Agarwood, or locally known as karas in Malay is a tree species that could grow up to 60 cm in diameter. This species occurs on plain hillsides and ridges to 750 m altitude throughout Peninsular Malaysia except in Perlis and Kedah, while it occurs in the lowland mixed dipterocarp forests up to 270 m altitude in Borneo (Yong et al., 2011). This species is also absent from Sarawak, while other species of this genus are reported to be generally rare (Tawan, 2004). Besides Malaysia, karas tree is also commonly found in the lowland forests of Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar and India (Corner, 1988). 

The karas tree produces aloes wood or gaharu which is fragrant in nature and is a highly sought-after essential oil in the international trade. The production of gaharu is believed to be due to the pathological infection and reaction of the wood caused by injuries.Typically, gaharu is used as incense in religious ceremonies and due to this, gaharu is highly sought-after and priced both locally and internationally (Desch 1954, Gianno & Kochummen, 1981). The timber, a light hardwood, is suitable for veneer making, packing boxes, indoor light construction and possesses native medicinal values for treating asthma and body healing properties (Burkill, 1996; Whitemore, 1972; Wong, 1978; Lok & Ahmad Zuhaidi, 1996; Anonymous, 1998). 

However, most of the karas tree on the market is collected from the wild since the few plantations set up in the early 1900s are either under serious pressure or have been destroyed (IUCN, 1998). For Malaysia, the karas tree has been categorised as Vulnerable due to unsustainable harvest and habitat loss or degradation. Excessive damage induced on the uncontrolled harvest from tree trunks are causing the populations of this species to become Vulnerable to extinction (Chua, 2008; Yong et al., 2011).