3D documentation and classification of incense tree <i>Aquilaria sinensis</i> (Lour.) Spreng. wounds by photogrammetry and its potential conservation applications.

Abstract

In recent years, illegal felling of and damage to the incense tree <i>Aquilaria sinensis</i> (Lour.) Spreng. have been reported in Hong Kong. Their native populations are under increasingly severe threat. Therefore, the development of a standard and efficient method to classify and document wounds on vulnerable trees is urgently needed for conservation purposes. In this study, photogrammetry was used to document wounds in <i>A. sinensis</i> through 3D modeling. A total of 752 wound records from 484 individual <i>A. sinensis</i> trees from Hong Kong were included to establish a new wound classification system. Our major findings include a novel standardized procedure for photogrammetric documentation and a wound classification system. The results of this study will facilitate <i>A. sinensis</i> conservation, by enhancing wound documentation and information transfer to law enforcement and education.