Market and policy setting for the trade in Dalbergia tonkinensis, a rare and valuable rosewood, in Vietnam

Abstract

Dalbergia tonkinensis (Fabaceae) is one of the most valuable rosewood furniture species in the world and, although threatened in the wild, is being traded in local markets in north Vietnam. Trade in D. tonkinensis was investigated by compiling information from interviews, published and unpublished articles, and reports of forest rangers and market regulators. Goods traded included seed, seedlings, living trees, heartwood, handcrafts and furniture. Trees for transplanting ranged in value from 43.5-87.0 USD for a small tree to 434.8-4,347.8 USD for larger trees. The price of heartwood varied greatly depending on size, from 13.0 USD/kg (diameter = 6 cm) to 152.2 USD/kg (diameter = 20 cm). High quality furniture sold for 0.4-1.1 million USD. In the period 2011 to 2018, 905.2 tons of heartwood was traded valued at 16.5 million USD. Two thirds of D. tonkinensis wood being traded came from home gardens in 18 provinces. Vinh Phuc province was the largest provider of trees and also had networks of wood purchasing and processing villages. There is now a more open policy towards an emerging D. tonkinensis industry in Vietnam and regulations encourage communities and households to plant D. tonkinensis.

Keywords

• Markets
• Seed
• Wood
• Furniture
• Hand-craft
• Home gardens