fast-growing, subtropical forest tree.
• The resin is produced as a defence mechanism due to the intense stress suffered by the trees when they are infected by a type of mold belonging to the Phaeoacremonium species (Phialophora parasitica).
• Distribution: It is mainly found in South Asia’s Himalayan foothills, throughout Southeast Asia, and into the rainforests of Papua New Guinea.
  • In India, it grows in the wild in the Northeast, especially in Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur.
• Soil: Aquilaria can grow on a wide range of soils, including poor sandy soil.
• Applications of Agarwood: It is one of the world’s most valuable aromatic raw materials and is widely used in luxury perfumes, incense, cosmetics and traditional products across the Gulf, Europe, and Southeast Asia.

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Conservation Status of Agarwood

• IUCN: Critically Endangered. 
• CITES: Appendix II 

Source: TH