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Aquilaria Malaccensis

Aquilaria malaccensis is a species of plant in the Thymelaeaceae family. It is found in Bangladesh,  Bhutan, India,  Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Aquilaria malaccensis is the major source of agarwood, a resinous heartwood, used for perfume and incense. The resin is produced by the tree in response to infection by a parasitic ascomycetous mould, Phaeoacremonium parasitica, a dematiaceous (dark-walled) fungus.

Otherwise known as Aloes wood and Malacca eagle-wood, Agar wood (Aquilaria malaccensis) is a tropical small tree that grows up to 40 m high and spreads up to 12 m wide. It has a pale, thin and smooth trunk, silky young shoots, and leathery, long, sword-shaped leaves that are arranged alternately. Its white flowers are in clusters and its fruits are egg shaped and velvety. Edible parts are the seeds and bark.

It is used to flavour curries. Aquilaria malaccensis, like other species from the Aquilaria genus, is a major source of agar wood resin that is used for perfume and incense. The resin is produced when the tree is infected by a parasitic fungus, Phaeoacremonium parasitica. The incense is used against cancer in Western, Chinese, and Indian medicine. Agar wood is used to relieve spasms and to lower fever.

In China, it is used as a sedative against abdominal complaints, asthma, colic and diarrhoea. It also is an aphrodisiac and carminative. The incense also functions as an insect repellent. The inner bark is used in making cloth, ropes, and writing materials. The timber of healthy trees is used for making boxes, in light construction, and veneer. Other Names: Agarwood tree, Agar, Akyaw, Sasi, Aloes Wood, Malacca eagle-wood.

Agar wood is an astringent, stimulant, tonic herb that relieves spasms, especially of the digestive and respiratory systems, and lowers fevers. In Western, Chinese and Indian medicines the incense is used against cancer, especially of the thyroid gland. In China it is applied as a sedative against abdominal complaints, asthma, colic and diarrhoea, and as an aphrodisiac and carminative. The grated wood enters into various preparations used especially during and after childbirth, and to treat rheumatism, smallpox and abdominal pains. Decoctions of the wood are said to have anti-microbial properties, e.g. Against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Shigella flexneri.

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DENR: P3.2M halaga ng agarwood nakumpiska sa 4 na suspek sa Rizal

Manila, Philippines (June 21, 2020) – Arestado ang apat katao ng pinagsanib na puwersa ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources at National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) matapos maaktuhan ang mga ito na may dalang ilang kilo ng agarwood na mahigpit na ipinagbabawal ng batas.

Nakilala ang mga nadakip na suspek na sina Ramil Ong, Bernie Bagay, Rizal Mofar at Arjhun Gaviola na naaresto ng pinagsanib na puwersa ng DENR’s Environmental Protection and Enforcement Task Force (EPETF) at NBI-Environmental Crime Division sa Pasig City at Cainta, Rizal noong Hunyo 8.

Nakumpiska ng mga environmental enforcers sa mga suspek ang tinatayang 20 kilo ng agarwood na may halagang P3.2 milyon.Ayon sa DENR ang agarwood ay isa sa pinakamahal na “raw materials” sa paggawa ng pabango na umaabot ang presyo sa P160,000 kada kilo sa Pilipinas.

Pinuri naman ni Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu ang DENR at NBI dahil sa sakripisyo ng mga ito upang maaresto ang mga “environmental criminals” kahit na mahigpit na ipinatutupad ang “quarantine” upang mapigilan ang pagkalat ng COVID-19.

“This clearly sends out the message that the government’s campaign against environmental offenders remains unrelenting despite a pandemic that is wreaking havoc worldwide,” sabi pa ni Cimatu.

Nahaharap ang apat na suspek sa kasong paglabag sa Republic Act 9147 o ang Wildlife Resources and Protection Act at Presidential Decree 705 o mas kilala sa Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines. Kasalukuyan din nakapiit ang mga ito sa NBI detention facility sa Manila habang hinihintay ang pagdinig sa kanilang kaso.

Ayon naman kay senior ecosystems management specialist at miyembro ng EPETF na si Rogelio Demelletes, Jr., ang kanilang mga nakumpiskang agarwood ay isa sa pinakamahal at magandang klase na nagmula pa sa mga kagubatan ng Mindanao partikular na sa mga probinsiya ng Surigao at Agusan.

Ang agarwood ay nagmula sa mga puno ng Lapnisan at Lanete na kapwa kasama sa national list ng mga nanganganib na Philippine plants base na rin sa inilabas na DENR Administrative Order 2007-01.

Sinabi pa ni Demelletes, ang high grade agarwood ay maibebenta hanggang US$30,000 kada kilo at ang pagbebenta nito ay dahilan upang manganib ang mga puno ng Lanete at Lapnisan.

Original news posted found on the link below.

DENR: P3.2M halaga ng agarwood nakumpiska sa 4 na suspek sa Rizal
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P3.2-M agarwood seized; 4 nabbed

Joint operatives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have arrested four individuals caught transporting several kilos of agarwood, a threatened and much sought-after tree species.

The four, identified as Ramil Ong, Bernie Bagay, Rizal Mofar and Arjhun Gaviola, were apprehended in two separate operations conducted by the DENR’s Environmental Protection and Enforcement Task Force (EPETF) and the NBI-Environmental Crime Division in Pasig City and Cainta, Rizal last 8 June.

The environmental enforcers seized from the suspects almost 20 kilos of agarwood valued at P3.2 million.

Agarwood is one of the most expensive raw materials used in perfumery, costing at least P160,000 per kilo in the Philippines.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu lauded DENR and NBI enforcers for their unrelenting efforts to go after environmental criminals despite the quarantine restrictions and other measures imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19.

“This clearly sends out the message that the government’s campaign against environmental offenders remains unrelenting despite a pandemic that is wreaking havoc worldwide,” Cimatu said.The four suspects were charged with violations of Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources and Protection Act and Presidential Decree 705, otherwise known as the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines. They are detained at the NBI detention facility in Manila while awaiting court proceedings.

Rogelio Demelletes Jr., a senior ecosystems management specialist and member of EPETF, said initial investigation showed that the seized agarwood shipments were of high-grade quality and likely poached from the forests of Mindanao, particularly Surigao and Agusan provinces.

Agarwood is extracted from host trees locally known as Lapnisan and Lanete, which are both included in the national list of threatened Philippine plants per DENR Administrative Order 2007-01.

According to Demelletes, a high-grade agarwood can be sold for as high $30,000 per kilo and its trafficking has spawned indiscriminate cutting of Lanete and Lapnisan trees.

Original news posted found on the link below.

P3.2-M agarwood seized; 4 nabbed
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DENR, NBI seize P3.2 million agarwood

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) along with agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have confiscated about 20 kilos of agarwood valued at P3.2 million in Pasig City and Cainta, Rizal.

Four suspects were arrested by the DENR Environmental Protection and Enforcement Task Force and the NBI Environmental Crime Division on June 8. They were Ramil Ong, Bernie Bagay, Rizal Mofar and Arjhun Gaviola.

The DENR said the suspects were nabbed after they caught in the act of transporting agarwood extracted from local tree species.

Charges of violation of Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources and Protection Act and the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines have been filed against the suspects who are being held at the NBI detention facility in Manila.

Agarwood, one of the most expensive raw materials for the production of perfume, incense, fragrance oil and traditional medicine, can be sold for as high as P160,000 per kilo.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu lauded the DENR and NBI for their “unrelenting efforts to go after the suspects despite quarantine restrictions.” – Elizabeth Marcelo

Original news posted found on this link. https://www.philstar.com/nation/2020/06/22/2022562/denr-nbi-seize-p32-million-agarwood

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The bible mentioned aloe in reference to the ancient incense

The agarwood mentioned in the bible (Ps 45:8; Pr 7:17; Ca 4:14 ) was popularly attributed to the Hindi Agallocha species of agarwood plant that exists primarily in the northern state of Assam, India and its neighbouring regions. The tree is large and can grow to a height of 100 feet. The inner core of the trunk and some branches are impregnated with resin and an odoriferous oil from which comes the highly prized perfume. Apparently attaining its most aromatic state when in decay, the wood is sometimes buried in the ground to hasten the decaying process.. The wood is then to be used for incense burning in order to utilise its fragrant scent and plentiful odoriferous oil.

It was mentioned in the bible that Nicodemus brought “a roll of myrrh and aloes” weighing about 100 Roman pounds (33 kg), to be used in preparing for Jesus’ departure. Nicodemus’ contribution must have required a considerable outlay of money on his part. While some apply the term “aloes” in this text to the plant of the lily family that now bears the botanical name of Aloe vera, the product of this plant (a thick juice from the leaves) is employed not for its aroma but as a purgative and for other health-related purposes. The aloes brought by Nicodemus was highly likely the same aloeswood or agarwood product as that referred to in the Hebrew Scriptures and Muslim Hadiths.

Aloes, today, are the costliest of biblical scents. Up till today, many of the Kings’ garments are fragranced in agarwood, replicating the practise of the kings of the ancient.

Re-live this tradition of great peoples and pamper yourself with some traditional perfuming with Oud premium range of quality aloes.