Suprisingly, it is actually real wood covered by a clear coat.
I've received some scratches on mine in the past also and here was my solution:
1) For a piece that had some very light scratches, but was in a hard to get to place (Center console area), I laid down some nice glaze and then put down some sealant over it. Scratches dissipated. Since this area isn't exposed to the elements, this solution has lasted about 6-9mos. I do have to reapply it once or twice a year.
2) Had some more noticeable ones on the wood across the front of the dash on the passenger side. For this, I removed the piece from the car (took about 10mins) and dropped it off at my local detailer that I trust. He polished the wood and removed the scratches. Reinstalled. Done.