Agarwood, one of the most expensive woods globally due to its aromatic properties, is also used in religious-cultural practices.
Leaves of Agarwood tree. (Creative Commons)
A factsheet prepared jointly by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) and TRAFFIC — a global NGO working for the conservation of biodiversity — says the three species of agarwood found in India are threatened by illegal harvesting and trade.
Agarwood is the common name for the resinous aromatic resin formed in the heartwood of the genera Aquilaria trees.
Agarwood is one of the most expensive woods in the world due to the aromatic properties of its bark. It is also used in religious and cultural practices. Due to its aroma, medicinal properties and religious usage, it is termed the “Wood of the Gods”.
Out of the 21 known species of Agarwood, 13 generate aromatic resins, in response to injury and infection by a specific fungus. India is home to three Agarwood species, of which Aquilaria khasiana and Aquilaria malaccensis are agarwood resin-producing species.
While Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and West Bengal are the states where Agarwood trees are grown naturally in India, it is also being cultivated in the Western Ghats.
Aquilaria khasiana is endemic to the Khasi hills in Meghalaya.
Agarwood Tree. (WWF)
Both these species are protected in India as per Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, as they are critically endangered.
A statement issued by TRAFFIC said the Export-Import (EXIM) Policy of India restricts the trade of agarwood due to its listing in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Any violations of the EXIM policy make the goods liable for confiscation and the individual(s) liable to punishment under India’s Customs Act, 1962.
However, the report says that the illegal trade of agarwood is on a high in recent years with smuggling attempts being thwarted in several states.
“The illegal trade of agarwood and its derivatives has continued in India, with more than 1.25 tonnes and six litres of oil and derivatives reportedly seized in six states, including Assam, Delhi and Kerala, between 2017 and 2021,” says the report.
Agarwood. (Creative Commons)
Assam, Delhi, Kerala, Maharashtra, Telangana, and West Bengal have reported incidents of agarwood smuggling to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates, it says.
According to the CITES Trade Database, from 2017 to 2021, India exported over 141 tonnes of agarwood to the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Thailand. The UAE imported more than half of the overall reported quantities.
India imported more than 142 tonnes of agarwood simultaneously (importer reported quantity) from Australia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, UAE, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Bhutan, Switzerland, France, and Vietnam, says the report.
Over one-third of the agarwood was imported from Indonesia and Singapore, according to the report. The large quantity of derivatives in trade highlights agarwood demand in international markets and India’s position in the trade.
Agarwood Tree. (Creative Commons)
The report, which provides information about the species, interesting facts, legal status and threats from the illegal wildlife trade, says agarwood has been overexploited throughout its range for its fragrant heartwood, threatening its population.
“It continues to be traded in significant quantities to and from India. The species is exploited for its valuable aromatic heartwood, a source of ‘agaru’ and agar oil, the most preferred raw materials in perfumery and traditional medicines,” says the report.
It is used in treating ailments like asthma, colic, chest congestion, diarrhoea, body ache, and rheumatism and is also said to possess anti-cancer properties.
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