Dalbergia Preservation

Dalbergia Nigra

March 17, 2009 | Endangered Trees, Dalbergia Nigra

Brazilian Rosewood - (Dalbergia Nigra)
Family - Leguminosae
Origin - Brasil
Flowers -September - December
Common Names - Brazilian Rosewood, Jacaranda, Jacaranda da Bahia, Caviuana, Jacaranda Preto

The species, Dalbergia Nigra is most commonly known as Brazilian Rosewood. It is classified scientifically in the Leguminosae Family (Pea or Bean Family). This species is indigenous to and only found in the country of Brazil where it is most commonly known as Jacaranda da Bahia. Other common names of this species in Brazil are Jacaranda, Jacaranda Preto and Caviuna.

With approximately 300 species in the Dalbergia family found in tropical and sub tropical regions throughout the world, you might ask why we have chosen to focus on Dalbergia Nigra. Due to centuries of abusive and unmanaged harvesting, Dalbergia Nigra (Brazilian Rosewood)  is now the first and only of the Dalbergia species to be listed on the highest level of CITES endangered list. ‘CITES’ (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) first listed the species in 1992 on Appendix III. In the short time since, it has escalated in rank and most recently been added to Appendix I, the highest level of endangerment and feared to become extinct in the natural habitat of its’ origin areas within Brazil. There are other dalbergia species found within Brazil and other countries that are also currently threatened with extinction. We will be discussing those in the near future and they are also in our future plans for inclusion in our reforestation project.

Another Dalbergia species we are concerned with that doesn’t originate in Brasil is Dalbergia Melanoxylon -(African Blackwood). Although this species is not indigenous to Brasil, with no current laws controlling or restricting trade in the species in Africa, it is also currently being threatened with extinction in that country. With cooperation from a source in Africa, we have acquired a source for seed stock that will allow us to experiment with the possiblities of propogating and preserving it in our preservation efforts in Brasil. We believe that the similarity in growing conditions of Africa and northern regions of Brasil, we can be successful with this species as well.

The “Mata Atlantica” (Atlantic Coastal Regions) of Brasil is the natural indigenous area where Dalbergia Nigra was found most abundant. There is much misconception that this species came from the northern regions of Brasil in Amazonia and that illegal harvesting of this species has contributed to the destruction of the “Amazon Rainforests”. This is simply not the case. Though we are concerned with the deforestation of the Amazon Region, the Mata Atlantica areas of Brasil are just as important to the Bio Diversity and Eco System we live in. This region of Brasil was actually preeminently deforesteted before the current trends of deforestation in Amazonia. The Mata Atlantica areas where the Dalbergia Nigra species was most abundant are found in the states of Espirito Santos, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Minas Gerias. Click the thumbnail picture for an enlargment of the map.

A forest inventory carried out in the Atlantic coastal forests of Brasil showed that 30 percent of the tree species reported had only one tree or less per hectare (2.5 acres). A report showed that three of the most abundant tree species reached 30 percent of all the trees per sampled hectare. We believe a more thorough understanding of the species in it’s natural state will help us in assuring success in our reforestation project with minimal effect on deterioration of genetics. We are currently researching more on the species in it’s natural environment. We are far from truly understanding this illusive and mysterious tree.

The “Mata Atlantica” forests are a mere shadow of what they once were. It now covers less than 7 percent of its original 520,000 square miles (1,347,000 square kilometers) due to deforestation. Due to continued deforestation these forest areas continue to shrink. A large portion of our efforts will also include education of the local people in these areas as to the importance of these forests. As our project gains awarness and support, our hopes are to donate seedlings to private land owners to encourage their participation in our project in repopulation of these endangered species. At the continued and growing rates of deforestation, time is of the essence in preserving all endangered species.

We are currently planning and preparing to initiate GPS tracking for our reforestation locations. Our members section will allow our sponsoring members to use Global Satellite imaging to pinpoint areas and individual trees planted in our preservation project.

To be continued…