Norms for Agarwood Export

Context

The exportation of Agarwood has some issues such as overexploitation of the resource, tension in the illegality of logging, and climate change that hampers the sustainability of Agarwood. For this, measures such as CITES and other practices help in dealing with this element. Market awareness and trading policies contribute to the sustainability of the markets which determine the current trade with the future supply of the products.

Description 

• Existence in trade: The agarwood is used as a perfume and has medicinal value to it, thus the demand it enjoys across the globe especially in the Middle East, China and Japan. 
• Unique properties: Hence, agarwood possess specific characteristics such as the resinous heartwood and scent that is determined by the biological and ecological factors. 
• Harvesting methods: Herbs utilized in aromatics are Aquilaria trees, were cut by sustainable forest management practices, but there are some defects, ie loggers are not authorized by some Aquilaria trees continue to be cut despite replenishment. 

Significance

• Conservation status: According to the CITES lists of animals and plants, agarwood falls under Appendix II this is so to control international demand for the products in a way that does not negatively impact the populations. 
• Economic importance: The trade of agarwood has a major economic impact within the regional markets especially in the areas where the trees grow abundantly. 
• Cultural significance: In many societies, agarwood has cultural and religious value; it is through traditional medicine, incense, and rites. 

Future Directions 

• Sustainable harvesting: The major stress shall be placed upon the fight for sustainable measures provided within the sphere of replanting and various forms of certification. 
• CITES compliance: Hence, all the related exporters had to adhere to the exemplifications of the CITES arrangements including the permission for the permits and quotas. 
• Market regulation: This control will be directly or indirectly in the hands of the governments since they will not allow over exploitation and balanced representation of agarwood goods. 

Challenges

• Over-harvesting: Based on threats of over exploitation, agarwood is on the frontline when it comes to the high degree of demand against the relatively low levels of supply. 
• Illegal logging: But it hinders sustainability of the process and the logs as well as smuggles the species thus putting the program at a great risk. 
• Climate change: This in one way or the other affects the growth of the Aquilaria trees through one or the other form of Global warming hence lesser production of resin a raw material used in making agarwood. 

Conclusion

• The standard to export agarwood is for the international market the product as a result considering the cutting down needed to obtain it. 
• But, what kind of thinking is applied to that, a fact that with the increase in the desirability of agarwood, how it is obtained and how it is marketed can also present some of the seemingly vices associated with this product.

Source: The Hindu