Growing ‘The Wood of The Gods’: Agarwood Production in Southeast Asia - Smallholder Tree Growing for Rural Development and Environmental Services - page 233

Chapter 12
Growing 'The Wood of The Gods': Agarwood
Production in Southeast Asia
G.A. Persoon 1 * and H. Heuveling van Beek 2
Abstract Agarwood, also known as eaglewood or gaharu , is a valuable non-timber
forest product which sometimes grows in Aquilaria species. The genus species
occur mainly in South and Southeast Asia. As a result of a defense mechanism to
fend off pathogenes, Aquilaria species develop agarwood which can be used for
incense, perfume, and traditional medicines. The main markets for these products
are in South and East Asia and the Middle East.
The high prices demanded for agarwood has led to the rapid depletion of
Aquilaria trees in natural forests. The search for agarwood has spread from one
country to another. At present Indonesia and Papua New Guinea are the main sup-
plies. Because of the rapid depletion of the agarwood in the wild, the species was
put on the CITES Appendix II as endangered.
Efforts have been undertaken to increase the production of the infected wood by
deliberately wounding the trees. A variety of methods is used towards this end.
Some recently developed techniques have proven to be most effective. This resulted
in planting of Aquilaria trees by small holders as well as large industrial size
plantations.
In this chapter we shall discuss a particular agarwood project in Vietnam and
some other locations elsewhere promoting growing of Aquilaria trees among small
holders. The general approach of the project to stimulate the growing of the trees
among local communities will be discussed against the background of the interna-
tional demand for this highly valuable non-timber forest product. Finally some
potential developments of the future will be described.
Keywords Domestication, future developments, plantations, Vietnam, wild
harvesting