Title: An ecological evaluation of a poached stand of Aquilaria crassna in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand.

(Research advisor: Dr. Peter White)

Pailin L. Wedel

Sustainable non-timber forest product (NTFP) extraction is an attractive economic alternative to deforestation.  The idea is that with proper sustainable extraction strategies species can be harvested without leaving long-term damage to the species or to the overall ecosystem.  Aquilaria crassna, the agarwood tree, is a tropical mid- canopy tree of Southeast Asia that is being poached at, what park rangers believe, an alarming rate. The aim of my work is to examine the ecological effects of the current rate of illegal extraction and whether or not the current rate of extraction is sustainable.  By counting, mapping and collecting data (including fruiting density, tree diameter, seedling height, number of sprouts and damage) on every A. crassna tree on a heavily poached 4.2-hectare plot, I hope to assess the damage and provide information for more effective conservation and sustainable extraction strategies.