The Truth About Mahogany, Part 2

Can it be harvested sustainably? Plus Sources

Most full-service lumberyards carry several species called “mahogany.” (Photo by Christopher Schwarz)

Back in 2000, prior to CITES regulations, with funding from the World Wildlife Fund, TRAFFIC analyzed the U.S. market for big-leafed mahogany and made some recommendations:

· “Educate mahogany consumers on CITES and expand markets for certified and plantation-grown mahogany”

· “Improve implementation and effectiveness of CITES”

· “Monitor conservation implications for mahogany substitutes (African mahogany)”

· “Fund mahogany conservation through import duties”⁵¹

Several of these recommendations have been satisfied. The question, of course, is this: Has it worked?

In a 2008 issue of Forest Ecology and Management, researchers look at the impacts on logging big-leaf mahogany in the Brazilian Amazon and the possibility of recovery. They theorize that “80% harvest intensity will not be sustainable over multiple cutting cycles for most populations without silvicultural interventions …” and without…