183 governments set limits on global rosewood trade. The new Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) regulation covers 80 percent of the multi-billion dollar global trade in precious rosewoods. China and Viet Nam are the biggest users, mostly for luxury furniture.
Wood species protection is in the news. CITES adds to its international protection list while in the U.S. the Endangered Species Act celebrates its 40th anniversary.
Efforts to conserve precious hardwoods in Asia, Africa and South America were given a critical boost at the CITES meeting in the face of significant pressure from increasing global demand.
Granting international protection to threatened Siam rosewood is a major step towards saving the species from extinction and curbing the explosion of violence around illegal trade in the precious wood.
Thai rosewood has been given protection under international law, one of many decisions made at the recent Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), held March 3-14 in Bangkok, Thailand.
International travel will be easier for owners of musical instruments made from protected species following the approval for “passports” at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).