Permits needed for听agarwood听propagation听鈥斕鼶ENR听
THE听DEPARTMENT听of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)听reiterated on Tuesday that individuals or companies听must first secure permits from the agency before collecting seeds from agarwood-producing species for propagation.听听听
鈥淏efore engaging in this highly regulated lucrative endeavor, interested individuals and private firms are advised to secure all the necessary permits from the DENR,鈥澨鼸nvironment听Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said in a news release.听听
Beginning this month, the DENR has given the green light for the听commercial propagation of agarwood, one of the most expensive trees in the world听and is in the听endangered听list.听听
It听is used for听making听perfume, incense, and small carvings.听
Mr. Cimatu said听permits are needed as the听department听must first ensure the legality of the source of planting materials听鈥渁nd that the propagation of this species is in accordance with the existing rules and regulations.鈥听听
The DENR said agarwood can be derived from the Aquilaria plant family,听which is native in Southeast Asia.听听听
Of the 21 known species of Aquilaria, nine are found in the Philippines and of the nine, six are endemic.听听
Meanwhile, DENR鈥檚 Biodiversity Management Bureau Director Datu Tungko Saikol clarified that the collection of seeds, seedlings, and agarwood from the Aquilaria plants in the wild for commercial and trade purposes are still prohibited but is subject to an assessment study.听听听
Mr. Saikol added that a Local Transport Permit is also necessary to听move听鈥渓egally acquired seeds, seedlings, agarwood, and other agarwood by-products and derivatives.鈥澨听听
The issuance of the said permits will hopefully听鈥渃ontribute in the protection and conservation of Aquilaria in the wild and will at the same time provide economic benefits for Filipinos, and eventually, economic development for our country,鈥澨齅r.听Saikol听said.听鈥斕鼴ianca Angelica D.听A帽ago听听
