India recently increased the quota for Agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis) exports through the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Agarwood is prized for its aromatic and medicinal value. It is used in making incense sticks, essential oils and perfumes.
It is listed as Threatened under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Red List.
The tree has been listed in Appendix II of CITES since 1995. This means that while it is not threatened with extinction, a risk of that happening exists nevertheless.
In India, Agarwood grows wild mainly in protected areas of the Northeast. Its export from the country was banned until November 2021, but re-export was permitted.
The Government of India submitted a Non-detriment Findings (NDF) report to CITES in 2024. As per the report, Agarwood is one of the most widely cultivated species in Northeast India, mostly Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, and Tripura.
On the basis of the report, the Agarwood has been removed from the Review of Significant Trade (RST).
