The Asian rosewood (Dalbergia oliveri Gamble ex Prain) was announced in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Volume LXVI, Part II, Natural Science in 1897. Dalbergia oliveri is widely distributed in Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. This is a hard, beautiful, durable rosewood species containing aromatic essential oils and free from termites. Hence, D. oliveri has high economic values and has been the subject for logging and trading for a long time. The species is now facing a high risk of extinction with the conservation status of Endangered (En), according to IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. D. oliveri is listed in the Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and Group IIA of Decree 06/2019/ND-CP of the government of Vietnam on management of endangered, precious, and rare wild plants and animals and the implementation of the CITES. Lack of up-to-date information on the taxonomy, biology, and ecology exploitation, use and trade of rosewood species has caused challenges and difficulties in the management and conservation of these species. This report provides a review of the taxonomy, biology, ecology, conservation status, population dynamics, and recommendations for the conservation and sustainable management of D. oliveri in Vietnam.

Country name: Vietnam

Project title: Strengthening the management and conservation of Dalbergia cochinchinensis and Dalbergia oliveri in Vietnam.

Project duration: 24 months

Implementing agency: Center for Nature Conservation and Development.

Related publications: Review on the Taxonomy, Biology, Ecology, and the Status, Trend and Population Structure and Dynamics of Dalbergia oliveri in Vietnam

Authors of the news item: Nguyen Tien Hiep, Nguyen Manh Ha and La Quang Trung

Contact for further information: ha.nguyenba@gmail.com and trung.la@ccd.org.vn

Collecting specimen of Dalbergia oliveri in the Cat Tien national park for comparative study, 2019. Photo by La Quang Trung / CCD