Shillong, July 2: Scientists have confirmed that Aquilaria khasiana—a Critically Endangered, agarwood-producing species once thought endemic to Meghalaya—is also found in Assam’s Jeypore Reserve Forest.
The discovery, published in Scientific Reports by researchers from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), marks the first confirmed presence of A. khasiana in Assam. The team used both morphological traits and DNA barcoding to identify the species, and successfully sequenced its complete chloroplast genome for the first time.
“This study reports a new distribution record for A. khasiana in Assam,” the researchers wrote, confirming the species’ identity using combined morphological and molecular evidence.
Until now, A. khasiana had only been recorded in small, isolated populations in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills, with the last known sighting before 2016 dating back to the 1950s. Rediscovered in 2016 at Mawkasain, Meghalaya, only nine individuals—including a single mature tree—were documented at that time. A 2023-24 survey reported a further decline in this population, now reduced to just five individuals.
In stark contrast, the newly documented population in Assam’s protected Jeypore Reserve Forest with 210 mature trees.
However, the study also raised taxonomic puzzles. Despite displaying morphological features typical of the Aquilaria genus, A. khasiana clustered genetically with Gyrinops walla, a related species native to the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka.
“In both phylogenetic analyses, A. khasiana was placed within the Gyrinops clade and showed a close affinity with G. walla,” the paper notes. This unexpected result opens new avenues for taxonomic and evolutionary research on agarwood species in South Asia.
Agarwood—known commercially as gaharu, oud, or eaglewood—is a highly prized resin formed in trees of the Aquilaria and Gyrinops genera. The resin is used globally in perfumes, incense, traditional medicine, and aromatherapy, often fetching high market prices and driving illegal harvesting.
In Meghalaya, the Mawkasain subpopulation remains highly vulnerable. The sole mature tree is “surviving by its coppices” but has suffered insect damage from Heortia vitessoides, a known pest. The study cites ongoing habitat degradation from forest fires, timber extraction, harvesting of non-timber forest products, and firewood collection.
The researchers warn that despite the discovery in Assam, A. khasiana still faces an extremely high risk of extinction. “The overall observed, inferred, and suspected population reduction was more than 80% in the past,” the paper states, emphasizing that the threats persist and are not easily reversible.
They recommend that the species retain its Critically Endangered [CR A2cd; C2a(ii)] status under IUCN criteria. “The Mawkasain population is under serious threat as it lies outside any protected area,” they note, adding that the number of young plants is also declining.
Calling for urgent action, the authors urge both Assam and Meghalaya forest departments to prioritize conservation. “The state forest department is suggested to protect the remaining plants by imposing strict legislation and monitoring, preferably by implementing an effective species recovery programme.
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