Benzoin, a resin produced by Styrax trees in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia

Sumatran benzoin is a resin produced by Styrax trees, managed in forest gardens in the highlands of North Sumatra. The resin is used in incense, perfume and pharmaceutical preparations and as a flafouring agent. Trade with foreign countries has existed for over a millennium, first with China and lat...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: García Fernandez, C.
Format: Book Chapter
Language:Inglés
Published: Center for International Forestry Research 2004
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18923
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author García Fernandez, C.
author_browse García Fernandez, C.
author_facet García Fernandez, C.
author_sort García Fernandez, C.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Sumatran benzoin is a resin produced by Styrax trees, managed in forest gardens in the highlands of North Sumatra. The resin is used in incense, perfume and pharmaceutical preparations and as a flafouring agent. Trade with foreign countries has existed for over a millennium, first with China and later with Arab and Europe. The economic and cultural roles of benzoin have undergone major changes in the last few decades. Previously benzoin gardening was considered a high status activity which generated high incame and made farmer proud. Nowadays some villages have abandoned the practices as other more profitable cash crops have displaced benzoin as an income source. The younger generations perceives benzoin cultivation as a backward activity, preferring to work in their annual crop gardens or for wages. Nevertheless some farmers remain attached to benzoin as they recognize it as the product that gave life to their settlement and provided the means to educate generations of relatives. From a conservation point of fiew, benzoin management represents low-intensity disturbance of the ecosystem and allows the effective accumulation of a forest species while maintaining the forest environment.
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spelling CGSpace189232025-01-24T14:20:28Z Benzoin, a resin produced by Styrax trees in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia García Fernandez, C. styrax cropping systems socioeconomics trade uses Sumatran benzoin is a resin produced by Styrax trees, managed in forest gardens in the highlands of North Sumatra. The resin is used in incense, perfume and pharmaceutical preparations and as a flafouring agent. Trade with foreign countries has existed for over a millennium, first with China and later with Arab and Europe. The economic and cultural roles of benzoin have undergone major changes in the last few decades. Previously benzoin gardening was considered a high status activity which generated high incame and made farmer proud. Nowadays some villages have abandoned the practices as other more profitable cash crops have displaced benzoin as an income source. The younger generations perceives benzoin cultivation as a backward activity, preferring to work in their annual crop gardens or for wages. Nevertheless some farmers remain attached to benzoin as they recognize it as the product that gave life to their settlement and provided the means to educate generations of relatives. From a conservation point of fiew, benzoin management represents low-intensity disturbance of the ecosystem and allows the effective accumulation of a forest species while maintaining the forest environment. 2004 2012-06-04T09:08:57Z 2012-06-04T09:08:57Z Book Chapter https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18923 en Open Access Center for International Forestry Research Garcia-Fernandez, C. 2004. Benzoin, a resin produced by Styrax trees in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia . In: Koen Kuster and Brian Belcher (eds.). Forest products, livelihoods and conservation: case studies of non-timber forest product systems. volume 1 - Asia. :151-168. Bogor, Indonesia, CIFOR.
spellingShingle styrax
cropping systems
socioeconomics
trade
uses
García Fernandez, C.
Benzoin, a resin produced by Styrax trees in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia
title Benzoin, a resin produced by Styrax trees in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia
title_full Benzoin, a resin produced by Styrax trees in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia
title_fullStr Benzoin, a resin produced by Styrax trees in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia
title_full_unstemmed Benzoin, a resin produced by Styrax trees in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia
title_short Benzoin, a resin produced by Styrax trees in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia
title_sort benzoin a resin produced by styrax trees in north sumatra province indonesia
topic styrax
cropping systems
socioeconomics
trade
uses
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18923
work_keys_str_mv AT garciafernandezc benzoinaresinproducedbystyraxtreesinnorthsumatraprovinceindonesia