On the 22nd of February, 2 Aquilaria sinensis trees were planted at Dover Campus. The trees were donated by Asia Plantation Capital Malaysia, and much effort went into transporting the trees to Singapore. Thank you to Asia Plantation Capital Malaysia, the school really appreciates your generous donation!
The Aquilaria sinensis is a genus of fifteen species of tree in the Thymelaeaceae family, which is native to Southeast Asia. The trees grow to between six and 20 metres in height are found in the rainforests of China and is one the species grown on APC’s plantations. The timber is traded around South East Asia and the Middle East. It is highly sought after as it has many uses; it's resin is sweet smelling, used for incense and sold for around SGD $10,000 per kilogram in 2014. Its resin can also be distilled to form oil, which is sold for at nearly $55,000 per kilogram. Due to it's expensive prices, the oil has been dubbed "liquid gold".
Zaahira Mohammad of APC tells the story of the donation:
“The idea to support UWCSEA’s Reforestation Project by way of donating an agarwood tree,” said John Berry of APC, “or more specifically the Aquilaria sinensis sapling, came after a recent discussion I had with Nathan Hunt. We discussed what the College was teaching with regards to flora and fauna, and this idea came up. By donating these saplings, students at UWCSEA will be able to learn more about this agarwood species, while conserving it.”
Asia Plantation Capital has proven itself to be a pioneer and innovator in the sustainable plantation sector, and its Scientific Advisory Board, working alongside a team of researchers, has evolved technologies – many of which have been patented – to ensure that the once endangered species of Aquilaria tree is now flourishing in the wild and continuing to produce one of nature’s most precious substances. The products made from the trees on Asia Plantation Capital’s estates have full CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) approval and certification – a testament to the fact that the company is passionate about its role in not only making sure that there are agarwood supplies around for future generations, but also that products are sourced ethically and sustainably.
This video of the tree planting (and photos) were kindly supplied by Asia Plantation Capital:
The rest of the trees will be planted in the near future, so keep a lookout for more!
