Dalbergia Preservation

Future of Mahogany / Cedrela Odorata (Spanish Cedar)

November 28, 2008 | Endangered Trees

In case you haven’t been keeping up, we have. As we’ve been forecasting and warning, a devastating blow to the guitar industry is at hand. Consider for a moment what it would mean to you if you were no longer able to buy Mahogany or Spanish Cedar. These two woods, for as long as there have been guitars, have been a mainstay for the construction of guitar necks. Most all high end traditional classical guitars have used spanish cedar for neck construction. Most all steel string guitar manufacturers have used mahogany or spanish cedar. Well, it seems the availability of these two most precious commodities is closer than ever to becoming unattainable.

I don’t think it’s news to anyone that mahogany, for some time now, has been more difficult to find. However, it might be news to some that it is on the verge of becoming upgraded by CITES to appendix I ! Which will forever put it on the same level as Brazilian Rosewood (D. Nigra). And we all know what a nightmare that has become. The upcoming meeting described below will also consider the future of Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa, D. granadillo, D. stevensonii) another rosewood following the footsteps of D.Nigra.

No. 2008/058 - Geneva, 24 September 2008

CONCERNING: Information to be submitted for consideration at the next meetings of the Animals and Plants Committees.

At its 14th meeting (The Hague, 2007), the Conference of the Parties agreed that Parties should report on a number of subjects with a view to facilitating discussions at the forthcoming 18th meeting of the Plants Committee to be held  March 17-21, 2009: 18th meeting of the CITES Plants Committee, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Bigleaf mahogany

Bigleaf mahogany range States should report progress on the implementation of a regional strategy for the species with timelines to address: non-detriment findings, legal origin, and compliance and enforcement issues. The strategy should include the 15 recommendations made in the report of the BMWG (document PC16 Doc. 19.1.1) and mechanisms to ensure adequate implementation and enforcement [paragraph 4 of the Action Plan adopted through Decision 14.145].

CITES meeting - March 17-21, 2009: 18th meeting of the CITES Plants Committee, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Up for evaluation and actions on Annex 4
Action plan for Cedrela odorata, Dalbergia retusa, Dalbergia granadillo and Dalbergia stevensonii

1. The range States of Cedrela odorata, Dalbergia retusa, Dalbergia granadillo and Dalbergia stevensonii shall:

a) complete and update the available information on the species mentioned in this Decision;b) assess the populations of the species mentioned in this Decision, taking into account inter alia the distribution, cover, density, size structure, regeneration dynamics and changes in land use;c) report the existence, extent and type of forest plantations of the species mentioned in this Decision;d) compile the information related to export of the species mentioned in this Decision, including volumes and products, indicating the percentage from plantations;e) report to the Secretariat progress in the compilation of the information outlined in paragraphs a), b), c) and d) above, 60 days before the 17th and 18th meetings of the Plants Committee, so that the Secretariat may present a report to the Committee and the Committee may adopt the necessary measures; andf) consider the inclusion of their populations of Cedrela odorata in Appendix III, with the adequate annotation and ensure the implementation and enforcement of CITES with regard to that species in that Appendix.
As you can see, the future of this industry is one step closer to being devastated by the shortage of these rare and valuable timbers. With greater demand and ever growing shorter supply, we believe (as do our sources of information) without a doubt, mahogany will be upgraded to Appendix I sooner, rather than later. And it seems certain that Spanish Cedar will be inching it’s way up the ladder of threatened species and to be included into Appendix III as early as March of 2009. Once again we are sounding the alarm. If more and immediate action, is not taken to start reforesting these species, they will inevitably inch their way up to Appendix I status and forever be out of reach to this, and all other, industry.WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT !