Agarwood
CR

Agarwood

Aquilaria crassna

Declining

Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Overview

Aquilaria crassna is a species of plant in the Thymelaeaceae family. It is critically endangered and native to Southeast Asia.

Aquilaria crassna faces severe population decline primarily due to intensive harvesting for agarwood production, where the resinous heartwood is highly valued in perfume and traditional medicine industries. Illegal logging and over-exploitation have devastated wild populations across its native range in Southeast Asia. Habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development further compounds the species' vulnerability, while slow growth rates limit natural recovery potential.

Threat summary

Habitat

Aquilaria crassna naturally occurs in tropical rainforests and mixed deciduous forests of Southeast Asia, particularly in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. The species typically grows in well-drained soils at elevations up to 750 meters, often found in secondary forest areas and forest edges.

Forest· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Species managementSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservationLegislation

Other threatened species in THYMELAEACEAE

VU

Gonystylus xylocarpus

Declining
VU

Gonystylus nervosus

Unknown
VU

Mountain Agarwood

Aquilaria rugosa

Declining
EN

Gyrinops salicifolia

Declining

Threatened in Cambodia

Bourret's Cat SnakeEN

Bourret's Cat Snake

Boiga bourreti

Unknown
VU

Synchronous Bent-wing Firefly

Pteroptyx malaccae

Declining
CR

Lithocarpus eriobotryifolius

Declining
VU

Schistura kontumensis

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Agarwood classified as Critically Endangered?
Agarwood is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Aquilaria crassna faces severe population decline primarily due to intensive harvesting for agarwood production, where the resinous heartwood is highly valued in perfume and traditional medicine industries. Illegal logging and over-exploitation have devastated wild populations across its native range in Southeast Asia. Habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development further compounds the species' vulnerability, while slow growth rates limit natural recovery potential.
Where does Agarwood live?
Agarwood occurs in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Agarwood?
The main threats to Agarwood are 5.4, ai-1, ai-2, and ai-3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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