Adjacent to house 83 on the path up to Tai Peng a beautiful specimen of the Hong Kong Incense Tree was hacked up last night by someone greedy to make a few extra dollars by harvesting the agar wood, from which medicine and incense is made. We could have expected this to happen as a few years ago the tree was wounded at the same site. Usually a tree is wounded and after the agar has accumulated in the wound over a couple of years it is harvested in order to extract the resin. Whoever did this almost certainly had a long term plan.

If you want more information about the Hong Kong Incense Tree then download AFCD newslatter from the following site and scan down until you locate the article (#14).
http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/conserva ... etter7.pdf

If you feel moved to file a complaint with the AFCD, you may do so by calling Mr Ma at 2150 6955
Photo courtesy of Siuyu

_________________
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
----- Margaret Mead

And I forgot to mention - It is a protected species in Hong Kong.

_________________
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
----- Margaret Mead

_________________
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The above story can be read at http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/interiors ... s-valuable

Full support to Chris, Shuan and Natalie.

I remember someone on this forum reprimanded me for using phrase “…ILLEGAL POACHING…”

_________________
PARENTAL ADVISORY:
I say ***** a lot

Throwing anything at axe-wielding poachers might be a bad idea

From Alibaba, 1g of agarwood is selling for around US$2

http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/agarwood-price.html

I wonder where the 12580 a gram figure comes from?

Maybe a concealed CCTV would be very informative.

I looked up a few prices too.
It's much more than the highest quality refined oud oil made from agar.

E.g., https://ensaroud.com/category/organic-oud/1
About US$100/gram of oil.

Basically, it's the same kind of bullshit price they use for drug busts and copyright cases: think of the highest possible retail and multiply by 10 or 20.

If it was that easy to cultivate, they'd be knocking down village houses and planting agar.

5 Mainlanders arrested in Tai Wan Old Village for incense tree poaching!

Press conference in Marine Police HQ I attended yesterday:

Speaking Notes : Theft of Aquilaria Sisensis (Incense Tree)

講稿 : 盜取土沉香

Reference: CCDIV RN 16000061

Present:

Mr. MAK Che-hung, Acting Superintendent of Police, Marine South Divisional Commander 麥志雄 署理警司, 水警南分區指揮官

Mr. LEE Tin-wai, Inspector, Marine South Division

李天慧 督察, 水警南分區

Ms. KWAN Wai-kwan, Woman Senior Inspector, OC Lamma

關惠群 女高級督察, 南丫島及坪洲警崗主管

最近根據南丫島村民的情報。過去幾日，水警南分區特遣隊及長洲分區於南丫島進行聯合反非法偷獵樹木行動。

Acting on a piece of information provided by the local resident on Lamma Island recently, Marine South Division Task Force Sub-unit and Cheung Chau Division had conducted the Joint Anti-Illegal Tree Poaching Operation on Lamma Island over past few days.

於2016年1月3日中午12時，水警南分區特遣隊埋伏於南丫島大灣舊村後山進行反非法偷獵樹木行動。於1325時發現三名男子懷疑進行砍伐土沉香樹幹活動。經截停調查後，三名持雙程証男子及兩名持雙程証男子被拘補非法偷獵樹木及共有40塊懷疑土沉香被檢獲。 (約150公斤及價值港幣一佰五十萬)

At 1200 hours on 2016-01-03, officers of Marine South Division Task Force Sub-unit ambushed in the hillside of Tai Wan Old Village, Lamma Island and three males were seen engaging in the suspected incense tree trunk cutting activities at 1325 hours. After investigation, these three males with another two males who were all Chinese Two-way entry permit holders were arrested for captioned offence with the seizure of 40 pieces of suspected incense tree logs (about 150 kg and valued $1,500,000).

這是首次發現非法砍伐者用渡輪到南Y島進行非法砍伐活動。

It is the first occasion that we find the illegal tree poachers had taken the ferry to Lamma Island for the illegal tree poaching activities.

其中一個被捕人士年齡超過60歲，相信是該次砍伐樹木的骨幹成員。

One of the culprits aged over 60 years old, who is suspected to be the core member of the Illegal Tree Poaching gang has been arrested during the operation.

根據警方於2014-2015年的執法統計，於南Y島共發生23宗案件(其中有4宗有人被捕)及8名男子(3名香港人及5名內地人)被捕及檢獲58公斤土沉香。

Based on the enforcement statistics, 8 persons (include 3 Hong Kong Males and 5 Mainland Males) were arrested in 23 cases (4 cases had person arrested) in previous two years on Lamma Island with the seizure of 58 kgs of incense tree.

所有被捕人士及案件已交由水警總區刑事組第三隊進行調查。

The case is now being investigated by RCU 3 CRM MAR, all arrested persons are detained for on-going investigation.

沉香為傳統名貴中藥，大多取自生長於亞洲熱帶地方的沉香樹。生長於本地的是沉香屬的另一品種，稱為 “土沉香 ”，其樹脂可作為沉香的代用品。土沉香廣泛分布全港，大多生長於低地常綠闊葉林或鄉村後方的風水林中，漁農自然護理署 (“漁護署 ”)未有統計全港土沉香的數量。

"Chen Xiang" is a valuable traditional Chinese medicine, derived mostly from incense trees growing in the Asian tropics. The Incense Tree growing in Hong Kong belongs to another species of the genus Aquilaria. It produces a resin that has been used as a substitute of "Cheng Xiang". The native Incense Tree is widely distributed in Hong Kong, and mostly found in lowland broadleaf forests or in fung shui woods behind rural villages. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) does not maintain a record of the population of Incense Trees in Hong Kong.

根據香港法例第 96章《林區及郊區條例》，任何人士非法在 政 府 土 地 上 砍 伐 或 摧 毀 樹 木 或 生 長 中 的 植 物 ， 一 經 定
罪 ， 可 處 罰 款 25,000元 及 監 禁 1 年 。 警 方 亦 會 因 應 個 案 情案人士作出檢控，以收阻嚇之效。被捕者若被控以盜竊罪，
最高刑罰是監禁 10年。

Under the Forests and Countryside Ordinance (Cap. 96), any person who unlawfully fells or destroys any trees or growing plants on Government land is liable on conviction to a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for one year. Depending on the circumstances of individual cases, the Police may initiate prosecutions under the Theft Ordinance (Cap. 210), which imposes a heavier penalty, in a bid to achieve a stronger deterrent effect. Any person arrested and charged with theft is liable to a maximum penalty of imprisonment for ten years.

現時警方主要以盜竊罪、刑事損壞、管有攻擊性武器、外出時備有偷竊用的物品等刑事罪行，對涉及砍伐土沉香的犯 案 人 士 作 出 檢 控 ， 並 會 在 適 當 時 根 據 香 港 法 例 第 455 章《有組織及嚴重罪行條例》向法庭申請加刑。

Currently, offenders involved in illegal felling of Incense Tree were mainly prosecuted for criminal offences on theft, criminal damage, possession of offensive weapon, going equipped for stealing, etc. and, where appropriate, the Police may apply for an enhancement of sentence under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 455).

過去有人先在土沉香樹樹幹進行破壞，待它分泌樹脂，然後再回來採摘。但是，最近種種跡象顯示，這種做法可能已經改變。原因是他們可能知悉我們會加強巡查這些地方，增加他們非法砍伐的難度。所以，他們現在可能已改變手法，只是前往種有土沉香樹的地方，發現土沉香樹正在自然分泌樹脂時，便直接砍伐，不會再預先砍伐，分兩次行動。所以，他們知道我們增加巡查後，行動起來便更加迅速和有組織。

In the past, some people first make cuts on the trunk of incense trees and then return later to collect the secreted resin. However, recently there are signs that such practice has been changed. The offenders are probably aware that we have stepped up the patrols, which will make the illegal felling more difficult. Hence, they have changed their practice. They will go to the places where the incense trees are planted, and when they find the resin secreting naturally from the trees, they will fell the trees directly. They will not take two steps to cut the incense trees and collect the resin. Therefore, after learning our enhanced patrol, their illegal tree-felling activities have been conducted swiftly and in a more organized manner.

Police Appeal警方呼籲

我們呼籲相關人士，包括村民或郊遊人士，如果發現可疑人士，請在適當情況下向警方舉報，這是有效的方法。

We encourage everyone concerned, including villagers and hikers, to report to the police of suspected cases of illegal tree-felling where appropriate. That would also be an effective way of combating such illegal activities

_________________
Click here for Lamma-zine stories and recent Lamma Spotlights of the Week:
Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.

For more pictures, discussions and comments from our new police chief, Ms. Solid Kwan, check out my "Lamma Gung" Facebook page:

Lamma Gung

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Link to the SCMP story, plus more links to older stories, including the valiant Lammaite fighters against incense tree poachers, 2 years ago:
http://industrialhistoryhk.org/lamma-island-incense-timber-theft-arrests-january-2016/

http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/interiors-living/article/1365462/poachers-vs-lamma-islanders-battle-rare-incense-trees:
"Chris Lonsdale (left) and Shaun Martin show off their home-made poacher deterrents."

"Shaun Martin was still lying in bed after waking up one spring morning two years ago, when he was startled by police and firefighters standing on the balcony of his first floor flat on Lamma Island. Dressing quickly, he went out to investigate. That's when he found "a bloody great big tree above me", recalls Martin, an education consultant. The tree had crashed into a window on the floor above. His upstairs neighbour, businessman Chris Lonsdale, was furious. "Some a****le had cut the tree and I had no idea who it was," he says. Some neighbours have installed motion-detecting flood lights and put up neighbourhood watch signs to deter poachers.

Many have joined a WhatsApp group to help inform each other about suspicious activity. There is even talk of draping rubber snakes on the trees, playing on the widely held notion that Lamma Island is awash with poisonous snakes. Meanwhile, Martin and his girlfriend Natalie Belbin have come up with a characteristically Lamma approach to the problem - they are making an arsenal of glitter bombs (glass jars full of glitter and water) and filling squirt guns with glitter water.

"If [the poachers] come back, we will go to the balcony, unscrew [a glitter bomb], get some water guns and bam bam bam there you go," says Martin . "It's not going to hurt if you throw it at someone ... and when the police turn up we'll tell them 'Okay, you're looking for a fabulous looking guy with glitter all over his hair, face and clothes.

charley.lanyon@scmp.com"

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Police Corner Survey is still running.

Our new police chief would like to get more feedback before she's writing her own Police Corners, exclusively for the Lamma-zine:

http://www.compunicate.com/Lamma-zine/includes_news.html#Dec12

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2 more tree poachers arrested near the YSW Fire Station!

Speaking notes from yesterday's press briefing in Aberdeen Marine Police:

Speaking Notes : Theft of Aquilaria Sisensis (Incense Tree)
Reference: CCDIV RN 160000543

Presented by:
Mr. LAW Ka-hong, Superintendent of Police, Marine South Divisional Commander
Mr. LEE Tin-wai, Inspector, Officer-in-charge, Task Force Sub-unit Marine South Division
Ms. KWAN Wai-kwan, Woman Senior Inspector, Officer-in-charge Lamma & Peng Chau

Acting on intelligence, Marine South Division Task Force Sub-unit and Cheung Chau Division had conducted the Joint Anti-Illegal Tree Poaching Operation on Lamma Island over past few days.

At 1100 hours on 2016-01-21, officers of Marine South Division Task Force Sub-unit ambushed in the hillside at the South of Lamma Fire Station, Lamma Island and two males were seen engaging in the suspected incense tree trunk cutting activities. These males were intercepted at scene and outside Lamma Fire Station respectively. After investigation, these two males were all Chinese Two-way entry permit holders. A total of 609 grammes incense tree wood was found inside the rucksack of one of the males. Some cutting equipment and copped sections of incense trees were found at scene as well. The two males were thus arrested for “Theft”.

It is believed that the culprits made use of the remoteness of the subject location, which is a graveyard, to possess those already copped incense trees.

The case is now being investigated by Regional Crime Unit 2, Marine Region, all arrested persons are detained for further investigation.

沉香為傳統名貴中藥，大多取自生長於亞洲熱帶地方的沉香樹。生長於本地的是沉香屬的另一品種，稱為 “土沉香 ”，其樹脂可作為沉香的代用品。土沉香廣泛分布全港，大多生長於低地常綠闊葉林或鄉村後方的風水林中，漁農自然護理署 (“漁護署 ”)未有統計全港土沉香的數量。

"Chen Xiang" is a valuable traditional Chinese medicine, derived mostly from incense trees growing in the Asian tropics. The Incense Tree growing in Hong Kong belongs to another species of the genus Aquilaria. It produces a resin that has been used as a substitute of "Cheng Xiang". The native Incense Tree is widely distributed in Hong Kong, and mostly found in lowland broadleaf forests or in fung shui woods behind rural villages. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) does not maintain a record of the population of Incense Trees in Hong Kong.

根據香港法例第 96章《林區及郊區條例》，任何人士非法在 政 府 土 地 上 砍 伐 或 摧 毀 樹 木 或 生 長 中 的 植 物 ， 一 經 定
罪 ， 可 處 罰 款 25,000元 及 監 禁 1 年 。 警 方 亦 會 因 應 個 案 情案人士作出檢控，以收阻嚇之效。被捕者若被控以盜竊罪，
最高刑罰是監禁 10年。

Under the Forests and Countryside Ordinance (Cap. 96), any person who unlawfully fells or destroys any trees or growing plants on Government land is liable on conviction to a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for one year. Depending on the circumstances of individual cases, the Police may initiate prosecutions under the Theft Ordinance (Cap. 210), which imposes a heavier penalty, in a bid to achieve a stronger deterrent effect. Any person arrested and charged with theft is liable to a maximum penalty of imprisonment for ten years.

現時警方主要以盜竊罪、刑事損壞、管有攻擊性武器、外出時備有偷竊用的物品等刑事罪行，對涉及砍伐土沉香的犯 案 人 士 作 出 檢 控 ， 並 會 在 適 當 時 根 據 香 港 法 例 第 455 章《有組織及嚴重罪行條例》向法庭申請加刑。

Currently, offenders involved in illegal felling of Incense Tree were mainly prosecuted for criminal offences on theft, criminal damage, possession of offensive weapon, going equipped for stealing, etc. and, where appropriate, the Police may apply for an enhancement of sentence under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 455).

過去有人先在土沉香樹樹幹進行破壞，待它分泌樹脂，然後再回來採摘。但是，最近種種跡象顯示，這種做法可能已經改變。原因是他們可能知悉我們會加強巡查這些地方，增加他們非法砍伐的難度。所以，他們現在可能已改變手法，只是前往種有土沉香樹的地方，發現土沉香樹正在自然分泌樹脂時，便直接砍伐，不會再預先砍伐，分兩次行動。所以，他們知道我們增加巡查後，行動起來便更加迅速和有組織。

In the past, some people first make cuts on the trunk of incense trees and then return later to collect the secreted resin. However, recently there are signs that such practice has been changed. The offenders are probably aware that we have stepped up the patrols, which will make the illegal felling more difficult. Hence, they have changed their practice. They will go to the places where the incense trees are planted, and when they find the resin secreting naturally from the trees, they will fell the trees directly. They will not take two steps to cut the incense trees and collect the resin. Therefore, after learning our enhanced patrol, their illegal tree-felling activities have been conducted swiftly and in a more organized manner.

Police Appeal警方呼籲

我們呼籲相關人士，包括村民或郊遊人士，如果發現可疑人士，請在適當情況下向警方舉報，這是有效的方法。

We encourage everyone concerned, including villagers and hikers, to report to the police of suspected cases of illegal tree-felling where appropriate. That would also be an effective way of combating such illegal activities.

Tools of the poaching trade, see below.
More photos at https://www.facebook.com/Lamma.Gung/pos ... 1587328149

_________________
Click here for Lamma-zine stories and recent Lamma Spotlights of the Week:
Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.

_________________
Click here for Lamma-zine stories and recent Lamma Spotlights of the Week:
Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.