Hong Kong’s namesake, the “heung” incense tree, is threatened by illegal poaching, largely from mainland China.
The tree is prized for its fragrant wood, known as Chinese agarwood, which has been used for centuries to make beads, perfume, sculptures, and incense. Agarwood can sell for more than its weight in gold, with the best pieces going for thousands of dollars per pound.
Today, the species is listed as vulnerable, and activists estimate that fewer than 300 adult trees are left in Hong Kong.
Curious to learn more about incense trees and Hong Kong’s ecology? We made a cartoon about the city’s feng shui forests: https://gt4.life/fengshuiforest
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Written by: Dolly Li
Featuring: Ho Pui-han, Dr. Terence Ng
Produced by: Dolly Li and Clarissa Wei
Shot by: Joel Roche and Clarissa Wei
Edited, and Mastered by: Joel Roche
Special Thanks: Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department
Music: Audio Network
Resources:
“Chinese Agarwood”, IUCN Red List (https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/32382/2817115)
“Aquilaria sinensis and origin of the name of Hong Kong”, Hong Kong Herbarium (http://www.herbarium.gov.hk/SpecialTopicsDetails.aspx?oneId=10&SectionId=1)
“Making scents: saviours of the incense tree”, South China Morning Post (https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/article/1441807/making-scents-saviours-incense-tree)
“Status of Aquilaria sinensis (Incense Tree) in Hong Kong”, Advisory Council on the Environment Nature Conservation Subcommittee
(https://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/sites/default/files/epd/english/boards/advisory_council/files/ncsc_paper03_2013.pdf)
“The Trees That Gave Hong Kong Its Name Are Nearing Extinction Because of Illegal Logging”, TIME (http://time.com/4288304/hong-kong-environment-incense-tree-poaching-agarwood-china/)
