Beginning in 1992, concerted efforts began to list wide-ranging and economically important timber species in the CITES Appendices, the most notable being afrormosia (Pericopsis elata, listed in Appendix II in 1992), bigleaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla, listed in Appendix III by several countries since the mid-1990s and in Appendix II with effect from 2003) and ramin (Gonystylus spp, listed in Appendix III by Indonesia since 2001 and in Appendix II with effect from 2005). Appendix II listing means that exports of specified products made from these timber species (primary products for the first two but all—including secondary—products of ramin) require certificates from any exporting country stating that the export of those specimens would not be detrimental to the species' future survival in the wild. These so-called non-detriment findings (NDFs) are essentially confirmation of the sustainable production of exports of these timber species, providing a clear link between the requirements of CITES and the work of ITTO.
Tropical Forest Update

Issue 17 No 1
CITES branches out
Contents
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Implementing ramin's CITES listing
Photo: A. Sarre
An ITTO expert meeting helps to plot the way forward
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Mahogany catch 22
Photo: D. Brignole
A first person account of one trader's navigation of CITES regulations
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The allure of plantations
Photo: J. Leigh
Many tropical countries want to develop industries based on tropical forest plantations but may lack the information to do it properly
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Community participation in forest management
Photo: M. Dourojeanni
Results from ex-post evaluation of projects in six countries
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Out on a limb
The TFU's former editor takes aim at financing SFM
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Market trends
Weather factors steer timber prices
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Fellowship report
Photo: R. Cossío
Forest concessions take root in Madre de Dios department, Peru
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On the conference circuit
Reports on the FAO/OIBT/COMIFAC Sub-Regional Workshop on Forest Law Enforcement in Central Africa and the International Expert Meeting on the Multi-year Program of Work of the United Nations Forum on Forests
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Recent editions
New books and reports
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Topical and tropical
Recent developments in tropical forestry
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Courses and letters
Short training courses for professionals in forestry and related disciplines
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Meetings
A comprehensive listing of coming conferences relevant to sustainable tropical forest management

Full edition
The ITTO Tropical Forest Update is published quarterly in English, French and Spanish.
The French and Spanish editions are usually posted about one month after the English.
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Content does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of ITTO. ITTO holds the copyright to all photos unless otherwise stated. Articles may be reprinted without charge providing the Tropical Forest Update and author are credited and the editor notified (tfu@itto.int).