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CITES branches out

Cover image

Photo: W.H. Wust

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.

Contents

  • Mahogany catch 22

    Photo: D. Brignole

    A first person account of one trader's navigation of CITES regulations

    By Doug Brignole

  • 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

    By Ivan Tomaselli

  • Fighting illegal logging in Indonesia

    Photo: M.I. Shaharuddin

    Ex-post evaluation of an ITTO project shows evidence of progress

    By Shaharuddin Mohamad Ismail

  • Out on a limb

    The TFU's former editor takes aim at financing SFM

    By Alastair Sarre

  • Market trends

    Weather factors steer timber prices

    By Jairo Castaño

  • Fellowship report

    Photo: R. Cossío

    Forest concessions take root in Madre de Dios department, Peru

    By Rosa E. Cossío

  • 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

  • Courses and letters

    Short training courses for professionals in forestry and related disciplines

  • 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).