From the tropical rain forests in Sumatra and Kalimantan to Papua and the pastures of Nusa Tenggara, land in Indonesia has one of the most extensive biodiversity on earth.
From its diversity, Indonesia is also known as one of the largest source of gaharu or agarwood, the most expensive wood in the world.
Valued in many cultures for its distinctive fragrance and used extensively in incense and perfumes, gaharu has been traded for thousands of years throughout Asia.
Inaugurating the first direct agarwood exports to China here recently, Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hassan said gaharu potential in Indonesia was predicted to increase by 600,000 tons per year with its production centers in Papua, Kalimantan, and Sumatra.
Indonesia`s gaharu commodity has been able to penetrate the Chinese market after being exported through third countries such as Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
The forestry minister said that the world`s gaharu demand at international market was 4,000 tons per year with China as one of the largest importer with 500 tons a year.
Indonesia has so far been exporting gaharu to Saudi Arabia, Arab Emirates Union, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, European Union, and the United States.
Zulkifli said that in the past five years Indonesia exported 170 to 573 tons of gaharu with an estimated foreign exchange earnings of US$26,8 million in 2006 and increased by US$86 million in 2010. "We hope that in the years to come our exported gaharu is not only taken from natural forest but also from cultivation," Zulkifli said, adding that the agarwood was exported in the forms of chips, blocks, powder, and oil. Gaharu cultivation has been developed in Bangka island, Sukabumi, Bogor, Lampung, and East Nusa Tenggara.
Average price
2006 = USD26.8million for 170 tons. Price per tons = USD157,647.00. Price per kilo = USD157.00
2010 = USD86.0million for 573 tons. Price per tons = USD150,087.00. Price per kilo = USD150.00
Following a success made by Indonesian gaharu exporters to penetrate international markets in China, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, European Union, and the United States, farmers in Langkat district, North Sumatra, have turned to agarwood planting to meet international market demand. "We are developing a gaharu tree plantation to meet international market demand," Langkat district gaharu farmers group spokesman Mahmuddin Sani has said on Tuesday.
Therefore he called on gaharu farmers in Langkat to utilize the increasingly promising agarwood overseas market opportunity by stepping up the quality of the commodity. He said the farmers were also encouraged to actively cultivate gaharu plants in their agricultural areas because to meet the potential international market demand, Indonesia still relies on the commodity in the natural forest.
Meanwhile, Langkat Forestry and Plantation Office`s Land Rehabilitation chief Jonner Pane said seven species of gaharu plant namely Aquilaria Malacensis, Aqurolaria Filaria, Aqularia Microcarga, Actoxylon Simpetthaluum, Aquilaria Aqalocha, Aquilaria Hirta, and Aquilaria Becariana were found at Bahorok, Sei Bingei, Salapian, and Wampu sub-distircts in Langkat.
According to agarwoodindonesia.com, the most highly priced agarwood are from the families of Aquilaria Crassna, Aquilaria Malacensis, Aquilaria Beccariana, and Aquilaria Fillaria because of their high quality. Meanwhile, an international gaharu seminar is scheduled to be held in Bangka Tengah district, Bangka-Belitung (Babel) province in July this year. Bangka Tengah forestry and plantation office spokesman Mahmuddin said the representatives from 26 countries, signing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora, would participate in the event.
"In that upcoming seminar we will propose a revision on gaharu export restriction, agreed in the previous CITES meeting, to provide opportunities for gaharu farmers in Bangka Tengah to export their products," Mahmuddin said in Bangka Tengah district town of Koba recently. Because of excessive hunting for their woods and resin gaharu becomes very rare and is now on CITES appendix II, meaning that this wood in only allowed to be traded in a very small quota. As one of the largest exporter of agarwood, Indonesia restricted its exporting quota into 300 tons per year but only 10 to 20 percent were met.
Mahmuddin explained that in the seminar the participants would be encouraged to revise gaharu export restriction following the high interest of local agar-wood farmers in raising the world`s most expensive wood. "We are going to propose the upcoming international forum not to restrict the areas or countries which cultivate gaharu or agar wood," Mahmuddin said, adding that a lot of farmers in Bangka Tengah district had a profound interest in cultivating gaharu.
Increasing use of herbal medicine from organic materials has made gaharu increasingly sought as raw material for drugs for various disorders such as stress, asthma, liver, kidney failure, gastroenteritis, colitis, rheumatism, and tumors. Now gaharu is also used in making cosmetics and thus it can be sold at Rp2-5 million per kilogram for average quality and for super quality it can be Rp18 million per kilogram.
But Indonesia Gaharu Association chairman Mashur has said the high quality of agarwood from Aquilaria Filaria in the forest of East Kalimantan could be priced at Rp150 million per kilogram. It is on that basis that the development of gaharu can strongly support the government`s forest conservation program.
Mahmuddin explained that since the past few years the farmers in Bangka Tengah district have been developing gaharu cultivation and up to 2011 there were a total of 235,000 agarwood trees in the district. "Therefore we hope the international gaharu seminar in Bangka Tengah will be of great significance for the local farmers," Mahmuddin said.
Source:Antara news
Minggu, 20 Juli 2014
Gaharu: Indonesia's endangered fragrant wood
Indonesia is known as one of the world's producers of gaharu, also called agarwood or just agar, the resinous heartwood from Aquilaria trees, of which 26 species can be found in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and Papua.
The existence of these trees, however, is under threat.
Gaharu is valued in many cultures for its distinctive fragrance, and has been widely used as an incense as well as for perfumes and medicine.
Yana Sumarna, an employee at the Center for Forest Research and Development and Nature Conservation, at Bogor's Forestry Research Agency, said gaharu had drawn the interest of consumers both at home and overseas.
The resin looks like a dark brown to black solid lump or a chunk with a fragrant smell (if burned), which is found in the heartwood or roots of gaharu-producing trees undergoing a chemical and physical change due to fungus infection. But not all plants can produce the resin,.
According to Yana, for centuries, communities in the interior regions of Kalimantan have traditionally used gaharu in incense form for ritual and religious purposes, besides its other uses as perfume, air freshener and material for traditional cosmetics and drugs.
Today gaharu is also used to make soap, body lotions, anti-asthma and anti-microbe drugs, nervous and digestive stimulants, and for aromatherapy. So far, gaharu circulating on local and foreign markets has been derived from nature with varying quality grades of resin.
Gaharu comes in six classes of quality: super king, super A, super AB, tanggung; kacangan (pulses), teri, kemedangan (in wood form and fragile) and suloan.
Based on the Indonesian National Standards (SNI), there are three classes of gaharu, which are gubal (full resin with least fiber), kemedangan and abu (dust). The quality ratings are often unfavorable to traders and collectors due to unclear criteria.
The booming gaharu business over the last three decades has caused a shortage in the supply of the resinous heartwood. Prices vary, from Rp 30 million per kilogram for gaharu of super king quality on the market of Samarinda, East Kalimantan, to Rp 6.5 million per kilogram for kacangan B.
Over-harvesting of gaharu has depleted Indonesia's population of Aquilaria and Grynops trees, high-potential sources of gaharu.
"To prevent gaharu-yielding trees from extinction, we've been providing guidance since 2002 to farmers in 24 provinces on how to cultivate the trees producing gaharu, particularly those in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Nusa Tenggara and Maluku.
"Groups of farmers in West Kalimantan have planted 300,000 trees, while others in Papua last year asked us to provide them with the same guidance," added Yana.
Tukirin Partomiharjo, a botanical researcher from the Biology Research Center and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Cibinong, Bogor, also concurred. Indonesia is a country with a wide range of gaharu-producing trees. .
No less than 20 species of trees in Indonesia are known to yield types of gaharu, but only two, Aquilaria and Grynops, produce comparatively good resin that can be traded.
The latest data from various publications shows that at least six species of Aquilaria and seven of Grynops can potentially produce gaharu, agarwood or eaglewood. Of the 13 tree species producing gaharu, only one is known to produce the best gaharu in Indonesia, the Aquilaria malaccensis.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Indonesian Gaharu Association (ASGARIN), Mashur, said Indonesia had the potential to produce significant amounts of gaharu.
To increase the welfare of the nation, the government should therefore encourage the cultivation of gaharu-producing trees.
"I think if we succeed in cultivating gaharu-producing trees in Indonesia, the country will rise from poverty. People claiming Indonesia's gaharu-producing trees are under threat are mistaken, as it is very easy to grow these trees.
"The real problem is how do we control the fungi that infects the trees *producing the gaharu resin*? Our researchers are currently looking into this matter.
"The government should support our research teams so we can keep exporting gaharu, otherwise our gaharu will either not be of good enough quality to export, or our experts will be recruited by other countries," he pointed out.
Mashur also suggested Papua become the largest producer of gaharu in Indonesia, because the biggest source of gaharu came from the regencies of Asmat and Mapi.
"I hope the Trade Ministry will reach a decision on standardizing the quality of gaharu to ensure fairness among consumers, traders and collectors *of gaharu*," he added.
Quality-class gaharu fetches high prices on the international market. The processed triple-super class is the most expensive gaharu traded in Jakarta, selling at Rp 125 million per kilogram. Its export price can reach as high as Rp 300 to 400 million per kilogram.
So far Indonesia's gaharu already processed into oil and pure resin has been exported to the Middle East, Taiwan and Japan at Rp 300 million per kilogram. Gaharu for incense making is mostly exported to Taiwan at Rp 15,000 per kilogram.
"During my visit to Taiwan, I found gaharu prayer beads sold at Rp 5 million per bead, indicating gaharu's great potential. So I hope our government will support our researchers besides campaigning intensively for the cultivation of gaharu to address international pressure," concluded Mashur.
Sources: Jakarta Post: Natural Gaharu wood, now difficult to find in forests
The existence of these trees, however, is under threat.
Gaharu is valued in many cultures for its distinctive fragrance, and has been widely used as an incense as well as for perfumes and medicine.
Yana Sumarna, an employee at the Center for Forest Research and Development and Nature Conservation, at Bogor's Forestry Research Agency, said gaharu had drawn the interest of consumers both at home and overseas.
The resin looks like a dark brown to black solid lump or a chunk with a fragrant smell (if burned), which is found in the heartwood or roots of gaharu-producing trees undergoing a chemical and physical change due to fungus infection. But not all plants can produce the resin,.
According to Yana, for centuries, communities in the interior regions of Kalimantan have traditionally used gaharu in incense form for ritual and religious purposes, besides its other uses as perfume, air freshener and material for traditional cosmetics and drugs.
Today gaharu is also used to make soap, body lotions, anti-asthma and anti-microbe drugs, nervous and digestive stimulants, and for aromatherapy. So far, gaharu circulating on local and foreign markets has been derived from nature with varying quality grades of resin.
Gaharu comes in six classes of quality: super king, super A, super AB, tanggung; kacangan (pulses), teri, kemedangan (in wood form and fragile) and suloan.
Based on the Indonesian National Standards (SNI), there are three classes of gaharu, which are gubal (full resin with least fiber), kemedangan and abu (dust). The quality ratings are often unfavorable to traders and collectors due to unclear criteria.
The booming gaharu business over the last three decades has caused a shortage in the supply of the resinous heartwood. Prices vary, from Rp 30 million per kilogram for gaharu of super king quality on the market of Samarinda, East Kalimantan, to Rp 6.5 million per kilogram for kacangan B.
Over-harvesting of gaharu has depleted Indonesia's population of Aquilaria and Grynops trees, high-potential sources of gaharu.
"To prevent gaharu-yielding trees from extinction, we've been providing guidance since 2002 to farmers in 24 provinces on how to cultivate the trees producing gaharu, particularly those in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Nusa Tenggara and Maluku.
"Groups of farmers in West Kalimantan have planted 300,000 trees, while others in Papua last year asked us to provide them with the same guidance," added Yana.
Tukirin Partomiharjo, a botanical researcher from the Biology Research Center and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Cibinong, Bogor, also concurred. Indonesia is a country with a wide range of gaharu-producing trees. .
No less than 20 species of trees in Indonesia are known to yield types of gaharu, but only two, Aquilaria and Grynops, produce comparatively good resin that can be traded.
The latest data from various publications shows that at least six species of Aquilaria and seven of Grynops can potentially produce gaharu, agarwood or eaglewood. Of the 13 tree species producing gaharu, only one is known to produce the best gaharu in Indonesia, the Aquilaria malaccensis.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Indonesian Gaharu Association (ASGARIN), Mashur, said Indonesia had the potential to produce significant amounts of gaharu.
To increase the welfare of the nation, the government should therefore encourage the cultivation of gaharu-producing trees.
"I think if we succeed in cultivating gaharu-producing trees in Indonesia, the country will rise from poverty. People claiming Indonesia's gaharu-producing trees are under threat are mistaken, as it is very easy to grow these trees.
"The real problem is how do we control the fungi that infects the trees *producing the gaharu resin*? Our researchers are currently looking into this matter.
"The government should support our research teams so we can keep exporting gaharu, otherwise our gaharu will either not be of good enough quality to export, or our experts will be recruited by other countries," he pointed out.
Mashur also suggested Papua become the largest producer of gaharu in Indonesia, because the biggest source of gaharu came from the regencies of Asmat and Mapi.
"I hope the Trade Ministry will reach a decision on standardizing the quality of gaharu to ensure fairness among consumers, traders and collectors *of gaharu*," he added.
Quality-class gaharu fetches high prices on the international market. The processed triple-super class is the most expensive gaharu traded in Jakarta, selling at Rp 125 million per kilogram. Its export price can reach as high as Rp 300 to 400 million per kilogram.
So far Indonesia's gaharu already processed into oil and pure resin has been exported to the Middle East, Taiwan and Japan at Rp 300 million per kilogram. Gaharu for incense making is mostly exported to Taiwan at Rp 15,000 per kilogram.
"During my visit to Taiwan, I found gaharu prayer beads sold at Rp 5 million per bead, indicating gaharu's great potential. So I hope our government will support our researchers besides campaigning intensively for the cultivation of gaharu to address international pressure," concluded Mashur.
Sources: Jakarta Post: Natural Gaharu wood, now difficult to find in forests
Spesis Aquilaria
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| NAMA SAINTIFIK | CIRI-CIRI | |||
| 1. Aquilaria Hirta | Pokok Kecil dalam lingkungan 15m tinggi, permukaan bawah daun berbulu, daun berbentuk ovate oblong. | |||
| 2. Aquilaria Beccariana | Pokok sederhana dalam lingkungan 20m, urat kedua daun lebih jelas, daun berwarna kelabu tidak berkilat. | |||
| 3. Aquilaria Rostrata | Urat kedua daun tidak jelas. | |||
| 4. Aquilaria Malaccencis | Permukaan daun berkilat, runcing dan bujur | |||
| 5. Aquilaria Microcarpa | Pokok besar dalam lingkungan 36m, buah kecil berbentuk hati. |
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