Species Conservation

Gaharu or Eaglewood

Papua New Guinea's lowland forests could be the last frontier for the world's substantial wild stocks of Eaglewood, a highly valued aromatic wood burned in the Middle East and South Asia. The perfume producing heartwood of this tree is sold for up to USD$10,000 in Arab countries. The PNG goverment has set a minimum price of USD$500 per kilogram for top-grade eagleood.

Providing an alternative plan to unsustainable logging
However, most communities receiving a fraction of that price and are getting close to extinguishing their resources with little hope of regeneration. WWF has embarked on a progressive plan to ensure further eaglewood harvesting is sustainable and profitable, offering a viable alternative for local communities to replace the damaging and unsustainable industrial logging agreements.

300,000 ha desginated to the plan
To date, the programme has succeeded in assisting the PNG government to designate 5 areas (approx 300,000ha) as trial Eaglewood Management Areas.

Strategy paper
In partnership with Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and Forest Research Institute (FRI), WWF has completed a 100 page Conservation and Sustainable Management Strategy for Eaglewood.

Focal Species
Focal species in the Transfly Ecoregion were completed in 2005, including the identification of target land systems that are important for focal species, especially endemic and restricted range species. Research partnerships have been developed with the University of Canberra, Charles Darwin University, FRI, and the University of New South Wales for focal species research, as well as monsoon forest dynamics.