CHINESE EXOTIC WOODS
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While significant demand exists in Vietnam, China is the predominant consumer market for Hongmu. Hongmu is considered a safe investment by emerging middle classes. This demand has resulted in consequences both good and bad. As a natural resource, wood comes under the scru9ny of CITES (the Conven2on on Interna2onal Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ). This is an interna9onal treaty to prevent species from becoming endangered or ex9nct because of interna9onal trade. In January 2016, CITES received a disturbing briefing on the global situa9on specifically related to Hongmu. It was produced by the Environmental Inves9ga9on Agency and its alarming conclusions merit careful considera9on. The introduc9on to the EIA report states: “The Hongmu sector is a significant threat to the select group of timber species targeted and constitutes a pressing conservation challenge for CITES and its Parties. Since 2009, Asian demand has boomed for luxury furniture made with rare, high-value and deeply hued rosewoods, mahoganies and ebonies. Principally targeting 33 species within the Pterocarpus, Diospyros, Dalbergia, Millettia and Cassia genera, sales in China’s Hongmu sector exceeded to $25 billion in 2014. The sector is driving systematic illegal and unsustainable extraction at unprecedented rates and scales. Across Asia, Africa and Latin America, the nature of the industry is the same – unsustainable extraction leads to domestic protection which is then undermined by smuggling aided by corrupt officials; finally, better governed range states seek CITES protections. Once CITES regulations come into force or when resources become exhausted, the criminal networks underpinning the trade are able to move quickly between species and countries. Key consuming countries – China and Vietnam – have no enforceable controls against illegally logged timber imports. CITES empowers these Parties as enforcement partners. Nascent proposals to list the entire Dalbergia genus and listings of other species involved are important initiatives. However, around 75 per cent of the global Hongmu trade is now focused on just three species – Pterocarpus erinaceus, Pterocarpus macrocarpus/pedatus, and Dalbergia oliveri/bariensis – none which are currently listed. CITES is failing to address the Hongmu challenge. Parties to CITES need to recognise the severity and the source of the problem and support proposals seeking to protect tree species affected by the Hongmu industry.”
