The Agar Tree Sales Policy, 2012 establishes a regulatory framework for the sale and management of agar (Aquilaria) trees in Bangladesh. Its principal objective is to govern the commercial disposal of agar trees grown in government plantations by setting eligibility criteria for trees offered for sale, specifying harvesting conditions, and establishing transparent sales procedures. The policy defines the age and physical characteristics required for sale, regulates felling periods, and provides rules on valuation and payment, including staged payment arrangements for purchasers. It also requires purchasers to undertake proper treatment (inoculation/treatment) of trees intended for agar production and sets conditions for plantation management during the contract period. A further objective of the policy is to ensure the sustainable management, legal utilisation, and conservation of agar resources while generating public revenue and supporting social welfare programmes. The policy imposes obligations regarding transport, compensation for damage, and compliance with forestry regulations, and requires permits from the national authority responsible for implementing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) for international trade in agar products. It also establishes the allocation of proceeds from agar tree sales among forest management activities, beneficiary groups, and forestry development funds, thereby linking commercial exploitation with conservation and community-development objectives.
Bangladesh · 2012-01-01