MAKING THE MAHOGANY TRADE WORK

Report of the workshop on capacity-building for the implementation of the CITES Appendix-II listing of mahogany

OCTOBER 2004

I N T E R N A T I O N A L T R O P I C A L T I M B E R O R G A N I Z A T I O NInternational Organizations Center, 5th Floor, Pacifico-Yokohama, 1-1-1, Minato-Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, 220-0012, Japan

Tel 81-45-223-1110 Fax 81-45-223-1111 Email itto@itto.or.jp Web www.itto.or.jp© ITTO 2004

INTERNATIONAL TROPICAL TIMBER ORGANIZATION

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Making the mahoganytrade workReport of the workshop on capacity-building for the

implementation of the CITES Appendix-II listing of mahogany

An ITTO-sponsored workshop hosted by the Peruvian National Institute for Natural Resources (INRENA), with the assistance of FONDEBOSQUE,held in Pucallpa, Peru, 17–21 May 2004

ITTO Technical Series No 22

International Tropical Timber Organization

2004

Making the mahogany trade work

Report of the workshop on capacity-building forthe implementation of the CITES Appendix-IIlisting of mahogany

ITTO Technical Series No 22

An ITTO-sponsored workshop hosted by thePeruvian National Institute for Natural Resources(INRENA), with the assistance of FONDEBOSQUE,held in Pucallpa, Peru, 17–21 May 2004

The International Tropical Timber Organization(ITTO) is an intergovernmental organizationpromoting the conservation and sustainablemanagement, use and trade of tropical forestresources. Its 59 members represent more than 75%of the world’s tropical forests and 90% of the globaltropical timber trade. ITTO develops internationallyagreed policy documents to promote sustainable forestmanagement and forest conservation and assiststropical member countries to adapt such policies tolocal circumstances and to implement them in thefield through projects. In addition, ITTO collects,analyses and disseminates data on the productionand trade of tropical timber and funds a range of projects and other action aimed at developingindustries at both community and industrial scales.All projects are funded by voluntary contributions,mostly from consuming member countries. Since itbecame operational in 1987, ITTO has funded morethan 700 projects, pre-projects and activities valued

at more than US$250 million. The major donorsare the governments of Japan, Switzerland and theUSA. ITTO contact details can be found on theback cover.

This report is made available by ITTO as part of itspolicy of contributing in a timely manner to publicdebate on issues related to the conservation andsustainable management, use and trade of tropicalforest resources. To obtain this report in Spanish orfor the unedited report in English and Spanish (whichincludes all the papers presented at the workshop),see the ITTO website (www.itto.or.jp) or contactthe ITTO office.

Cover photos

Left: W. WustTop right, bottom right and back cover: STCP

© International Tropical Timber Organization 2004

This work is copyright. Except for the ITTO logo,graphical and textual information in this publicationmay be reproduced in whole or in part providedthat it is not sold or put to commercial use and its source is acknowledged. Although this reportwas commissioned by ITTO, ITTO does notnecessarily endorse or support the findings or recommendations presented herein.

ISBN 4 902045 14 1

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ForewordMahogany is one of the best-known and mostvaluable tropical timbers on the international market.Swietenia mahogani, native to Central America andthe Caribbean, has been traded around the worldsince the 16th century, while S. humilis from CentralAmerica has been extensively used locally. Heavydemand for both these species has resulted in declinesin their populations to the point where they are nolonger commercially available. S. macrophylla, alsoknown as caoba or big-leaf mahogany, is now themain true mahogany in commerce. The species hasrecently become a cause célèbre in discussions oninternational timber utilisation and forestconservation policy.

After ten years of debate among parties to theConvention on International Trade in EndangeredSpecies of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), many ofwhom are also members of ITTO, and a considerabledegree of controversy, the decision was taken at the12th Conference of the Parties to CITES in 2002to include S. macrophylla in Appendix II of theConvention. All species in the genus Swieteniaare therefore now included in CITES Appendix II,S. humilis having been added in 1975 andS.mahogani in 1992.

The inclusion of S. macrophylla in Appendix II ofCITES imposes exporting, importing and monitoringrequirements on the species, which should be linkedto its sustainable management in natural foresthabitats. A key requirement is the formulation ofthe so-called non-detriment finding prior to export.The CITES listing of this valuable and somewhatsymbolic species has been operational since November2003. ITTO is committed to helping ensure thatthe listing is effective, in line with Objective (d)of the ITTA, which is:

To enhance the capacity of members to implement astrategy for achieving exports of tropical timber andtimber products from sustainably managed sourcesby the year 2000.

National policies for sustainable forest managementare well advanced in the main producer countriesfor big-leaf mahogany, but aspects of practicalimplementation remain challenging. ITTO andother international agencies are supporting progress

in sustainable forest management through a widerange of project and policy initiatives. ITTO’spolicy initiatives include facilitating debate and theexchange of practical knowledge and experiencesbetween member countries. One such initiative hasbeen to bring together countries involved in the tradein mahogany to discuss CITES implementationin relation to the sustainable management ofmahogany stocks.

This report presents the results of a workshoporganized by ITTO and held in Peru, currently themain country of export for mahogany, in May 2004.The purpose of the workshop was to encourage andinform practical action for the formulation of CITESnon-detriment findings for mahogany exports.Discussions at the workshop were based on theunderstanding that the determination of non-detriment findings is an individual country’s roleand that the criteria for that determination willbe set by each country in line with the broaderimplementation of national forest policy. Focusingon the key mahogany-producing countries (Bolivia,Brazil and Peru), the workshop provided a forumfor sharing initial experiences in implementing theAppendix-II listing of mahogany and allowed areview of capacity in key range states to effectivelyimplement CITES obligations with respect to thisspecies. The workshop drew on the cooperativeefforts of exporters, importers, governments andthe non-governmental community.

When the proposal to include S. macrophylla inCITES Appendix II was approved in November2002, CITES parties stressed that this should bea measure to promote the sustainable trade of thespecies and should not be interpreted as a traderestriction. The challenge is now to ensure thatthe sustainability of the species is in fact enhanced.Recommendations in this report set out the key stepsnecessary to reach the goal of a sustainable mahoganytrade. ITTO urges all members of the internationalcommunity to work together towards the achievementof this crucial objective.

Manoel Sobral FilhoExecutive DirectorInternational Tropical Timber Organization

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AcronymsADEX Exporters Association (Peru)

AFOP Annual Forest OperationalPlan (Bolivia)

AFOPAR AFOP Annual Report (Bolivia)

AIMEX Para State Export IndustryAssociation (Brazil)

AOP Annual Operational Plan

APHIS Animal and Plant HealthInspection Service (USA)

ASL Local Social Groups (Bolivia)

ATFF Technical ForestAdministration Unit (Peru)

CBD Convention on BiologicalDiversity

CFO Forest Certificate of Origin(Bolivia)

CITES Convention on InternationalTrade in Endangered Speciesof Wild Fauna and Flora

COP Conference of the Parties

DBH Diameter at breast height

DEFRA Department of Environment,Food and Rural Affairs (UK)

DHS Department of HomelandSecurity (USA)

EC European Commission

EU European Union

FSC Forest Stewardship Council

FUNDEMPRESA Foundation for EnterpriseDevelopment (Bolivia)

FWS Fish and Wildlife Service(USA)

GFMP General Forest ManagementPlan (Bolivia, Peru)

HPVA Hardwood Plywood andVeneer Association (USA)

HS Harmonized System

IBAMA Institute for Environment andNatural Resources (Brazil)

INRENA National Institute forNatural Resources (Peru)

ITTA International TropicalTimber Agreement

ITTC International TropicalTimber Council

ITTO

ITTO International TropicalTimber Organization

IUCN World Conservation Union

IWPA International Wood ProductsAssociation (USA)

MCD Minimum cutting diameter

MMA Ministry for theEnvironment (Brazil)

NDF Non-detriment finding

NGO Non-governmentalorganization

OEMA State EnvironmentalOrganizations (Brazil)

OSINFOR Timber Forest ResourceSupervisory Agency (Peru)

PAPMP Raw Material Supply andProcessing Program (Bolivia)

PPF Permanent production forest

SENASAG National Agricultural HealthService (Bolivia)

SIF Forest Superintendence(Bolivia)

SIF Forest Information System(Peru)

SIVEX Single Export Office System(Bolivia)

SPDA Peruvian EnvironmentalLaw Society

TTF Timber Trade Federation (UK)

UNALM-FCF National Agrarian Universityof La Molina – Faculty ofForestry Science (Peru)

UNEP-WCMC United Nations EnvironmentProgramme-WorldConservation MonitoringCentre

USAID United States Agency forInternational Development

USDA United States Departmentof Agriculture

VMRNMA Vice-Ministry for NaturalResources and theEnvironment (Bolivia)

WWF Worldwide Fund for Nature

YOP Yearly Operational Plan

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AcknowledgementsITTO gratefully acknowledges the assistance andsupport of INRENA and FONDEBOSQUE inthe convening of the workshop. We are particularlygrateful to Mr Leoncio Álvarez Vásquez, the Chiefof INRENA, for making time in his busy scheduleto enable his active participation. Mr Carlos Salinas(INRENA), Mr Enrique Toledo and Ms MarthaPuga (both of FONDEBOSQUE) all deserve creditfor the smooth conduct of the workshop, which wasdue in large measure to their excellent coordinationand administration. ITTO is also grateful to Ms SaraOldfield and Dr Georgina Magin of Fauna & FloraInternational, who assisted with the editing of thisreport, and to UNEP-WCMC for access to theCITES trade database. ITTO thanks all theparticipants (and especially the many traders andNGOs who attended at their own expense) fortheir active contributions to the workshop andultimately to a more sustainable trade in mahogany.The workshop was funded through ITTO by thegovernments of Japan and the USA.

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Contents

Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Acronyms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Executive summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Mahogany and CITES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Mahogany and ITTO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

The Pucallpa workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

2 Market reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Bolivia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Peru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

UK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

3 Experience to date with CITES Appendix-II listing of mahogany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Bolivia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Peru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

UK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

4 Other international perspectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Trade organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Environmental organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

5 Conclusion and recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Annex 1: List of participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Annex 2: Workshop resolutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

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List of figures

1 Diagram of the mahogany chain of custody, showing the various stakeholders,their roles and the documents they require or provide for mahogany timber export . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

2 Preliminary map of mahogany distribution in the departmentsof Loreto, San Martin, Ucayali and Madre de Dios, Peru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

List of tables

1 Annual volumes of S. macrophylla exported, by the main countriesof export, for the years 1996–2002, as recorded in CITES trade statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

2 Annual volumes of S. macrophylla veneer exported, by the main countriesof export, for the years 1996–2002, as recorded in CITES trade statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

3 Annual volumes of S. macrophylla imported, by the main countriesof import, for the years 1996–2002, as recorded in CITES trade statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

4 Annual volumes of S. macrophylla veneer imported, by the main countriesof import, for the years 1996–2002, as recorded in CITES trade statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

5 Volume of mahogany production approved by SIF in Bolivia, 1998–2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

6 Volume of mahogany exported by Bolivia and number of permits issued by CITES, 1998–2003 . . . . . 20

7 Volumes of mahogany exported from Bolivia to various countries with CITES permits and certificates . . . . 20

8 Volume of mahogany export permits from Peru, 1996–2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

9 Destination of mahogany sawnwood exports from Peru in 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

10 Major Peruvian mahogany exporters, 2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

11 Comparison between minimum management plan components recommended by the secondmeeting of the Mahogany Working Group and components of a management plan in Bolivia . . . . . . . 27

List of boxes

1 Recommendations of the 14th Plants Committee in relation to mahogany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

2 Key points from communication issued by the CITES Secretariat on the Appendix-IIlisting of mahogany (Notification to the Parties No 2003/070, 12 November 2003) . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

3 Import requirements for mahogany in the EU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

4 Decision 7 (XXXIV) of the International Tropical Timber Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

5 Timber trade monitoring system in Bolivia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

6 Document requirements for CITES licence applications in Bolivia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

7 Requirements for the export of mahogany from Peru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

8 Aims of meetings between Peruvian CITES authorities and ADEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

9 Recommendations made by the UK Timber Trade Federation at the Pucallpa workshop . . . . . . . . . . 38

10 WWF rationale for its position with regard to the implementation of CITES Appendix II for mahogany . . . . 38

11 Recommendations from the Peruvian Council for Voluntary Forest Certificationfor the implementation of the CITES Appendix-II listing of mahogany in Peru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

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Executive summarySwietenia macrophylla, commonly known as big-leaf mahogany or caoba, has been included inAppendix II of the Convention on InternationalTrade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna andFlora (CITES), with effect from 15 November 2003.CITES aims to protect listed species against over-exploitation caused by international trade and toensure that this trade is sustainable. This is doneprimarily through the requirements placed onproducer countries to verify that exports will nothave a detrimental effect on listed species bymaking non-detriment findings prior to issuingexport licences, and by monitoring the levels ofexport. The inclusion of the commercially valuablebig-leaf mahogany under the provisions of CITESis complementary to the key objective of theInternational Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA),which is:

to enhance the capacity of members to implement astrategy for achieving exports of tropical timber andtimber products from sustainably managed sources.

Implementing the CITES mahogany listing presentsnew challenges in sustainable forest management forthe species and in controlling the international tradein its products. At its 35th Session (3–8 November2003), the International Tropical Timber Council(ITTC) noted the imminent entry into force of theAppendix-II listing of mahogany and heard concernsexpressed by mahogany importers and exportersregarding the effective implementation of the listing,particularly the ability of exporters to issue reliablenon-detriment findings. Council decided (throughDecision 4(XXXV)) to sponsor a meeting of allstakeholders to facilitate effective implementationof the Appendix-II listing.

This report presents the discussions and outcomesof the resulting ‘workshop on capacity-building forimplementation of the CITES Appendix-II listingof mahogany (S. macrophylla)’ held on 17–21 May2004 in Pucallpa, Peru. The main objective of theworkshop was to encourage and inform practicalaction with respect to the formulation of non-detriment findings for mahogany exports, focusedon the key mahogany-producing countries: Bolivia,Brazil and Peru. Specific objectives includeddescribing current market conditions for mahogany;identifying opportunities for national inter-agencycooperation and regional cooperation; identifyinginternational assistance needs; discussing common

approaches to monitoring; elaborating potentialprivate-sector actions, and facilitating the sharingof information.

To achieve these objectives, the workshop includedpresentations by the three producer countries presentand by Canada, Spain, the UK and the US,significant mahogany importers. The workshopprovided a forum for countries to share their earlyexperiences in implementing the Appendix-II listingand allowed a review of capacity in key range statesto effectively implement CITES obligations withrespect to mahogany. Presentations were also madeby the CITES Secretariat, trade organizations andenvironmental non-governmental organizations(NGOs). Following the presentations, participantsformed three working groups to focus on:

• monitoring activities and technicalassistance needs;

• private-sector efforts and market conditions; and

• inter-agency coordination and regionalcooperation.

From the presentations it was clear that significantprogress has already been made in meeting therequirements of Appendix II for mahogany, but ineach exporting country further work is considerednecessary. Common issues prevent developmentof a robust non-detriment finding in each country.There is a lack of information on mahogany stocksand distribution throughout the region, and on theregeneration and ecology of the species in differentcircumstances. Regulatory authorities lack capacityand resources for monitoring and control, andtransparency, communication and informationsystems need to be improved.

The importing countries represented at the workshopgenerally have not encountered specific problems withthe CITES Appendix-II listing of S. macrophylla.An implementation problem for all timber speciescovered by CITES is identification by customsofficials to confirm that shipments correspond withdocumentation. Various identification tools havebeen developed to address this issue, as highlightedin this report. Irregularities in permits or incorrectpaperwork can also be a significant problem formahogany imports, as with other CITES-listedspecies. Communication is one of the key issuesfor mahogany, to ensure maximum transparencyand mutual understanding of the requirements byall parties concerned, including the private sector.

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A significant feature of the workshop was the closerelationships forged between some of the participatingNGOs and trade representatives who are workingtowards helping to ensure supplies of sustainableand legal mahogany. Some members of the tradeoffered to investigate the possibility of providingfinancial assistance to producer countries to supportinventories of mahogany resources.

The working groups formulated a number ofrecommendations, which are given in Section 5of this report. The recommendations focus on thefollowing key areas:

• the need for accurate data and information onmahogany stocks and ecology to be incorporatedin management plans, and the role of the privatesector and the academic and scientificcommunities in obtaining such information;

• the need for improved communication,transparency and availability of informationon mahogany management and trade;

• the use of chain-of-custody tools and well-definedprocedures and documentation to trackmahogany in trade; and

• the development of voluntary codes of conductby the private sector and coalitions of buyers,sellers and NGOs.

The workshop recommended that both nationalinter-agency cooperation and regional cooperationshould be enhanced, and that additional workshopson mahogany should be convened, especially at thenational and sub-national levels. Technical assistanceshould be sought from relevant internationalorganizations to develop and implement controlsystems for mahogany, and the CITES Secretariatshould provide training on request on theimplementation of CITES listings.

The workshop also resulted in two resolutions: onefrom the CITES authorities in Bolivia, Brazil andPeru, announcing their intention to form a workinggroup to continue regional cooperation on mahoganymanagement and calling for international assistanceto support their activities, and the second from anumber of organizations commending the effortsof range-state governments to implement the CITESAppendix-II listing of mahogany and expressingtheir hope that these efforts would be successful inallowing mahogany to be transferred from AppendixII to Appendix III as soon as possible. The full textsof these resolutions are given in Annex 2.

The recommendations and resolutions of thePucallpa workshop were endorsed by the ITTC atits 36th meeting (June 2004), and it is hoped thatthese will form the basis of further work to ensurea sustainable trade in mahogany.

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1 IntroductionBig-leaf mahogany, Swietenia macrophylla, is aslow-growing species that is distributed patchily atlow densities from southern Mexico through CentralAmerica into South America as far south as Boliviaand Brazil. It is now the most important source ofmahogany timber; Caribbean mahogany, S. mahogani,and Honduras mahogany, S. humilis, which oncesupplied the world’s mahogany markets, are at ornear commercial extinction through much of theirranges. Subject to heavy levels of exploitation andinternational trade, big-leaf mahogany is now alsoshowing signs of population decline andfragmentation in many parts of its range.

Mahogany and CITES

Concern over the status of big-leaf mahogany(hereafter referred to as mahogany) led parties to theConvention on International Trade in EndangeredSpecies of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to considerlisting it in Appendix II of the treaty. Proposals for anAppendix-II listing were considered at Conferencesof the Parties (COPs) in 1992, 1994 and 1997.Although none of these proposals was accepted, severalcountries did list their populations in Appendix III:Costa Rica in 1995, Bolivia, Brazil and Mexico in 1998and Colombia and Peru in 2001. These Appendix-III listings required that internationally tradedmahogany in the specified product categories (logs, sawnwood and veneer sheets) be accompaniedby export permits from those range states orby certificates of origin from other countries.

At COP10 (Harare, 1997), Brazil, Bolivia and theUSA (the largest importer of the timber) agreedto form an informal working group to examinethe status, management and trade in mahogany.At COP11 (Nairobi, 2000) a formal CITESMahogany Working Group was established (DecisionNo 11.4), aiming to include the participation of allrange states and key consumer countries. This groupmet for the first time in Santa Cruz de la Sierra,Bolivia in October 2001. The meeting was attendedby twelve out of the 17 mahogany range states, threemajor importing countries and five internationalorganizations, including ITTO. The working groupsubmitted its report at COP12 in 2002.

At COP12, Guatemala and Nicaragua submitteda proposal to list mahogany in Appendix II.

The proposal referred to neo-tropical populationsand was applicable to logs, sawnwood, veneer andplywood. After a secret ballot, the proposal wasadopted, with 68 votes in favour, 30 against and14 abstentions. The listing came into force on15 November 2003, one year after its adoption.

COP12 also agreed to maintain the MahoganyWorking Group but under a new mandate(Decision 12.21):

The Working Group shall discuss the capacities neededfor the implementation of the Appendix-II listing ofSwietenia macrophylla related to sustainable harvestand scientifically made non-detriment findings, andshall review the recommendations contained in Annex3 to these Decisions.

This Working Group shall report to the Conferenceof the Parties at its 13th meeting.

Accordingly, the second meeting of the MahoganyWorking Group was held in Belem, Brazil inOctober 2003, with ITTO support. This meetingwas attended by twelve of the 17 range states, twomajor importing countries and three internationalorganizations. Recommendations from this meetingwere submitted to the CITES Plants Committee(PC14, February 2004), in order to establishpriorities and provide practical guidance fortheir implementation. The priority measures andrecommendations agreed by the Committee aregiven in Box 1. The Mahogany Working Groupwill complete its mandate when it reports toCOP13 (Bangkok, October 2004), where theparties will decide on its future.

Sustainable management of mahogany –implications of the CITES listing

The primary aim of CITES is to protect listed speciesagainst over-exploitation caused by internationaltrade and to ensure that this trade is sustainable.The text of the Convention sets out the provisionsfor controlling, monitoring and reporting on tradein species listed in the three appendices, and othermeasures to be undertaken by the parties. Eachparty to the Convention is required to establisha management authority and a scientific authorityas part of the implementation process. Key pointsrelating to mechanisms for international tradein mahogany under the provisions of CITES are given in Box 2.

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The sustainable management of mahogany asrequired by CITES is the responsibility of theindividual producer country and specific means toachieve this are outside the scope of the Convention.Determining the levels of export that are likely to benon-detrimental to the survival of a species is howeveressential to achieving the aims of the Convention.The requirement for the so-called non-detrimentfinding for exports of mahogany, and all otherCITES Appendix-II species, arises from Article IV,paragraph (2) of CITES, which states that:

An export permit shall only be granted when thefollowing conditions have been met:

(a) a Scientific Authority of the State of export hasadvised that such export will not be detrimentalto the survival of that species;

(b) a Management Authority of the State of exportis satisfied that the specimen was not obtainedin contravention of the laws of that State for theprotection of fauna and flora.

The Scientific Authority of the exporting country isalso responsible for monitoring the levels of export asset out in Article IV, paragraph (3) of the Convention,which states:

A Scientific Authority in each Party shall monitor boththe export permits granted by that State for specimensof species included in Appendix II and the actual exportsof such specimens. Whenever a Scientific Authoritydetermines that the export of specimens of any suchspecies should be limited in order to maintain thatspecies throughout its range at a level consistent withits role in the ecosystems in which it occurs and wellabove the level at which that species might becomeeligible for inclusion in Appendix I, the ScientificAuthority shall advise the appropriate ManagementAuthority of suitable measures to be taken to limit thegrant of export permits for specimens of that species.

The Scientific Authority is thus required to ensurethat an Appendix-II species is managed in such a wayas to allow exports on a sustained basis that will notdamage the conservation status of the species or itsecological functioning.

Making a non-detriment finding

The manner in which a non-detriment finding ismade is a management decision for the exportingcountry. The text of the Convention indicates thata non-detriment finding should be made for eachexport. This is, however, not always necessary where,for example, countries have voluntarily establishedannual export quotas. Such a quota means that thecountry concerned has determined that the exportof a certain amount of specimens per year will notbe detrimental to the survival of the species.

General guidance for the development of non-detriment findings has been developed (Rosser &Haywood 2002), but until S. macrophylla was listed inCITES Appendix II little attention was paid to thespecific application of non-detriment findings totimber species. Prior to the Pucallpa workshop,this issue was addressed at the second meeting ofthe Mahogany Working Group, at which a paperprepared by the IUCN Global Tree SpecialistGroup suggested that:

Recognizing that the information currently available isincomplete and scattered and that policies for sustainableforest management are not yet fully in place, proceduresfor NDF [non-detriment finding] development formahogany should be developed and refined in anincremental way as approaches are tested, sustainableforest management more generally is developed andinformation is built up.

Box 1 Recommendations of the 14th PlantsCommittee in relation to mahogany

Management plans: the development andofficial approval of mahogany managementplans at the national and sub-regional levelsis considered to be a priority.

Inventories: it is important to promote forestinventories and to further and promoteprograms to determine and monitor thedistribution of mahogany, its populationnumbers and its conservation status.

Training: it is necessary to develop trainingprograms on the monitoring and managementof CITES processes and documents.

Working groups: mahogany working groupsshould be established in the range states.

International cooperation: it isrecommended that the country parties,the CITES Secretariat, internationalorganizations and non-governmentalorganizations should explore ways of sharinginformation through regional workshops,training programs, exchange of experiencesand identification of financing sources,among others.

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Box 2 Key points from communication issued by the CITES Secretariat on the Appendix-II listingof mahogany (Notification to the Parties No 2003/070, 12 November 2003)

• International trade in specimens of Appendix-II species may be authorized by the granting of anexport permit or re-export certificate in accordance with Article IV of the Convention. An exportpermit may be granted only if the Management Authority (as designated by the country consideringthe export or re-export) is satisfied that the specimens to be exported were acquired legally and if theScientific Authority (as designated by the country considering the export or re-export) has advisedthat the export will not be detrimental to the survival of the species. A re-export certificate may begranted only if the Management Authority is satisfied that the specimens were imported in accordancewith the provisions of the Convention;

• Specimens transferred from one Appendix to another are subject to the provisions applying to themat the time of export or re-export. Therefore, from 15 November 2003, the requirements of Article IVshall apply to the export or re-export of logs, sawnwood, veneer sheets and plywood of Swieteniamacrophylla. Any re-export of such specimens from that date may be authorized only under theprovisions of Article IV, even if they had been imported as Appendix-III specimens in accordancewith Article V;

• Certificates of origin, export permits or re-export certificates referring to S. macrophylla as a speciesincluded in Appendix III issued in compliance with Article V may be used for export before 15 November2003. Importing countries should accept Appendix-III documents for specimens of S. macrophyllaonly if the export has taken place before that date;

• Re-export certificates issued on or after 15 November 2003 for specimens that had been importedunder the provisions relating to Appendix-III species should refer to either the export permit or thecertificate of origin with which the specimens concerned were imported;

• International trade of any logs, sawnwood or veneer of S. macrophylla acquired before the Appendix-IIIlisting took effect on 16 November 1995, or non-veneer plywood (eg blockboard) acquired before15 November 2003 (‘pre-Convention specimens’), requires a special certificate that indicates theprecise date of acquisition or contains a statement that acquisition occurred before the Conventionbecame applicable to the specimen;

• CITES provides definitions of the terms ‘logs’, ‘sawnwood’, and ‘veneer sheets’ based on the tariffclassifications in the Harmonized System (HS) of the World Customs Organization. The term ‘plywood’has not been formally defined, but it is expected that the CITES Plants Committee will provide finalrecommendations regarding the definition of this term based on the HS definition at its meetingin February 2004. The preferred unit of measure for plywood is square metres, since it usually onlycontains one outer veneer of mahogany;

• Confiscated specimens of mahogany should be disposed of in the best manner possible to benefitenforcement and administration of the Convention. Steps should be taken to ensure that the personresponsible for the offence does not receive financial or other gain from the disposal;

• Specimens of S. macrophylla that have been confiscated as a result of attempts to import or export themillegally and that have subsequently been sold by the Management Authority, having satisfied itselfthat this would not be detrimental to the survival of the species, should, for the purposes of issuingexport permits or re-export certificates, be deemed to have been obtained in accordance with theprovisions of the Convention and with the laws of the state for the protection of fauna and flora.Such permits and certificates should clearly indicate that the specimens are confiscated specimens.

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Three components were suggested as a basis fordeveloping non-detriment findings for mahogany:

• national- or regional-level stock assessment as abasis for determining overall quantities for export,for example, through an annual export quota;

• a requirement for management plans for forestmanagement units from which mahogany isharvested for export. Management plans shoulddemonstrate provisions for the sustainablemanagement of the forest unit and mahoganystocks as a prerequisite for determining thatexport will be non-detrimental; and

• the monitoring of mahogany harvesting in theforest management units and timber exportsagainst the overall export quota.

The second meeting of the Mahogany WorkingGroup agreed that the forest management unit is themost appropriate for making a non-detriment findingfor mahogany and recommended that only woodoriginating under management plans, with specificcomponents for mahogany management, shouldbe accepted for export under Appendix II.

The Review of Significant Trade process

Where there is concern amongst the CITES partiesthat export permits are being issued without thebenefit of effective non-detriment findings, aninternational mechanism to address the problem hasbeen developed. This process is known as the Reviewof Significant Trade and is established in CITESResolution Conf. 12.8.

Both the Animals and Plants committees of CITEShave a specific mandate to identify Appendix-IIspecies that are subject to significant levels of trade.To do so they are required to consult with range states,the CITES Secretariat and experts to review andassess relevant biological and trade information.If necessary, they can make recommendations foraction by the range state, with time limits for theirimplementation to ensure compliance with Article IV.

The process can result in corrective or punitivemeasures, including trade restrictions or bans, wherethere are problems with the implementation of theprovisions of Article IV in particular range states.However, individual exporting countries can alsoreceive assistance to undertake field studies, as well asto develop the technical and administrative capacitynecessary to implement the requirements of ArticleIV if these are lacking. Implicit in the process is the

fact that the species remains in Appendix II ratherthan being moved to Appendix I. This allows therange state to remain in control of trade and torecommence or continue the sustainableexploitation of the natural resource.

The role of importing countries

Importing countries have an important role to playin ensuring that CITES requirements for the issuanceof permits for international trade are met, in seizingor confiscating shipments that arrive at their portswithout the correct documentation, and in reportingon levels of trade. Some importing countries haveimposed stricter domestic controls than those requiredunder the Convention; for example, the system forCITES implementation in the European Union(EU) is given in Box 3.

Mahogany and ITTO

ITTO has undertaken a number of activitiesrelevant to the CITES Appendix-II listing ofmahogany. The context for these activities includesObjective (a) of the International Tropical TimberAgreement (ITTA):

To provide an effective framework for consultation,international cooperation and policy development amongall members with regard to all relevant aspects of theworld timber economy.

Some of the activities providing direct assistanceto members to implement the CITES listing andachieve a sustainable trade in mahogany are inpursuance of Objective (d) of the ITTA:

To enhance the capacity of members to implement astrategy for achieving exports of tropical timber andtimber products from sustainably managed sources bythe year 2000.

Such activities are also relevant to Action 7 ofGoal 2 of the Economic Information and MarketIntelligence section of the ITTO Yokohama ActionPlan 2002–2006, which seeks to encourage andassist members, where appropriate, to (amongstother things):

Identify trade barriers, shortcomings in forest lawenforcement and other factors that may affect the accessand marketability of tropical timber, and proposemeasures to overcome them.

ITTO has long recognized the need to improvecooperation between ITTO and CITES, and played

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Box 3 Import requirements for mahogany in the EU

In member states of the European Community (EC), CITES is implemented by European Communitywildlife trade regulations. EU Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the Protection of Species of WildFauna and Flora came into force on 1 June 1997. This lays down the core controls on wildlife trade andimplements CITES in the EU. Commission Regulation (EC) No 939/97, introduced at the same time,contains detailed implementation provisions, particularly on the use of permits and certificates.

In the EU, the CITES Appendices are replaced by annexes to EC Regulation No 338/97:

• Annex A – includes all species listed in Appendix I of CITES, plus certain other species;

• Annex B – includes all the remaining species listed in Appendix II of CITES, plus certain otherspecies included on a ‘look-alike’ basis, or because the level of trade may not be compatiblewith the survival of the species or local populations, or because they pose anecological threat to indigenous species;

• Annex C – includes all the remaining species listed in Appendix III of CITES; and

• Annex D – includes those non-CITES species not listed in Annex C which are imported intothe Community in such numbers as to warrant monitoring.

Changes to the list of species in the annexes to Council Regulation 338/97 are made through newCommission regulations. Commission Regulation (EC) No 1497/2003 of 18 August 2003 amendingEC Regulation No 338/97 was published in the (official) European Journal on 27 August 2003, featuringS. macrophylla on Annex B with the annotation that this inclusion would come into force on15 November 2003.

An important feature of EC Regulation No 338/97 is that there are stricter import conditions forAnnex A and B species than are required by CITES. Therefore, as well as a permit from the exportingor re-exporting management authority, S. macrophylla specimens are also required to have import permitsfor the European Community. As recommended in the Convention, permits must be issued beforeshipment should take place. Import permits are issued in accordance with Article 4 of EC RegulationNo 338/97 if the following criteria are met:

• an export or re-export permit has been issued in accordance with the Convention by the competentauthority in the country of export or re-export (the Management Authority requires prior sightof a copy of this permit);

• the Scientific Authority, after examining available data and considering any opinion from theScientific Review Group (made up of members of national CITES scientific authorities), is ofthe opinion that the introduction into the Community would not have a harmful effect onthe conservation status of the species or on the extent of the territory occupied by the relevantpopulation of the species, taking account of the current or anticipated level of trade. This opinionshall be valid for subsequent imports as long as the above-mentioned aspects have not changedsignificantly;

• the Management Authority is satisfied, following consultation with the competent ScientificAuthority, that there are no other factors relating to the conservation of the species which militateagainst issuance of the import permit.

The EC wrote to some of the range states for S. macrophylla shortly before the uplisting:

While Community CITES legislation requires that Member States independently assess the conservation impactsof trade in Appendix-II species before issuing import permits, it is not in our interest to apply this provisionin an arbitrary or excessively punitive manner. We would rather work with the larger exporting countries toreach a common understanding of the basic requirements for non-detriment findings. We recognise the needfor a straightforward practical approach to the making of such findings, while still meeting the requirementsof Article IV (3) of the Convention.

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an active role in the CITES Timber Working Group(which was established in 1994 and reported to theCITES COP in 1997). ITTC decisions 6(XII),3(XVI), 5(XVIII) and 7(XX) refer to this cooperation.ITTO has also attended and provided inputs to themeetings of the CITES Mahogany Working Group.At its 34th Session (12–17 May 2003), the ITTCmade a decision concerning cooperation betweenITTO and CITES on mahogany (see Box 4).Accordingly, ITTO supported the second meetingof the Mahogany Working Group in Belem, Brazil.

At its 35th Session (3–8 November 2003), theITTC noted the imminent entry into force of theAppendix-II listing of mahogany and heard concernsexpressed by both importers and exporters ofmahogany regarding the effective implementationof the listing, particularly the ability of exporters

to issue reliable non-detriment findings. Councildecided (through Decision 4(XXXV)) to sponsora meeting of all stakeholders to facilitate effectiveimplementation of the Appendix-II listing.

The resulting workshop on capacity-building forimplementation of the CITES Appendix-II listingof mahogany was convened on 17–21 May 2004in Pucallpa, Peru (a key mahogany processing andtransit point) with the assistance of the PeruvianNational Institute for Renewable Resources(INRENA).

The Pucallpa workshop

The overarching purpose of the workshop was toencourage and inform practical action with respectto the formulation of non-detriment findings formahogany exports, focused on the key mahogany-

Box 4 Decision 7 (XXXIV) of the International Tropical Timber Council

Cooperation between ITTO and CITES on mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla)

The International Tropical Timber Council,

Recalling Decisions 6(XII), 3(XVI), 5 (XVIII) and 7(XX) on measures to improve cooperation betweenITTO, CITES, and the CITES Timber Working Group;

Noting that ITTO has, in recent years, attended meetings of and provided inputs to the CITESMahogany Working Group;

Further noting the decision taken at the 12th meeting of the Conference of Parties to CITES(COP12) in November 2002 to list Swietenia macrophylla (big-leaf mahogany) in CITES Appendix II;

Aware of the concerns expressed by member countries regarding the implementation of the Appendix IIlisting of Swietenia macrophylla (the first high-volume, high-value timber species included in Appendix II);

Taking note of the related decision taken at COP12 to extend and revise the mandate of the CITESMahogany Working Group subject to the availability of external funding;

Decides to:

1. Request the Executive Director to contact the CITES Secretariat to offer to collaborate in order toprovide technical, scientific and financial support to the work of the Mahogany Working Group;

2. Request the Executive Director to contact ITTO producer Member countries that are mahogany rangeStates to identify their needs, if any, for effective implementation of the CITES Appendix II listing;

3. Request the Executive Director to assist countries that have identified needs and that are significantmahogany exporters to develop and submit projects to facilitate the effective implementation of theAppendix-II listing; and

4. Authorize the Executive Director to seek voluntary contributions from Member countries to meetthe financial requirements of this decision, not exceeding US$66,600.00. If sufficient contributionsare not received by 31 July 2003, the Executive Director is requested to use funds from the Sub-Account B of the Bali Partnership Fund.

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Objective 7: share information on issues ofrelevance to importing countries; and

Objective 8: share information on relevantinternational developments.

Over 80 participants were involved in the workshop.These represented seven countries (including themajor mahogany exporting and importing nations),seven NGOs, twelve trade/business concerns,and four international organizations (includingrepresentatives of the ITTO and CITES secretariats);The full list of participants is contained in Annex1. The agenda included presentations by the mainexporting/importing countries, the trade and NGOs,and working groups which focused on three clustersof objectives:

• monitoring activities and technicalassistance needs;

• private-sector efforts and market conditions; and

• inter-agency coordination and regionalcooperation.

This report, the main output of the workshop,reviews the status of mahogany production andinternational trade and summarizes the experiencesto date with the Appendix-II listing of mahoganybased on information presented at the workshop.It also contains the workshop’s recommendations,which were endorsed by the ITTC at its 36thmeeting in June 2004 and which should form thebasis of further work to ensure a sustainable tradein mahogany.

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producing countries, and drawing on the cooperativeefforts of exporters, importers, governments and thenon-governmental organization (NGO) community.The workshop was based on the understandingthat the determination of non-detriment findingsis an individual country’s role and that the criteriafor that determination will be set by each country.The workshop provided a forum for countries toshare their early experiences in implementing theAppendix-II listing and allowed a review of capacityin key range states to effectively implement CITESobligations with respect to mahogany.

As well as the general workshop objective, eightspecific objectives were identified:

Objective 1: describe current conditions inmarkets for mahogany;

Objective 2: identify monitoring activitiescountries may find useful, includingapproaches, technologies and timing;

Objective 3: identify actions that the private sector(industry and NGOs) can take toreinforce and support efforts to useCITES to manage trade in mahogany;

Objective 4: identify opportunities for coordinationacross relevant agencies withinproducing countries;

Objective 5: identify regional cooperation activitiesto aid implementation, includingtechnical assistance and resources;

Objective 6: identify areas of need fortechnical assistance;

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2 Market reviewsMahogany is the most valuable Latin Americantimber; maintaining a sustainable trade in it isimportant to national economies within the regionand to the broader development of sustainableforest management. Market information, in turn,is important for the planning of sustainable mahoganyproduction. This section contains informationpresented at the workshop from exporting or keyimporting countries on the international tradein mahogany. The national trade data included intables 5–10 are as given in the national presentations.

As noted for the timber trade in generalby ITTO (2004):

Production statistics in many ITTO member countriesare often weak or non-existent. The primary problem inmany producer countries is the lack of a comprehensive

forest outturn measurement system as well as any kindof regular industrial survey to obtain production figures,while many consumer countries are unable or unwillingto distinguish the processing of tropical timber from alltimber processing.

Since the listing of S. macrophylla in CITESAppendix III and more recently in Appendix II,trade data for the species has been generatedby the licensing processes of the CITES parties.As a general introduction to this section, tables 1–4provide a summary of recent trade informationon mahogany compiled through CITES reportingprocesses. It should be noted, however, that thereare deficiencies in all aspects of reporting to CITES and these data cannot give a fully accuraterepresentation of levels of trade; this is demonstratedby the discrepancies that exist between the datapresented in Table 1 and those given in the individual

Table 1 Annual volumes of S. macrophylla exported, by the main countries of export, for the years 1996–2002,as recorded in CITES trade statistics

Annual export of mahogany timber (m3)

Country of export 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 mean

Brazil 101,473 94,744 43,438 54,961 39,857 40,413 41,183 59,438

Peru 4448 10,893 20,720 51,487 33,048 41,400 50,429 30,346

Bolivia 25,989 27,963 20,159 8520 10,549 7613 4596 15,056

Nicaragua 17,106 19,029 5773 5165 3863 5991 7278 9172

Guatemala 2100 1687 1098 406 2716 3135 2483 1946

Belize 1931 233 125 2326 2030 709 1173 1218

Mexico 2266 497 271 168 – 2473 589 895

Honduras – 885 880 1324 666 556 – 616

Source: the CITES Trade Database maintained by UNEP-WCMC

Note: the quantities include mahogany reported as sawnwood and timber; data are based on trade records provided by countries of both export and import,with re-export data excluded

Table 2 Annual volumes of S. macrophylla veneer exported, by the main countries of export, for the years1996–2002, as recorded in CITES trade statistics

Annual export of mahogany veneer (m3; m2 where indicated)

Country of export 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 mean

Brazil 78 17,130 3408 5055 3621 4468 3508 532413,420 m2 789,081 m2 28 m2

Mexico 31 24 – 44 44 – – 2012,636 m2

Peru – – – – 2 34 – 5.3

Canada – – – 25 – – – 3.6

Source: the CITES Trade Database maintained by UNEP-WCMC

Note: data are based on trade records provided by countries of both export and import, with re-export data excluded

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country reports that follow. No CITES data are yetavailable for mahogany plywood because plywoodwas only included in reporting with the uplisting ofmahogany to CITES Appendix II in November 2003.

The remainder of this section provides summariesfrom country reports presented at the workshop.

Bolivia

Bolivia currently has 7,996,065 hectares of naturalforests under forest management plans. Of this,approximately 60% is forest considered to be, or tohave been, mahogany production areas. Since 1998the Forest Superintendence (SIF) has authorisedmahogany volumes to be logged mainly on thebasis of management plans for four kinds of users:

Table 4 Annual volumes of S. macrophylla veneer imported, by the main countries of import, for the years1996–2002, as recorded in CITES trade statistics

Annual import of mahogany veneer (m3; m2 where indicated)

Country of import 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 mean

USA 31 17,024 2546 3182 2511 3178 2037 4358789,081 m2

Canada – – 399 1209 593 715 801 531

Italy – – 140 129 49 108 139 81

Denmark 78 130 139 47 75 17 8 71

Venezuela – – 27 114 86 76 7 44

Germany – – 14 64 43 81 88 41

Spain – – 30 38 76 50 77 3912,636 m2 28 m2

Taiwan – – 5 54 34 20 78 27

China – – – – – 63 109 25

Belgium – – 6 50 46 48 5 2213,420 m2

Source: The CITES Trade Database maintained by UNEP-WCMC

Note: data are based on trade records provided by countries of both export and import, with re-export data excluded

Table 3 Annual volumes of S. macrophylla imported, by the main countries of import, for the years 1996–2002,as recorded in CITES trade statistics

Annual import of mahogany timber (m3)

Country of import 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 mean

USA 54,455 73,846 74,485 89,161 70,601 85,615 68,632 73,828

Dominican Republic 10,214 10,643 5163 17,771 14,165 9911 16,610 12,068

UK 16,832 1739 4167 5664 2741 2922 1136 5029

Canada 10 28 102 278 344 – 21,224 3141

Spain 791 825 2392 2147 775 766 710 1201

Netherlands 880 537 1685 2797 1139 601 730 1196

Mexico 778 107 201 140 553 2461 475 674

Ireland 2303 1146 310 145 84 17 18 575

Denmark 1558 557 68 412 299 611 273 540

Germany – 254 857 522 289 500 347 396

Source: the CITES Trade Database maintained by UNEP-WCMC

Note: quantities include mahogany reported as sawnwood and timber; data are based on trade records provided by countries of both export and import, withre-export data excluded

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forest concessions, native community lands, privateproperties and long-term contracts. The volumesauthorised for logging each year are given in Table 5;although there are variations, in the past few years(2001–2003) the volume has been approximately10,000 m3.

The annual volume of mahogany exported is shownin Table 6. The annual average volume of exportsbetween 1998 and 2003 was 9,786 m3, almost twelvetimes lower than exports before the entry into forceof the new 1997 Forestry Law. The number ofcertificates or permits issued by CITES has notshown significant variation over the past four years.

Although no data are available for the illegalmahogany trade, the situation has improved greatlysince the implementation of the 1997 Forestry Law.CITES and Bolivian data are very similar for the lasttwo reporting periods, proving that there is a healthylevel of coordination between the two responsibleinstitutions.

The USA was the main buyer of mahogany fromBolivia in 1998–2003, consuming 87% of mahoganyexports under CITES certificates. Other destinationsinclude the Dominican Republic, Argentina andChile (Table 7). Exports to Argentina have declinedin the past few years, mainly as a result of theeconomic crisis affecting the country. All othercountries (including Europe) combined importedonly 1% of the total volume of Bolivian mahogany.

Brazil

As shown in Table 1, Brazil was for many years thelargest supplier of mahogany to the internationalmarket. However, export volumes have decreasedprogressively and Peru has now replaced it as theworld’s largest exporter of the timber.

A series of legislative measures in Brazil has limitedthe harvesting and trade of mahogany. Biannualexport quotas were established in 1992, although

Table 5 Volume of mahogany production approved by SIF in Bolivia, 1998–2003

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Volume authorised (m3) 6806 12,152 5213 10,574 8524 11,698

No of trees 1193 2122 1055 1111 1332 3656

Table 6 Volume of mahogany exported by Bolivia and number of permits issued by CITES, 1998–2003

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Export volumes (m3) 14,460 8520 10,493 7405 8334 7116

No of permits issued 249 69 113 86 116 130

Table 7 Volumes of mahogany exported from Bolivia to various countries with CITES permits and certificates (m3)

Country 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 TOTAL

USA 13,567 7752 8508 5691 6957 8615 51,090

Dominican Republic 38 602 1421 1368 1122 662 5213

Argentina 739 99 114 30 – – 982

Chile 36 37 289 65 255 129 811

Mexico 51 – – 193 – – 243

Denmark 28 – 91 – – – 119

Spain – – – 28 – 80 108

Barbados – 31 50 – – – 80

Great Britain – – 20 32 – – 52

Other countries – – – – – 18 18

TOTAL 14,460 8520 10,493 7405 8334 9504 –

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these quotas were exceded in some years. The issuingof new authorizations for mahogany harvesting hasbeen suspended since 1996, and a decree in the sameyear required that mahogany for export must comeexclusively from forests with sustainable forestmanagement plans approved by the country’sInstitute for Environment and Natural Resources(IBAMA). In 2001, following continued problemswith regulation of the trade, all mahogany loggingand trade was halted. New measures to regulatemahogany logging and trade have been developed inBrazil (see page 29), but at the time of the Pucallpaworkshop, trade was yet to be resumed. Nonetheless,CITES trade statistics show mahogany exports in 2001and 2002 (see Table 1), and the USA reported receivingshipments of mahogany from Brazil in 2003/2004(see page 22).

Peru

The main export product of Peru’s forest industryis sawnwood, accounting for about two-thirds offoreign exchange earnings from the export of timberover the last few years. Exports increased steadilyup to the year 2000 when, with the promulgationof the Forestry and Wildlife Law (Law No 27308),new regulations were introduced, including banson the harvesting of mahogany in several watershedareas. Due to the high price of mahogany on theinternational market, the percentage of export valueaccounted for by mahogany has increased over thelast few years, and it now represents around 80%of the total value of sawnwood exports.

Mahogany sawnwood production in Peru was lessthan 10,000 m3 in the 1950s, increasing slowly butsteadily until 1974. Production levels varied between15,000 m3 and 57,000 m3 between 1975 and 1993.From 1994, production accelerated, peaking in 1995with a record 101,386 m3 before falling to 48,000 m3

in 1997, when only the export of parts and pieceswas allowed. Between 2001 and 2003, reportedmahogany sawnwood production levels fell further.

Table 8 Volume of mahogany export permits from Peru, 1996–2003

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Volume exported (m3) 12,338 26,323 41,483 52,783 51,267 32,843 52,135 42,844

Table 9 Destination of mahogany sawnwoodexports from Peru in 2002

Country Volume (m3)

USA 43,835

Dominican Republic 6946

Denmark 273

Sweden 214

Mexico 193

Others (five countries) 410

The volume of mahogany exported in 1996–2003is shown in Table 8. As a result of the export banimposed by Brazil and the high price of Bolivianmahogany, exports experienced a boom in 2002, risingto almost 53,000 m3 (worth over US$55 million).Exports dropped to under 43,000 m3 in 2003, butvalues remained high at over US$47 million.

Table 9 shows the main destinations of mahoganysawnwood exports from Peru in 2002. The USA isthe main mahogany sawnwood importing country,

Table 10 Major Peruvian mahogany exporters, 2003

Exporter Volume (m3) FOB Value (US$)

Maderera Bozoviich SAC 9770 9,896,966

Maderera Vulcano SAC 8374 10,499,326

Transforestal C.C.C. SAC 4631 4,578,875

Procesos Industriales Madereros SAC 3927 4,381,695

Others 16,142 17,706,581

Total 42,844 47,063,443

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total EU imports in the years 2000–2001 were lessthan 7,000 m3. Currently, imports into the UK are aslow as only several hundred cubic meters. Accordingto the Department of Environment, Food and RuralAffairs (DEFRA), which is the CITES ManagementAuthority in the UK, three import applications witha total volume of less than 100 m3 have been receivedsince 15 November 2003. The few UK companiesthat still offer mahogany mainly rely on their ownolder stock.

The decline in the volume of mahogany importedinto the UK is due largely to increased prices,with limited availability pushing prices to aboutUS$1,200 per m3. According to traders in Britain,the restricted availability and high prices are notlikely to change and the remaining growing stockof mahogany is not of a commercially interestingmagnitude. In addition, regardless of CITEScertification, mahogany is controversial inenvironmental terms or embodies reputational risk toUK merchants. Therefore, most of the British tradesees little or no potential for S. macrophylla tradein the near future, and many companies formerlyinvolved in the trade have changed to sapele(Entandrophragma cylindricum) from West and Central Africa.

USA

The USA is the world’s largest importer of mahogany,accounting for approximately 60% of global trade(Robbins 2000). Historically (up to the 1960s),Central America was the main source region forthe timber, but supply has shifted progressively toSouth America. By the late 1990s, Brazil was thelargest supplier to the USA, but since Brazil hasimposed restrictions on mahogany trade, Bolivia andPeru have taken over as the main source countries.

Approximately 204 shipments of mahogany wereimported by the USA between 15 November 2003(the effective date of the Appendix-II listing) and15 May 2004. One hundred and twenty of these hadan export date of 15 November 2003 or later and wereexported under CITES Appendix II; 21 were fromBolivia, two were from Brazil, and 60 were from Peruand the remaining 37 shipments were from Belize,Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua.Data on volumes are not yet available.

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accounting for 85% of exports in 2002. It is followedin importance – but very distantly in volume –by the Dominican Republic, at around 13%.

As a result of the mahogany export boom, exportershave increased their influence over all mahoganyproducing areas. They are now at the top of aneconomic pyramid supported by transactions andexchanges of all types, including fair and equitablepractices, but also abusive and corrupt practices,where the lower social classes only benefit fromthe opportunity to work under very unfavourableconditions. Table 10 shows the main Peruvianmahogany exporting companies in 2003.

Canada

S. macrophylla is, for the most part, imported toCanada as a re-export from the USA. The quantitiestraded between 1998 and 2002 were variable, with alow of about 127 m3 in 2002, declining from a highof about 3,859 m3 in 1998. Sawnwood is the majorimport form, with limited veneer quantities alsoreceived. In 2002, it was estimated that Canadaimported roughly 1% of the total globalS. macrophylla trade.

Spain

Spain mainly imports S. macrophylla as sawnwoodand to a much lesser extent as veneer and plywood.The countries that export this timber to Spain arelargely Brazil, Nicaragua and Peru. Practically all theimported timber goes to the national market or tothe EU market, and the timber is not re-exported.

There has been an increase in recorded importvolumes in recent years. However, this is probablynot due to an increase of imports in real terms butrather to improved control systems and, therefore,to improved recording procedures for imports.

UK

The UK used to be the main market forS. macrophylla in Europe, when the main supplyingcountry was Brazil. Imports peaked at the end ofthe 1980s and early 1990s at about 100,000 m3 ofsawnwood. From then on they declined continuouslyto 4,000 m3 after Brazil’s ban on mahoganyexploitation in 2001. According to UNEP-WCMC,

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3 Experience to date withCITES Appendix-II listingof mahogany

Producer countries

The workshop offered a chance to share informationon the legal and institutional arrangements in placein mahogany range countries for the regulation offorest exploitation and the timber trade, and for theimplementation of CITES. With the Appendix-IIlisting in place for six months, producers were ableto review experiences and identify needs.

Significant progress has already been made in meetingthe requirements of Appendix II for mahogany, butin each country further work is considered necessary.While the legislative and regulatory framework variesbetween the three represented producer countries,common issues prevent the development of a robustnon-detriment finding in each country. There isa lack of information on mahogany stocks anddistribution throughout the region, and on theregeneration and ecology of the species in differentcircumstances. Regulatory authorities lack capacityand resources for monitoring and control, andtransparency, communication and informationsystems need to be improved. Recommendationswere developed during the workshop for actionsto address these issues (see Section 5).

At the conclusion of the workshop, the scientificand management authorities of Bolivia, Brazil andPeru signed a resolution declaring their intention toform a working group to coordinate efforts for theimplementation of the CITES Appendix-II listingof mahogany and calling on support from theinternational community to enable this to happen.The full text of the resolution is given in Annex 2.

Bolivia

Forests and forest lands in Bolivia are under thecontrol of the state and subject to the competenceof the national government. The sustainablemanagement and protection of forest and forestlands are issues of public interest, and their regulationis universally and compulsorily enforceable. Anyforest right granted to private persons is subject toreversal in the case of failure to comply with officialregulations and conditions.

The Bolivian Forest Act was enacted in 1997.

Under Section 19 of the Act, the national forestregime is managed by the Ministry for SustainableDevelopment as the governing body, SIF as theregulatory body, and the National Fund for ForestDevelopment as the financing body. Prefectures andmunicipal councils complement and contribute to theregime in a supporting role, strengthening municipalforest units, departmental forest development plans,monitoring activities and other relevant aspects.

The Forestry Law seeks to regulate the sustainableutilisation and protection of forests and forest landsfor the benefit of present and future generations,harmonising the social, economic and ecologicalinterests of the nation. The objectives of the lawinclude the following:

• to promote the establishment of sustainableand efficient forest activities so as to contributeto the achievement of national socioeconomicdevelopment targets;

• to achieve improved sustainable forest resourceyields while ensuring the conservation ofecosystems, biodiversity and the environment;

• to improve access to forest resources and theirbenefits for the entire population, in strictcompliance with protection and sustainabilitystandards; and

• to promote forest research, as well as thedissemination of research results, for the benefitof forest resource production, conservation andprotection processes.

The Forestry Law has encouraged democratic accessto forest resources. It regulates the establishmentof Local Social Groups (Agrupaciones Sociales delLugar – ASL) made up of traditional forest users.These groups receive forest concessions within themunicipality of their residence. The law also regulatesthe logging of forests by private and communityowners, such as indigenous peoples with communitylands. At present, over 2.1 million hectares aremanaged by these new users, out of the total ofnearly 8 million hectares that are currently underforest management.

The Forestry Law includes regulations and technicalstandards for forest management. The following issuesrequired by the regulations are of particular interest:

• drafting of a general forest management plan(GFMP) based on a total forest inventory of thearea (following systematic sampling as definedin the regulations). These results help determine

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which species offer potential for timber yield, thelogging cycle to be used (minimum 20 years)and the size of the annual logging areas, whichare a function of the logging cycle. The GFMPmust be updated every five years;

• restriction of the logging of species with fewerthan 0.25 specimens per hectare, or the so-calledrare species (taking into account specimens withover 20 cm diameter at breast height (DBH));

• establishment of minimum cutting diameters(MCD) for commercial species according toforest type – for mahogany it is 70 cm DBH;

• maximum logging levels: only 80% of treeswith a diameter over the MCD may be logged.The remaining trees are left as insurance for thefollowing cycle and to ensure the regenerationof harvested species;

• definition and demarcation of ecological reservesin the area under forest management. Respectfor key species and species of significance aswildlife food. Census of all commercial speciesin the annual logging areas to determine thevolume to be logged per species, on the basisof the MCD;

• preparation of an annual forest operational plan(AFOP) based on the commercial census. AFOPsinclude maps indicating the location of trees tobe logged and trees to be left standing, possiblecollection areas, and planning of major andsecondary roads;

• establishment of permanent monitoring plotsto determine the impact of logging on forestdynamics and yield; and

• the application of silvicultural treatmentsas required.

SIF has fixed and mobile control posts, and carriesout random forest inspections of the areas underforest management. SIF will also conduct five-yearlyaudits of all areas under forest management todetermine whether the 40-year concession will berenewed. The system used by SIF to control thechain of custody of the timber is outlined in Box 5and Figure 1.

Procedures for CITES implementation in Bolivia

The CITES management authority in Bolivia isthe Vice-ministry for Natural Resources and theEnvironment under the Ministry for SustainableDevelopment. Within the Vice-ministry, the

task has been delegated to the General Office forBiodiversity. The CITES scientific authority is theNational Museum of Natural History. Both theManagement Authority and the Scientific Authoritycoordinate their activities with SIF and with theSingle Exports Office System (SIVEX).

For a company to be able to export mahoganysawnwood, laminated sheets and veneer, it mustregister once with the CITES office, providing thedocumentation listed in Box 6. Once registered,the company may request a CITES export licenceby submitting the appropriate documentation(see Box 6). The Management Authority willsend the documents to the Scientific Authority forassessment, and the CITES licence will be issuedwithin five days at the latest (three days in general).

Box 5 Timber trade monitoring systemin Bolivia

All along the production chain, the timberfrom any species is accompanied by variouscertificates of origin (CFO) issued by SIF.For the purposes of this report, three kindsof CFOs will be mentioned: CFO1, CFO2and CFO4.

CFO1 – used to transport logs from the loggingarea to processing centres. The number of CFO1sissued by SIF to a forest company will dependon the volume reported in its AFOP.

CFO2 – required to trade processed boardsto other processing centres.

CFO4 – only required by processing centresthat produce boards for export, or exportingcompanies without processing centres.

SIF monitors volumes logged by producersby cross-checking the AFOP information(prepared on the basis of trade census data)with the volume reported in CFO1s usedby the company.

Processing centres must prepare a raw materialsupply and processing program (PAPMP) andsubmit quarterly reports to SIF. Quarterlyreports include the origin and volume oftimber entering the processing centre as logsand the volume leaving the centre as boardseither for the domestic market (CFO2) orfor export (CFO4). Export companies usea similar procedure.

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restructuring of government institutions andmechanisms which are contributing to moreeffective forest management, harvest and tradecontrols” (TRAFFIC 2001). The implementationof the Forestry Law has resulted in integrated forestutilisation, and there has been a considerablereduction in the pressure exerted on the mostvaluable species such as mahogany, which representedonly 0.55% of the volume logged in 2002 (SIF 2003).

To assist with the introduction of the Appendix-IIlisting, a national workshop on capacity-buildingfor the implementation of the CITES Appendix-IIlisting of mahogany was held in the city of SantaCruz in May 2004. The 20 participants in theworkshop represented different sectors associatedwith the export of mahogany timber and with thestudy of tropical forest diversity and conservation.

The workshop reviewed the implementation ofrecommendations made by the second meetingof the Mahogany Working Group. One of theserecommendations was that any mahogany exportedshould come from areas under a management plancontaining at least the components listed in Table11. As the table shows, most of these componentsare required in Bolivian management plans.

However, little progress has been made in theformulation of a non-detriment finding formahogany, which was also recommended by thesecond meeting of the Mahogany Working Group.This is mainly because information on the dynamicsof the species is lacking, and resources to carry outthis kind of study are not available. Studies on theabundance and dynamics of mahogany would helpdetermine suitable management tools (logging cycle,intensity of use, MCD) for sustainable use underdifferent conditions (low or high density of specimens,varying environmental conditions, indiscriminatelylogged areas or areas logged according to currentregulations). Studies suggest that these variableshave an impact on mahogany density, survival ratesand growth rates, and it is therefore important thatthey are incorporated into non-detriment findings.Since the density and stand structure of the speciesvaries within its range, setting a production quotafor each producer is not considered appropriate.

The second meeting of the Mahogany WorkingGroup also recommended that non-detrimentfindings should contain information on silviculturaltreatments, regular audit systems, and mechanismsto ensure long-term implementation of the forest

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Since the CFO4 accompanies any timber to beexported from Bolivia, it is the basic documentrequired by the CITES management and scientificauthorities to issue a CITES licence. The managementand scientific authorities verify the informationprovided in the CFO4, checking with the PAPMP(see Box 5) and the quarterly reports. In order toimprove information flow between the ManagementAuthority and SIF, a real-time internet communicationnetwork has been set up between CITES, SIVEXand the local office of SIF in La Paz. This makes itpossible to check compliance with the requirementsof each institution for mahogany exports. Theimplementation of this system in the other portsof exit of the country requires further funds.

Developments in the implementationof the Appendix-II listing

Implementation of the CITES Appendix-II listingof mahogany in Bolivia is facilitated by the existenceof the 1997 Forestry Law and the fact that at leastsome of the Appendix-II requirements were alreadybeing met under the Appendix-III listing. Accordingto TRAFFIC, the introduction of the Forestry Lawin 1997 has “facilitated the development and

Box 6 Document requirements for CITESlicence applications in Bolivia

Documents required for companyregistration with the CITES office include:

– legalised copy of the Certificate ofIncorporation of the company;

– certificate and legalised copy of the PAPMP;

– legalised copy of the quarterly reportssubmitted to SIF;

– accreditation of its legal representative;

– legalised copies of the Single AnnualRegistry and Single Exports Registry, and

– legalised copy of its registration withFUNDEMPRESA.

Documents required for the issuance ofa CITES licence to a registered company:

– duly detailed letter of application;

– original of CFO4;

– invoice;

– packing details provided by SIVEX; and

– a bank payment note for the certificate.

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In order to make progress towards the formulationof non-detriment findings, it is important tomake financial resources available to the ScientificAuthority so that it can carry out necessary studiesand establish a multidisciplinary working groupfor the joint review of this subject.

Problems

Problems identified during the Santa Cruz meetinginclude the following:

• the Management Authority and ScientificAuthority offices are located in the city of La Paz;they have little information on the mahoganyproduction chain to qualify them to certifytimber for export. The CFO4 and the PAPMPare issued or approved by SIF. Both CITESauthorities are therefore only able to certifythe work done by SIF;

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management plan. Bolivia has experience withvarious silvicultural methods to promote tree growthand natural and artificial regeneration, and this couldbe incorporated into the non-detriment finding. Thecountry already has a monitoring and control systemfor areas under forest management, implementedby SIF, and this system could be the basis for thedevelopment of a specific and more detailed systemfor mahogany logging. The Scientific Authorityand SIF have shown an interest in working jointlyon this subject once the necessary resources becomeavailable. There are also incentives to ensure long-term implementation of management plans. Theseinclude the granting of 40-year concessions renewableevery five years, the incentives for gaining FSCcertification, and the exemption of private propertiesunder forest management from land tax. However,the issue of land tenure has not been settled in thecountry, and this represents a risk to long-termforest management.

Figure 1 Diagram of the mahogany chain of custody, showing the various stakeholders, their roles and thedocuments they require or provide for mahogany timber export

CFO issue

Forest SuperintendenceIn charge of authorisations, monitoring, field inspections, audits

Submissionof AFOP andAFOPAR

CFO monitoring, issue

Submissionof PAPMP and

quarterly reports

Timber production (1)Timber from forest concessions andprivate properties, based on a GFMP

Timber producer(2, 3, …)

Processing centre (1)Timber is processedto a certain level

Processing centre(2, 3, …)

Exporters'PAPMPs

CF04monitoring, issue

Exporter (1)Purchases timberfrom one or severalprocessing centres

CF02CF01

Exporter (2, 3, …)

Documentsrequired, including other CF04

Scientific authorityBased at the National Museum of Natural History

CITES officeManagementAuthority basedat VMRNMA

Issue ofCITES license

Export

Documents required, including CF04and CITES licence

SIVEXExport permit, document check, export statisticsby item

SENASAGPhytosanitary

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– a lack of accurate information on performanceat the time of timber-processing,

– the difficulties encountered in tracing timberonce it has been processed and sold to differentconsumers, and

– the lack of formality of processing centresand of some exporting companies;

• SIF is keenly interested in continuing with thiswork, but it needs far greater support (mainlyfinancial) to enable it to have suitable controltools for the entire production chain; and

• Bolivia signed the Agreement to become aparty to the CITES Convention on 23 December1974 and ratified it through Supreme DecreeNo 16464 of 17 May 1979; later, on 5 July 1991,it ratified it again through Law No 1255.The ‘Regulations for International Trade inEndangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES)’ are currently being drafted.

Opportunities

The following is a list of opportunities discussedduring the Santa Cruz meeting, which will helpfind solutions to the problems identified:

• the General Office for Biodiversity and theCITES office are studying the possibility ofdecentralizing the roles of the ManagementAuthority and the Scientific Authority. Thispossibility has been discussed at different levelsand with various stakeholders, and has in generalbeen welcomed. This structure would be moresuitable to the current forest scheme in which

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• the Management Authority is unable to imposedirect sanctions on the exporter when it detectsirregularities in the CFO4 because it lacks the relevant mechanisms (S. Arias, CITESManagement Authority, pers. comm.). TheManagement Authority is only able to returnthe document to SIF, which will then analysethe situation and impose the sanction on theoffender. It is therefore important that theManagement Authority has adequatecoordination channels with SIF;

• there is no non-detriment finding yet todetermine the mahogany volume that can belogged without damaging the natural stand. Atthis point in time, the Scientific Authority onlyconfirms that the logging has been done in forestsunder management plans and forest operationalplans based on the commercial census approvedby SIF;

• SIF is part of the Renewable Natural ResourcesRegulation System and, as such, has had animportant role in the advancement of theimplementation of CITES Appendix III andwill continue to play an important role in theimplementation of CITES Appendix II. However,better control of the entire mahogany productionchain (from tree-cutting to its final marketingin domestic or foreign markets) will require thedesign of more efficient control mechanismsfor some of the links in the production chain.SIF has been working on the identificationof problematic links, which include:

Table 11 Comparison between minimum management plan components recommended by the second meetingof the Mahogany Working Group and components of a management plan in Bolivia

Recommended Bolivian situation

Commercial forest census Censuses are carried out in annual logging areas, including all commercial trees(with a diameter over the MCD). Basis for AFOP drafting

Mapping of commercial and Prepared on the basis of the forest census, including location of rivers, topographicalsub-commercial trees (AFOP) features and roads. Maps are attached to the AFOP. No mapping is done for sub-

commercial trees

Selection of seed trees and minimum 20% of commercial trees are left untouched, numbered and mapped. A symbol is painteddensity per hectare after logging on them during the census so that the chainsaw operator knows it is a seed tree

Minimum logging diameter In practice, 70 cm for mahogany

Monitoring of the dynamics of specimen Not done. There are permanent plots in different regions of the country to monitor the foresttrees destined for future logging response to logging. However, plots do not include many mahogany specimens

Regeneration promotion Indirectly, by promoting the use of alternative species, leaving seed trees untouched,applying a logging cycle. There are some experimental studies

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the Ministry for Sustainable Development hasa regulatory role through the General Office forBiodiversity, while SIF is in charge of monitoringand control. The Scientific Authority could bedecentralised at the taxa level in order to find a better option in scientific capacity terms. It is essential, however, that both the ScientificAuthority and the Management Authority havesufficient financial resources to carry out thechecks and studies required under CITES;

• SIF has identified the problematic links inthe timber production chain (see above) andis working on the design of suitable controlmechanisms. For example, the difficulty indefining the precise origin of timber through thecurrent system is due to the fact that processingcentres are able to purchase timber from variousproducers who can sell to many processing centresat the same time. Therefore, two years ago SIFintroduced the use of a single ‘authorizationcode’ for each producer, processing centre andexporting company. This code must be includedin quarterly reports submitted to SIF and in theCFOs. However, follow-up and assessment arerequired to ensure that the code is fully adoptedthroughout the entire production chain. Inaddition, regular inspections of companies puta focus on the control of logging of valuablespecies (including mahogany), and five-yearlyaudits to be carried out this year for most areasunder forest management will emphasise thelogging of mahogany, cedar and oak. Stumpsurveys were carried out in the Departmentof Santa Cruz in 2003 to check species andvolumes logged, and it is expected that thistype of monitoring will be extended to therest of the country this year;

• the Vice-ministry is planning to implementcross-checking mechanisms among institutionssuch as SIF, the CITES office, SIVEX andSENASAG by means of a real-time intranetconnection. This connection will make itpossible to monitor compliance with mahoganyexport requirements in each institution. Thissystem has been implemented with CITES,SIVEX and the local SIF office in La Paz withvery good results, and it should be introducedto other departments;

• another important step taken by SIF is thebanning of the export authorization of timberoriginating from an illegal act that has been

seized and sold at auction. In such cases, therelevant CFO4 is not issued (SIF AdministrativeResolution 50/2002); and

• the country has the technical capacity to studythe dynamics of mahogany stands in sites witha high concentration of the species. Furtherpermanent plots could be set up that, togetherwith those already established by companiesand other institutions, could help monitor theimpact of mahogany logging more efficiently.

National strategy

a) Identification of cross-sectoral synergies

The recognition of problematic links in themahogany production chain has allowed theidentification of the sectors involved and the stepsneeded to implement the monitoring of mahoganylogging and trade, and to speed up the permitprocedure. The following issues were discussedat the Santa Cruz meeting:

• there is a need to continue the decentralizationprocess of CITES authorities. This must be agradual process with a clear and agreed jointpolicy involving the various stakeholders ofthis sector. Institutions assuming the role ofManagement Authority and Scientific Authoritymust be highly credible;

• the Scientific Authority needs institutionalsupport and a minimum of financial resourcesto be able to adequately fulfil its role;

• SIF and the Scientific Authority have showntheir willingness and interest in working jointlytowards field checking to verify that exportedmahogany timber really does come from well-managed areas (production chain). Funds mustbe made available to cover the cost of such work;

• financial resources are essential to improveinter-institutional synergies for institutionscurrently involved in the mahogany productionchain. Such funds would cover ongoing trainingcosts for various stakeholders (approximate cost:US$40,000), minimum operational expensesof the Scientific Authority (approximate cost:US$15,000/year), implementation of an internetcommunication network (US$50,000) andoperation and maintenance expenses for thecommunication network (US$25,000/year).This communication network would helpmonitor the progress of the implementationof the CITES agreement; and

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• there is a need to train stakeholders involved inthe marketing and export of mahogany timber(such as customs agents, SIVEX personnel),especially in the recognition of documents such as CFOs, signatures, certificates, etc.

b) Identification of synergies between producersand importers

For the implementation of the CITES Appendix-IIlisting of mahogany to be really effective there mustbe a sense of shared responsibility among producerand consumer countries.

The adequate control of the mahogany productionchain requires countries to have access to informationgenerated by importer countries. In this way, nationalCITES offices can cross-check information andestablish whether mahogany is leaving their countrywithout the relevant CITES documentation. Thisinformation exchange may be implemented withreasonable ease, since major exit ports and buyersare widely known.

Timber importers must undertake to return to thecountry of origin any timber that does not have thecorrect documentation. Importers must accept eachcountry’s regulations on mahogany logging and export.

c) Minimum sub-regional plan (suggestions)

In the past there have been reports of irregularitiesin the logging of mahogany in border areas, but official information has been lacking. It isrecommended that such reports be made formallyand with the relevant evidence to facilitate inspectionsby the authorities of the countries involved.

Moreover, agreements should be drafted betweenequivalent institutions in neighbouring countries.This type of agreement would facilitate joint bordercontrol activities, and would promote the exchangeof scientific information on the management ofmahogany, experiences in the implementation ofmahogany management instruments, and controlof the mahogany production chain.

Conclusions

Bolivia has made significant progress in theimplementation of the Appendix-III and nowAppendix-II listings of mahogany. Since theForestry Law was enforced, exported mahoganyvolumes have decreased substantially, which isevidence of a major improvement in the regulationand control of forest utilisation. The existence of

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the Forestry Law has made it easier for many areasto obtain certification under Forest StewardshipCouncil (FSC) criteria, which contributes notonly to mahogany management but also to thesustainable management of the forest as a whole.

Despite its financial and logistic limitations, SIFhas maintained a presence in the main mahoganyproduction areas, as well as in major access points.SIF has also identified problematic links in thetimber production chain and launched a processto remedy failures. This is encouraging, not onlyfor the control of the mahogany production chainbut also for the control of any species.

The management and scientific authorities forthe implementation of CITES in Bolivia have hada major role in the certification of mahogany exports,despite their financial limitations. The similarityof CITES and SIVEX figures is evidence of suchprogress. A decentralisation process of the CITESauthorities’ roles has also been initiated, which willbe positive in the specific case of mahogany. However,the only way to improve and implement all thefunctions of the CITES authorities is to obtainthe necessary financial resources.

Although no non-detriment finding has beenforthcoming for the country, several researchinitiatives are under way to help provide informationon the dynamics of mahogany under differentecological and disturbance conditions. However,it is important to continue developing more studiesand monitoring the response of mahogany standsthat are subject to logging, so that a robust non-detriment finding can be made.

Brazil

There has been an inter-institutional and multi-disciplinary discussion of the mahogany issueinvolving IBAMA technicians and experts inmahogany ecology, management and geneticconservation. Specific legislation has been establishedfor the development of forest management plans thatregulate the logging of mahogany. It covers specificecological and silvicultural issues that are relevant tothe management of mahogany and includes technicalstandards for the submission of management plans,yearly operational plans and maps. The text of thislegislation (IN 07/03) is available atwww.ibama.gov.br/flora.

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To date, nine management plans have beensubmitted in the states of Acre and Rondônia, andthese are under technical and legal review. The reviewsare carried out by the Inter-Agency TechnicalCommission (consisting of the regional IBAMAoffice, IBAMA headquarters, state environmentalorganizations – OEMA – and the Ministry for theEnvironment – MMA). Inspections will be carriedout by this Commission and the CITES ScientificCommittee (see below).

The legislative basis for CITES Administrationin Brazil is contained in Decree No 3607 of 21 September 2000. IBAMA acts as both themanagement and scientific authority. Relevantlegislative documents for issuing CITES permitsare a regulation of 3 January 2004, and standardsof 17 April 2004.

The CITES Scientific Authority is under theresponsibility of IBAMA's General Forest ResourceManagement Coordination Department. A ScientificCommittee made up of 5–7 experts has been formedto assist in the implementation of the Appendix-IIlisting and to provide support to the Authority.Two experts will accompany a field visit as part ofthe mahogany harvesting process (as stipulated inthe management plan). The experts’ findings will besubmitted to the Scientific Committee, and the finalconclusions of the Committee will be forwarded to theScientific Authority for consideration and decision.

The Management Authority is under theresponsibility of the Forest Directorate of IBAMA.

Several procedures in Brazil help with theimplementation of the Appendix-II listing of mahogany. The standards regulating forestmanagement for the harvesting of mahogany areunique and include specific requirements for loggingin accordance with CITES regulations. The marketingof mahogany from clearing permits has been bannedfor a period of five years (Decree No 4722 of 5 June2003). Chain-of-custody monitoring is achievedthrough submission of an official statement on allstages of the chain (reporting volumes, companies,etc) prepared by the exporter. IBAMA verifies theaccuracy of information contained in the statements.

Developments in the implementation of theAppendix-II listing

Legislation on mahogany harvesting and trade isavailable on the internet in Brazil. An informationsystem for the issuing of CITES permits is currently

being tested. This would include the ability to requestCITES permits on-line and would facilitate thetracking of the permit process from the request toissuing stage. This innovative approach improvestransparency in the process and consolidates theinformation into a single database. At present,whenever a CITES permit is issued in relation tomahogany, an official communication is sent to theCITES Management Authority in the importingcountry containing the permit number, CITESstamp number, exported volume and date of issue.

No progress has been made regarding regional forestinventories; the populations to be managed are stillto be mapped. Undertaking forest inventories is clearlyimportant, and these should include not onlymahogany but also other species. These inventoriesshould be used as a tool for forest zoning, forestmanagement subsidies and the planning ofgovernment actions.

A total of 50 technicians will be trained on timberidentification, focusing firstly on those who workat the ports so that timber species are not exportedunder false names. A timber identification manualwill be developed to support monitoring activities.Technicians from other producer countries will beinvited for the training on timber identification.

An ad-hoc working group was established in Brazilin 2003 to address the issue of mahogany forestmanagement. The findings of this group areavailable at www.mma.gov.br. IBAMA and MMAhave technicians involved in the implementationof proposals. These technicians meet as requiredto discuss the implementation and progress ofactivities, as well as the solution of specific problems.

Peru

Logging in Peru is governed by Law No 27308.This law defines a land-use system that includespermanent production forest (PPF), in which forestconcessions for harvesting may be granted. To date,in a process that began in 2002, 475 concessionaireshave been granted concessions covering a total of7.4 million hectares.

Apart from concession areas, there are two otherforest harvesting modalities which were inheritedfrom the previous regime (Law No 21147) andwhich are currently being adapted or phased out:‘major contracts’ for more than 1,000 hectares, whichentered into force after the promulgation of Law

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No 27308, and ‘extraordinary authorizations’, for themovement of logs from permits of less than 1,000hectares. Only 13 major contracts are current, withareas that range between 4,000 and 41,000 hectares;these are currently being adapted to the regulationsof the new law. In the Department of Loreto thereare 262 lots that have extraordinary authorizations forthe removal of already-felled logs up to a scheduleddate. The expiry date for these authorizations is30 June 2004, but this date has already been changedtwice due to a delay in the incorporation of theDepartment of Loreto into the concession system.

Another important source of mahogany logs is nativecommunity lands. The material limitations thatprevent INRENA from exercising adequate controlin the PPFs are even more apparent in forests thatfall into this category. Opportunistic traders takeadvantage of this fact and acquire timber simplyby buying logs which are already cut and in somecases are made ready for transport.

All harvesting modalities are conditional on theapproval and implementation of management plans,and only those specimens with an MCD larger thanthe minimum established by INRENA may beharvested. Law No 27308 also provides for theestablishment of a timber forest resource supervisoryagency (OSINFOR), a specialized agency responsibleat the national level for monitoring compliancewith forest management plans in timber-producingconcessions. However, this agency has not yet beenestablished and, in the meantime, INRENA iscarrying out its monitoring and control functions.

At the decentralized level, there are currently 30technical forest administration units (adminstracionestécnicas forestales – ATFFs), which are directlyresponsible to INRENA, but also coordinate withregional authorities from the agricultural sector.The 14 ATFFs that cover tropical forest lands areresponsible, on behalf of INRENA, for the approvalof general forest management plans (GFMPs)and yearly operational plans (YOPs), and theirsubsequent monitoring and control. Extraordinaryauthorizations are also approved, monitored andcontrolled by these bodies. Inadequate controlhas been exerted by these bodies in some cases.

Procedures for CITES implementation in Peru

The CITES management and scientific authoritiesin Peru are INRENA and the National Agrarian

University of La Molina, Faculty of Forestry Science(UNALM – FCF), respectively. The procedurerequired by the Management Authority to regulatethe export of mahogany is given in Box 7.

The Scientific Authority is currently assessing thestatus of mahogany populations in Peru, but dueto a lack of reliable information, no non-detrimentfinding has yet been made. However, the ScientificAuthority has developed a preliminary map ofmahogany distribution in four major producingdepartments, which is based on an inventory offorest resource studies carried out over the last50 years (see Figure 2). The map derived from thisinventory only contains tree density levels. This isdue to the time that has elapsed between studies andto the wide range of methodologies used to collectstatistical data on the entire mix of species and notjust on mahogany populations.

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Box 7 Requirements for the export of mahogany from Peru

(Procedure No 76 under the Unique Textof Management Procedures by INRENA,approved through S.D. No 014-2004-AG)

1. A request addressed to the authorityissuing the approval as per model

2. Registration with the Forest ProductExporters and Traders Registry orauthorization by INRENA to operateas a processing plant or warehouseand/or commercial establishment

3. Forest transport waybill (originaldocument) and receipts or invoices for payment of forest logging fees for the products to be exported

4. Product purchase order or transactionreceipt

5. Certificate of identification and primaryprocessing of products to be exported,signed by an INRENA certifiedprofessional or body. For parts andcomponents, a moisture contentcertificate is required

6. Packing list

7. Receipt for payment of administrative fees

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Authority has established a mahogany quota fortimber felled prior to 15 November 2003, whichwill be submitted to the CITES Secretariat.

A geo-referenced database on mahogany stocks(volume and number of trees per hectare) has beencompiled, systematized and integrated, based oninformation derived from inventories conducted in the last century and data generated recently by WWF through surveys carried out for thedevelopment of GFMPs and YOPs. UNALM hassecured support from ITTO for a project that will,among other things, evaluate commercial stocks of mahogany in Peru.

Both authorities have prepared a strategy to reversethe conditions that led to the listing of the speciesin CITES Appendix II. This strategy is aimed at resuming, in the medium and long terms, the free trade of Peruvian mahogany without any restrictions except for those imposed by the forest management plans.

Problems

• The information available on mahogany is scarceand there is no consistent set of studies on thegeographic distribution of the species and thesustainability of its economic utilization.

• There is also a lack of studies on the reproductivebiology of mahogany.

• GFMP approval procedures are not as expedientas they should be.

• The forest-concession supervising agency –OSINFOR – does not yet exist; the draft rulesand regulations for this have been formulatedand are under review by the Presidency of theMinisterial Council.

• There is a lack of effective mechanisms to assessboth compliance of commitments by concessionholders and the development of control andsupervisory bodies.

• There are limited financial resources to carry outmonitoring and control activities, which hampersthe field supervision and verification of YOPs.

• The forestry control system is stillnot consolidated.

• The information system generated by theATFFs is not integrated into or accessiblethrough a database system.

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Developments in the implementationof the Appendix-II listing

A number of activities have been undertaken toimplement the Appendix-II listing of mahogany inPeru. Information and dissemination meetings havebeen held in several locations with the participationof producers, industrialists, exporters and INRENAregional offices. Participants were informed of theimpacts of the CITES listing and of the requirementto have a report by the Scientific Authority to exportmahogany.

Prior to hosting the international ITTO workshopin Pucallpa, a national preparatory meeting was held,with the participation of exporters, concessionholders, INRENA, UNALM, the Worldwide Fundfor Nature (WWF) and the Peruvian EnvironmentalLaw Society (SPDA). This meeting facilitated theexchange of ideas and the definition of the Peruvianposition for the international workshop. An ongoingdialogue between the management and scientificauthorities, exporters and producers has beenestablished.

In order to facilitate the transfer of mahoganyfrom Appendix III to Appendix II, the Management

Figure 2 Preliminary map of mahogany distributionin the departments of Loreto, San Martin,Ucayali and Madre de Dios, Peru

Density0 trees/hectare<0.01 trees/hectare0.01–0.1 trees/hectare0.1–1.0 trees/hectare

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Opportunities

• There is a sustained demand for mahoganytimber in the international market.

• The Forest Information System has been finalizedas part of a forest information centre, which allowsthe development of a reliable database to meetinformation needs in the control, supervision,statistical and economic fields.

• A National Commission Against Illegal Logginghas been established as a mechanism to reduceand eventually eradicate illegal logging.

• Exporters are willing to support the ScientificAuthority (agreement – not yet concluded –between UNALM and the Exporters Association’s(ADEX) Timber Exporters Committee).

• Concession holders are interested in verificationand control mechanisms for log production inthe areas defined by the YOPs.

• Forest professional associations, such as theNational Forestry Chamber, the NationalTimber Corporation and the National TimberConfederation, among others, carry outinformation and coordination activities aimed at the management of production forests.

• Technological studies have been identifyingpotential substitute species for mahogany,which could eventually be part of morespecific mahogany conservation strategies.

• Positive results have been obtained inreforestation projects with Meliacea species.

• Low impact logging techniques have beenintroduced in Peruvian forests with some success.

• Various forest sub-sector stakeholders share theview that there is a need to launch an aggressiveresearch program on forests and mahogany.

• ATFFs are recognized as key points in themonitoring and control of timber logging, and their appropriate functioning, supported bya timely information system with permanentaccess, would help to improve the managementof forest resources in general and of mahoganyin particular.

• INRENA has professional teams with extensiveexperience, powerful information systems and a sound organizational structure, which couldhelp achieve better efficiency in the managementof forest resources in general and of mahoganyin particular.

• Forest Discussion and Coordination RoundTables have been established at the nationaland regional levels, as well as Forest ManagementCommittees, which contribute to theimprovement of the administration of resources.

• Both CITES authorities have an outstandingtrack record and an undeniable commitment to the principle of the sustainable managementof forest resources in general and of mahoganyin particular, which, strengthened by ongoingconsultation and coordination mechanismsand adequate financial support, will ensureeffective compliance with CITES regulationson mahogany.

National strategy

The national strategy for the implementationof the CITES Appendix-II listing of mahoganyrepresents a coordinated effort between both CITESauthorities and key forest-sector stakeholders.

The objective of the strategy is to achieve the unlistingof mahogany from CITES Appendix II. It containsfour implementation stages or terms:

Immediate

• Establish a permanent coordination commissionwith the Scientific Authority, the ManagementAuthority and users

• Establish a verification program for harvestingvolumes authorized by the competent authorities

Short term

• Establish a mechanism to control the felling oftrees and monitor the application of silviculturaltechniques as proposed in the GFMPs, and theircompliance in the YOPs

• Assess the availability and conservation statusof mahogany based on three variables:

– population assessment

– habitat analysis

– trade system analysis

Medium term

• Establish the country’s potential to producemahogany at the national, regional and locallevels, and even at the concession and nativecommunity levels, so as to determine the annual production quota for each unit

• Implement a mechanism to verify compliancewith the quota

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also be a problem. Communication is one of thekey issues for ensuring maximum transparency andmutual understanding of the requirements by allparties concerned, including the private sector.

Canada

S. macrophylla is, for the most part, imported toCanada in the form of sawnwood that is re-exportedfrom the USA. It is the view of most Canadianobservers and CITES authorities consulted that thelisting of S. macrophylla in Appendix II has not posedany new enforcement problems.

In the Canadian experience, species identificationis the primary enforcement problem relating toS. macrophylla, as it is with other tropical woods.In 2002, CITES Canada Enforcement Branchproduced the CITES Identification Guide B TropicalWoods (Environment Canada 2002), which greatlycontributed to the resolution of identificationproblems experienced at Canadian borders. Theguide, which uses the internal anatomic structureof wood for making species’ determinations, hasproved a useful tool in the identification of logsand sawnwood. However, it does not offer greatassistance in the identification of veneers andplywoods.

Given that ongoing challenges relating toS. macrophylla identification remain, the listing of S. macrophylla in CITES Appendix II is likelyto prove helpful. A particularly useful aspect of the change is the grouping of all species in thegenus Swietenia within the same Appendix. Therequirement to identify specimens at the genuslevel, rather than as individual species, has greatlysimplified the work of enforcement authorities.

Spain

The mechanisms for CITES implementation inSpain are based on the EC regulations outlined inBox 3. No particular problems have been detectedin Spain after the listing of mahogany in CITESAppendix II. On the contrary, the Appendix-IIlisting has led to improved customs controls anda more accurate recording of import volumes.

The main problems encountered are not specificto mahogany but rather are common to all importedtropical timber species and are mainly related tothe identification of species. Although informationmaterials have been prepared by the Botanical Gardens

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Long term

• Ongoing monitoring of the status of plantedpopulations (plantations) and natural populations(natural regeneration) and maintenance of thesilvicultural treatments applied.

Main actions

Scientific Authority

• Establish the size of mahogany populations and assess their conservation status through the ITTO-funded project ‘Evaluation ofCommercial Stocks and Strategy for theSustainable Management of Mahogany(Swietenia macrophylla) in Peru’

• Set up a technical support unit to providesupport to CITES mahogany authorities

• Ensure the in-situ and ex-situ conservationof mahogany populations

• Establish a Permanent Coordination Commissionwith the Management Authority so as to improvethe implementation of CITES mahoganymechanisms

• Establish a mahogany research anddevelopment fund

Management Authority

• Strengthen the illegal mahogany traffickingcontrol and monitoring system, including thechain of custody, based on the design of a specificinter-institutional strategy

• Strengthen the information system, withdocuments confirming the legal origin ofmahogany at the national level, througha mahogany trade monitoring database

• Strengthen the capacity of forest concessionholders in silvicultural treatments proposedfor mahogany species

• Ensure the transfer of technology on lowimpact mahogany logging techniques

Importing countries

Importing countries have a range of experiencesin implementing CITES requirements. For timber,the identification of species by customs officialsto confirm that shipments correspond withdocumentation is one of the major challenges.Irregularities in permits or incorrect paperwork can

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of Cordoba, and a guide has been made availableby the Canadian authorities, the identification oftimber is complicated, especially when importedas veneer or plywood.

Furthermore, the way the timber trade is structuredmakes the identification problem all the moredifficult. Timber consignments usually arrive inlarge ships carrying many different timber species,with documentation that in the majority of casesonly refers to the common or local names of species.This makes the work of customs services verycomplicated.

As a result of certain problems that have arisen withother tropical timber species, the National NaturalScience Museum is currently developing a DNAidentification system. However, useful results arenot expected in the short term.

UK

The UK Government is committed to sustainableforest management and is playing a leading role ininternational negotiations on forests in a numberof fora, including the Convention on BiologicalDiversity, the United Nations Forum on Forests,Forest Law Enforcement and Governance processesand the G8.

The CITES Management Authority in the UK isthe Department for Environment, Food and RuralAffairs (DEFRA), and the Scientific Authority is theRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The UK is a memberof the EC and, as in all other member states, theimplementation of CITES on its territory is governedby a set of EC regulations (see Box 3). WhenS. macrophylla was included in CITES AppendixIII, the UK Management Authority’s involvementwas limited to recording the import. Provided thata valid export permit accompanied the shipmentor certificate of origin, the only other requirementwas the presentation to customs of a self-completedimport notification form, which would bechecked/endorsed by customs and returned tothe authority so that the import could be recorded.Any further Management Authority involvementwas generally limited to assisting customs invalidating the export documentation.

The major change in permit requirements with theAppendix-II listing is that as well as a permit fromthe exporting or re-exporting management authority,S. macrophylla specimens must also have importpermits for entry into the EC. As recommended

in the Convention, permits must be issued beforeshipment takes place. Transparency, the flow ofinformation and timing (ensuring applicationscan be processed and permits issued in advanceof shipment) are crucial to the implementationof the CITES Appendix-II (EC Annex B) listingof S. macrophylla.

The CITES Management Authority endeavours toinvolve all stakeholders in the process of implementingthe regulations. The Management Authority works infull collaboration with the Scientific Authority and theappropriate enforcement authorities (Her Majesty’sCustoms and Excise, the police, etc), not only onindividual cases but also on training. The ManagementAuthority also has a cooperative working relationshipwith traders. Regular Sustainable Users Networkmeetings are held, and a seminar with traders andtrade representatives, the Timber Trade Federationin particular, was convened on 2 July 2003 at theRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew to discuss the newlistings and what they would entail. The country’sScientific Authority has prepared various help packsfor timbers, including posters for S. macrophylla.

Transparency and the sharing of information betweenthe origin/exporting and importing countries iscrucial to ensure the smooth flow of legitimate trade.DEFRA believes it would be desirable to have a chainof custody or tracking system showing the movementsof specimens from source, ensuring that the legalityof the timber is recorded at every stage. Updatedinformation on stocks, quantities harvested, andremainders would be very useful to the ScientificAuthority’s assessment of the conservation impactsof trade in S. macrophylla before it issues advice onimport applications.

Accurate timing of applications is also very important,so that they can be processed and import permitsproduced before export/import takes place.Applications made after the goods have arrived in theUK have to be considered retrospectively; permitsfor Annex B-listed specimens may only be issuedretrospectively where the competent managementauthority of the member state is satisfied that:

(a) any irregularities which have occurred arenot attributable to the (re)exporter and/orthe importer; and

(b) that the (re-)export/import of the specimensconcerned is otherwise in compliance with theprovisions of: (i) Regulation (EC) No 338/97,(ii) the Convention, and (iii) the relevantlegislation of a third country.

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The USA launched a timber page on its CITESwebsite, with specific pages on the Appendix-IIlisting of S. macrophylla, and has communicatedwith range countries, major importing countries,and importers before, on, and after 15 November2003 regarding US implementation measures. TheFWS provided an information packet to more than350 US mahogany importers and re-exporters onimplementation of the Appendix-II listing.

The USA worked with IWPA and HPVA to developthe US interim definition of S. macrophylla plywood.This document was provided to S. macrophylla rangecountries and submitted to the 13th meeting of theCITES Plants Committee, which endorsed it. Thedocument was adopted by the second meeting ofthe Mahogany Working Group and reaffirmed bythe 14th meeting of the CITES Plants Committee.The USA has submitted this document forconsideration at COP13 of CITES.

Based on discussions at the second meeting of theMahogany Working Group, the USA submitted adocument entitled ‘The use of marks and numbersin lieu of bill of lading numbers for CITES exportand re-export documents for timber species’. Thisis designed to assist importing authorities in caseswhen bills of lading are not available until exportingvessels have departed the port.

A critical component of the implementation ofCITES is monitoring of the trade by the ManagementAuthority. This is done in the US through review ofthe import documents that are endorsed at the portsby USDA-APHIS or DHS. As of 15 May 2004,approximately 204 shipments of bigleaf mahoganyhad been imported since 15 November 2003, theeffective date of the Appendix-II listing (see page 22).While data on volumes of mahogany importedin this period are not yet available, 120 of theseshipments had an export date of 15 November 2003or later and were exported under CITES AppendixII. The rest of the shipments were exported priorto 15 November 2003 under CITES Appendix III.In reviewing these Appendix-II and Appendix-IIIdocuments there were only three instances ofapparent confusion related to the transition indocumentation between Appendix III andAppendix II. Each of these involved a differentissuing country.

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USA

The CITES management and scientific authorities ofthe USA are housed with the US Fish and WildlifeService (FWS). These offices are responsible forevaluating whether applications for the import orexport of CITES-listed species meet the requirementsof CITES, and for coordinating US governmentefforts on setting CITES policy and evaluating speciesfor listing. These primary CITES authorities workin concert with FWS Law Enforcement, which hasport inspection and enforcement responsibilitiesfor animals, and with the US Department ofAgriculture-Animal and Plant Health InspectionService (USDA-APHIS) and the Departmentof Homeland Security (DHS), which share theseresponsibilities for plants. Regular participants inthe CITES Coordinating Committee include theseagencies as well as other USDA agencies (ForestService, Foreign Agricultural Service), Departmentof State, Office of the US Trade Representative,USAID, Department of Justice and Departmentof Commerce.

Since November 2002, when the CITES partiesdecided to list mahogany on Appendix II, the UnitedStates, as the largest importer of the species, hastaken many proactive measures to smooth thetransition from Appendix III and to supportimplementation of the listing. Measures have beentaken at US ports of entry, with range states andimporters, and within CITES committees and thesecond meeting of the Mahogany Working Group,for which the USA provided major funding.

At the US ports of entry, USDA-APHIS notifiedholders of APHIS S. macrophylla import permitsof the implementation changes that would occur atUS ports with the onset of the Appendix-II listing.APHIS made presentations to two industry groups,the International Wood Products Association(IWPA) and the Hardwood Plywood and VeneerAssociation (HPVA), about the effect of the uplistingin terms of CITES export permit requirements,especially with regard to plywood. US port inspectorswere informed about the change from Appendix IIIto Appendix II and the manual used by APHIS portinspectors was amended.

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4 Other internationalperspectives

Trade organizations

Trade bodies from both exporting and importingcountries have mixed experiences and views of theCITES Appendix-II listing of mahogany. The tradebodies present at the Pucallpa workshop all recognizedthe importance of managing forests sustainably andensuring that logging and trade is conducted legallywithin a solid, well-controlled regulatory framework.However, many questioned the value of CITES incontributing to these goals, perceiving the Appendix-IIlisting of mahogany as a trade restriction that willdisadvantage both the species and the region’s tropicalforests as a whole. Many find the procedures requiredfor CITES-listed species to be excessively bureaucratic,and do not believe that the Convention can assist inaddressing the real issues of illegal logging, conversionof forest to other land-uses, and the underlying causeof many of these problems: poverty. The IWPAnoted that a primary concern in the USA marketis continuity and reliability of supply, and thatdifficulties implementing the Appendix-II listingwere already impacting negatively on mahoganyin this regard. From the consumer angle, the UK’sTimber Trade Federation reported that CITES lackscredibility in the marketplace, and does not fulfilthe very real need of traders to demonstrate to theircustomers and the public at large that their timberis legally and sustainably sourced.

Despite these views, several trade bodies arecooperating with CITES authorities to aid theimplementation of the Appendix-II listing.For example, the Exporters Association in Peru(ADEX) has held meetings with the CITES scientificand management authorities in the country toimplement a number of activities in relation tothe listing (see Box 8). During the course of theworkshop, some members of IWPA (USA) offered toinvestigate the possibility of raising funds to supportthe strengthening of CITES authorities in producercountries (with a particular focus on conductinginventories of mahogany stocks) through a voluntarylevy on mahogany sales.

The Pará State Export Industry Association (AIMEX)from Brazil reported that mahogany is just one ofthe 400 marketable timber species in the Brazilianforest. They also stressed the importance to producercountries of increasing the amount of mahogany thatis processed at home into value-added products suchas furniture (currently, it is mostly sold as sawntimber or veneer). AIMEX drew attention to theinvolvement of industry in collaborative research inBrazil, studying pest control and genetic improvementof mahogany with a view to diminishing the risks toplantations and minimizing the pressure on naturalpopulations of the species.

Although some trade representatives questionedthe value of voluntary certification initiatives, others(eg the UK Timber Trade Federation) believed thatthe verification of the origin of wood products andtracking of products through the supply chain is

Box 8 Aims of meetings between Peruvian CITES authorities and ADEX

1. To establish communication channels to allow CITES authorities to access information fromexporting country suppliers so as to establish a code of business practice

2. To develop an information bank with CITES authorities so as to assess and identify the legal originof the mahogany supplied in the market. The databank should contain references to approvedmanagement plans and hence the availability of authorized volumes

3. To develop, in cooperation with CITES authorities, formats and documentation using appropriatetechnology to prevent false reporting to support mahogany supply in the market

4. To establish, in cooperation with CITES authorities and the corporate sector, coordinated actionswith the recently established National Commission Against Illegal Logging

5. To develop a methodology to promote voluntary forest certification and consolidate a chainof custody from the forest to final mahogany marketing channels

6. To promote and support research initiatives in the silvicultural field with a view to ensuringimproved mahogany harvesting practices and genetic improvement of the species

4

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becoming increasingly important for maintainingcertain markets; some also acknowledged the roleof NGOs in monitoring and control systems.Specific recommendations offered to the meetingby the Timber Trade Federation are given in Box 9.

At the conclusion of the meeting, several trade,environmental and international organizations signeda resolution (the Ucayali Declaration) commendingthe efforts of range state governments to implementthe CITES Appendix-II listing of mahogany andexpressing their hope that these efforts would besuccessful in allowing mahogany to be transferredfrom Appendix II to Appendix III as soon as possible.The full text of the resolution is given in Annex 2.

Environmental organizations

Environmental organizations in general see a highvalue in the CITES Appendix-II listing of mahogany,believing that it will help to regulate exploitationand trade in the species. WWF International, forexample, is calling for the complete and immediateimplementation of CITES Appendix II for mahoganyby all stakeholders. Their rationale for this positionis given in Box 10.

Many environmental NGOs are helping with CITESimplementation in practical ways. For example,WWF is providing technical assistance to theconcession process in 146 concessions in Peru,covering a total of 2.8 million hectares. TRAFFICInternational is also working in Peru on a wide-ranging sustainable forest management project, whichwill include the production of a manual or guide forthe implementation of Appendix II in the country.Fauna & Flora International and the Nicaraguangovernment are jointly organizing a workshop onthe development of non-detriment findings formahogany in Nicaragua.

In Brazil, the NGO Imazon has been involved inseveral research projects relating to mahogany ecologyand management, and has analysed informationon human settlement, deforestation and fires in theAmazon region. They warned that, according to theirdata, all mahogany forest is economically availablefor harvesting in the Brazilian Amazon and that,although information is limited, there are worryingsigns for remaining stocks of the species.

An approach to improving mahogany managementsuggested by Imazon is to focus on the foresters activein the region, checking their performance history forprevious involvement in fraud or failure to implementmanagement plans, and providing training on thenew regulations. Some groups also highlighted

Box 9 Recommendations made by the UK Timber Trade Federation at the Pucallpa workshop

1. Develop a framework for third-partyauditing/independent verification; inputsmay be taken from the Timber TradeFederation work on a framework forthe auditing of legality, to be finalizedby the end of 2004

2. CITES will have to ensure there is asignificant improvement in regulatorycapacity in countries where both lawenforcement and more general governanceis weak, including provision forindependent auditing by third parties

3. Increase the involvement of NGOsin the issuing of CITES permits andmonitoring

4. Further support measures should includesubstantial communication, informationand education campaigns for CITESofficials, particularly at border controlpoints and harbours

Box 10 WWF rationale for its position withregard to the implementation ofCITES Appendix II for mahogany

WWF International believes that theimplementation of the Appendix-II listingof mahogany will help to:

– conserve an indicator species of foresthealth and biodiversity;

– reduce illegal logging, especially inprotected areas and indigenous territories;

– maintain the long-term economic valueof forests;

– support livelihoods and alternative,equitable and legal economic developmentopportunities for local populations; and

– contribute to national and regionaleconomic growth and prosperity ina vital industry.

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the need for improved communications betweeninstitutions and the establishment of strategicpartnerships between projects.

Several groups at the Pucallpa meeting mentionedthe use of the precautionary principle in mahoganymanagement. In practical terms, Imazon suggestedthat the application of the precautionary principlethrough management could include the creationof reserves and measures to ensure regeneration atthe stand level. TRAFFIC International and Fauna& Flora International are working with IUCNand Resource Africa on a major project on theprecautionary principle in sustainable development,natural resource management and biodiversityconservation. This project will include a detailedcase-study on how the precautionary principle isapplied to forest management in general andspecifically to mahogany.

The use of voluntary certification schemes is widelysupported by environmental NGOs, including thoseat the Pucallpa workshop. The Peruvian Councilfor Voluntary Forest Certification pointed out thatchain-of-custody certification, as conducted by theFSC alongside forest management certification,provides a useful model for monitoring legal productsfrom the forest. The FSC certification system can helpguarantee legality by ensuring compliance withnational and local legislation, international treatiesand agreements (eg CITES), and the paymentof taxes and royalties. Specific recommendationsmade to the meeting by the Peruvian Council forVoluntary Forest Certification are given in Box 11.

Regardless of whether mahogany is certified or not,several NGOs (eg WWF-US) are establishing buyers’groups to facilitate links between mahogany importersand exporters, improve transparency and reduceillegal shipments. The workshop forum providedopportunities for discussions between NGOs andthe trade on these buyers’ groups.

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Box 11 Recommendations from the PeruvianCouncil for Voluntary ForestCertification for the implementationof the CITES Appendix-II listingof mahogany in Peru

Management Authority:

– Outsource the state monitoring systemto independent certification bodies

– Strengthen capacities for internalmonitoring and control

– Analyse risk levels to prioritise control areas

Scientific Authority, NGOs:

– Conduct studies on mahoganyregeneration to ensure its sustainability

– Link the concept of high-conservation-value forests with the status ofmahogany populations

– Work together with importers on thedevelopment of specifications andresponsible purchasing policies

FSC:

– Consider the possibility of mutualrecognition between the FSC and CITES

– Identify strategic partners and reliableverification systems

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5 Conclusion andrecommendations

Participants in the workshop recognized that it hadprovided an excellent opportunity for dialogue andinteraction between all stakeholders related to themanagement and trade of mahogany. The backgroundpapers presented and the working groups convenedduring the workshop greatly facilitated the sharing ofexperiences on the implementation of, and concernsabout, the CITES Appendix-II listing of mahogany.

The workshop participants also highlighted the strongsynergies between the work of CITES and ITTO, andprovided direction for continuing and strengtheningsuch synergies. All participants expressed their sharedcommitment to the successful implementation of theAppendix-II listing of mahogany and on-going effortstowards sustainable forest management in general.

The workshop participants identified the followingrecommendations for consideration and early actionas appropriate by national governments, the privatesector (trade and NGOs), international organizationsand other stakeholders. Recommendations were madewith the workshop objectives in mind and aregrouped accordingly below. Note that some may applyto more than one objective. No recommendationswere made for Objective 1 on current marketconditions for mahogany, but the workshop didstress the need for better market information tofacilitate the sustainable management, monitoringand control of the species.

The workshop also endorsed two resolutions tabledat its closing session; these are given in Annex 2.

Recommendations

Objective 2: identify monitoring activities countriesmay find useful, including approaches, technologiesand timing

1 Control systems (including managementplans and licensing systems) should be simple,inexpensive, easily applicable, efficient andreliable

2 Countries should simplify, make more transparentand publicize their legal requirements for theextraction, transformation, transportation andexport of wood products

3 National forestry authorities and the internationalcommunity should consider incentives formahogany concessionaires who stay withinthe terms of the law and produce sustainably

4 Charges and penalties for violations of mahoganyregulations, as well as the procedures throughwhich they are imposed, should be clearly definedand widely publicized

5 When resources are limited, national forestryauthorities should concentrate first on applyingcontrol systems in situations involving highconservation risks in areas where mahoganyis present

6 National authorities should make resourcesavailable to establish databases on the managementof mahogany and other species. Such databasesshould be accessible to the public

7 Management plans should incorporate datarelevant to the diversity of distribution, densityand ecology of mahogany populations

8 On-site inspection of mahogany managementshould be increased as a means of control

9 Forest management plans (and, as appropriate,utilization plans) for all areas where mahoganyproduction occurs (including agricultural andindigenous holdings) should be based on accuratedata including forest inventories on the diversity,density and ecology of mahogany, consistentwith national practices and legislation

10 Existing chain-of-custody tracking tools shouldbe employed to facilitate the monitoring oftraded mahogany

11 Shipping documents for all traded wood products(including those not in CITES appendices) shouldlist scientific names as well as customs codes

12 Shipping documents for forest products shouldbe designed so as to make it difficult for themto be changed, forged or counterfeited

13 Tax collection authorities should detect andprevent false price quotations for the purposeof tax evasion

Objective 3: identify actions that the private sector(industry and NGOs) can take to reinforce and supportefforts to use CITES to manage trade in mahogany

1 The academic and scientific communities shouldbe encouraged to continue playing major rolesin undertaking the research necessary for properforest management (ie by developing volume oryield tables, etc)

2 The private sector should play a role instrengthening the CITES managementauthorities and scientific authorities in producer

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countries. Particular attention should focus onthe scientific authorities and developing theirinformation systems and operationalcapabilities by:

a) providing direct financial assistance andpolitical support, and

b) working through the national authoritiesand the CITES Secretariat to provideinformation to improve implementationof the listing

3 Recognizing the role of the CITES Secretariat asa focal point and source of technical assistance,the private sector should provide informationon problems in implementation and assist inidentifying needs for technical assistance fornational CITES authorities

4 The private sector should strengthen or developeffective voluntary codes of conduct, withparticular attention to the participation ofexporters in the range countries

5 The private sector should contribute to thesustainable management of mahogany andother species by increasing efficiency throughtraining (for loggers, mills, etc), technologytransfer, and facilitating inventory work

6 Voluntary formal coalitions of buyers, sellers andNGOs should be used to reinforce national lawsincluding those related to CITES

Objective 4: identify opportunities for coordinationacross relevant agencies within producing countries

1 Within the framework of national policies,synergies should be enhanced and autonomiesrecognized between CITES scientific andadministrative authorities

2 Communications among national forestryauthorities, users, producers, exporters andimporters should be improved to ensuretransparency in the control process

3 Governments in range states should immediatelydeclare forest development a subject of nationalinterest affecting society as a whole, with a specialfocus (including national campaigns) on theissue of illegal logging. National programsand bilateral/multilateral agreements shouldbe employed (as appropriate) to achieve this

4 Forestry development programs should be definedand implemented jointly with native communities

5 Additional workshops on mahogany should beconvened, especially at the national and sub-national levels, to continue and extend interactionand cooperation among the commercial privatesector, NGOs and national authorities (includingrepresentatives of foreign affairs’ departments asappropriate). Such workshops should consider,inter alia, the implementation of theserecommendations

Objective 5: identify regional cooperation activities toaid implementation, including technical assistanceand resources

1 Communications among the CITES scientific andadministrative authorities in Bolivia, Brazil andPeru should be enhanced within the frameworkof the regional coordination which has beenestablished

2 Regional agreements already reached andconnections already established should serve asthe framework for joint actions by the countriesimplementing the Appendix-II listing ofmahogany

3 Countries should share forest managementand control systems/software with each other

Objective 6: identify areas of need for technicalassistance

1 Countries should seek technical assistance fordeveloping and implementing control systemsfor mahogany from CITES, ITTO, FAO,TRAFFIC and/or other relevant organizations

2 The CITES Secretariat should provide trainingfor authorities implementing CITES listings uponrequest as appropriate. Such training shouldinclude an information program to makeCITES known to all stakeholders

3 The report of the Pucallpa workshop should bewidely disseminated and results of the workshopshould be communicated to relevant fora,particularly the 36th session of the InternationalTropical Timber Council (20–23 July 2004)and COP 13 of CITES (2–14 October 2004)

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Objective 7: share information on issues of relevanceto importing countries

1 Importing countries and markets should be mademore aware of CITES and its rules related topromoting the sustainable trade of mahogany,as well as the importance of sustainable forestmanagement in general

Objective 8: share information on relevantinternational developments

1 CITES should discuss a revision of CITESlisting procedures so as to adapt them to thespecific needs of timber species. Bolivia, Braziland Peru should propose such a discussion

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References Environment Canada 2002. CITES Identification

Guide B Tropical Woods: Guide to the Identificationof Tropical Woods Controlled under the Conventionon International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Text in English, French, andSpanish. Environment Canada, Ottawa, Canada.

ITTO 2004. Annual Review and Assessment of the WorldTimber Situation 2003. ITTO, Yokohama, Japan.

Robbins, C. 2000. Mahogany Matters: the US Marketfor Big-leafed Mahogany and its Implications forConservation of the Species. TRAFFIC NorthAmerica, Washington DC, USA.

Rosser, A. & Haywood, M. 2002. Guidance forCITES Scientific Authorities. Checklist to Assist inMaking Findings for Appendix II Export. IUCNSpecies Survival Commission Occasional PaperNo 27. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland, andCambridge, UK.

SIF 2003. Annual Report 2002. ForestSuperintendence, Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

TRAFFIC 2001. Implementation of CITES AppendixIII Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) Listing.Document submitted to the first meeting of theMahogany Working Group, Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

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Annex 1

List of workshop participants

Countries

Bolivia

CITES authorities

Lic. Saúl Arias CossíoCoordinador CITES-BoliviaDirección General de BiodiversidadViceministerio de Medio Ambientey Recursos NaturalesMinisterio de Desarrollo Sostenible y PlanificaciónAv. Mariscal Santa Cruz No. 1092, 6to pisoLa PazBolivia

Tel: ++(591-2) 231-0966Fax: ++(591-2) 231-0966E-mail: citesbo@mds.gov.bo

sumurucuco@lycos.es

Lic. Marianela SubietaMuseo Nacional de Historia NaturalCampus UniversitarioCalle 26 de Cota CotaLa PazBolivia

Tel: ++(591-2) 279-5364Fax: ++(591-2) 277-0876E-mail: mnhn@caobaentelnet.bo

Ing. Mario Saldías PazJefe del HerbarioMuseo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff MercadoSanta CruzBolivia

Tel: ++(591-3) 337-1216E-mail: msaldias@mail.museonoelkempff.org

msaldias@museo.sczbo.org

Other government authorities

Ing. Olvis Camacho MercadoIntendente técnicoSuperintendencia ForestalSanta CruzBolivia

Tel: ++(591-3) 348-8393Fax: ++(591-3) 348-8394

Ing. William Pariona AriasSub-coordinador del Instituto Bolivianode Investigación ForestalSanta Cruz Bolivia

Tel: ++(591-3) 348-0766E-mail: wpariona@ibifbolivia.org.bo

Trade

Ab. Jorge E. AvilaCámara ForestalProl. Manuel Ignacio Salvatierra, 1055Casilla 346Santa CruzBolivia

Tel: ++(591-3) 333-2699Fax: ++(591-3) 333-1456E-mail: camaraforestal@cfb.org.bo

Brazil

CITES authorities

Mr. Adalberto Meira FilhoAssessorDiretoria de FlorestasInstituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dosRecursos Naturais Renovávies - IBAMAIBAMA – Edifício SedeSCEN-Trecho 270.818-200 – Brasilia – DFBrazil

Tel: ++(55-61) 316-1257/226-2081Fax: ++(55-61) 226-8711E-mail: adalberto.meira-filho@ibama.gov.br

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Ms. Cristina Galvão AlvesCoordenadora Geral de Gestao de Recursos FlorestaisInstituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos RecursosNaturais Renovávies - IBAMAIBAMA – Edifício SedeSCEN-Trecho 270.818-200 – Brasilia – DFBrazil

Tel: ++(55-61) 316-1474Fax: ++(55-61) 226-8711E-mail: cristina.alves@ibama.gov.br

Ms. Cláudia Maria Correia de MelloAnalista AmbientalInstituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos RecursosNaturais Renovávies - IBAMAIBAMA – Edifício SedeSCEN-Trecho 270.818-200 – Brasilia – DFBrazil

Tel: ++(55-61) 316-1257/226-2081Fax: ++(55-61) 226-8711E-mail: claudia.mello@ibama.gov.br

Other government authority

Ms. Carmen Roseli Caldas MenezesAgência Brasileira de CooperaçãoCooperação Técnica Recebida Multilateral – CTRMMinistério das Relações ExterioresEsplanada dos Ministérios – Anexo I, 8o andarCEP. 70.170-900 – Brasilia – DFBrazil

Tel: ++(55-61) 411-6595Fax: ++(55-61) 411-6894E-mail: carmen@abc.mre.gov.br

NGO

Mr. Paulo BarretoResearcher and Executive DirectorThe Amazon Institute of People andEnvironment (IMAZON)Caixa Postal 5101Belém, PABrazil CEP 66613-397

Tel: ++(55-91) 235-4214Fax: ++(55-91) 235-0122E-mail: pbarreto@imazon.org.br

Trade

Mr. Evaristo Francisco de Moura TerezoAIMEXTv. Quintino Bocaiúva1588, 5˚ andar, Bloco “A”Casa da Indústria – FIEPACEP 66035-190Belém- ParáBrazil

Tel: ++(55-91) 242-7161/242-7218/299-3455Fax: ++(55-91) 242-7342/242-4081E-mail: terezo@terra.com.br

Canada

CITES authority

Mr. Ken FarrCanadian Forest Service/Science Branch580 Booth Street, 7th Floor, D-6Ottawa, OntarioCanada K1A 0E4

Tel: ++(1-613) 947-9007E-mail: ken.farr@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

Peru

CITES authorities

Ing. Leoncio Álvarez VásquezJefeInstituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales (INRENA)Ministerio de AgriculturaCalle Diecisiete No. 355Urb. El PalomarSan Isidro, Lima 27Peru

Tel.: ++(51-1) 225-3287Fax: ++(51-1) 224-3218E-mail: lalvarez@inrena.gob.pe

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Bio. Rosario AceroDirectora de la Conservación de la BiodiversidadAutoridad Administrativa CITESDirección Conservación de BiodiversidadIntendencia Nacional de Recursos Naturales (IFFS)Instituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales (INRENA)Ministerio de AgriculturaCalle Diecisiete No. 355Urb. El PalomarSan Isidro, Lima 27Peru

Tel: ++(51-1) 224-2864/225-9809Fax: ++(51-1) 224-3298E-mail: racero@inrena.gob.pe

Ing. Victor BarrenaDecano Facultad de Ciencias ForestalesUniversidad Nacional Agraria la MolinaAv. La Universidad s/nLa Molina, LimaPeru

Tel: ++(51-1) 349-5647 Ext.: 203Fax: ++(51-1) 349-2041E-mail: vbarrena@lamolina.edu.pe

Ing. Ignacio LombardiUniversidad Nacional Agraria la MolinaAv. La Universidad s/nLa Molina, LimaPeru

Tel: ++(51-1) 349-5647Fax: ++ (51-1) 349-2041E-mail: ilombardi@lamolina.edu.pe

Other government authorities

Mr. Teddy TuestaGerente de Recursos NaturalesGobierno Regional de UcayaliJr. Raymondi No. 220PucallpaPeru

Tel: ++(51-61) 575-018 Ext. 127E-mail: ttuesta7@hotmail.com

Mr. César GiovanniniAsesor JefaturaComisión de Lucha contra la Tala IlegalInstituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales (INRENA)Ministerio de AgriculturaCalle Dieciocho No. 124San Isidro, Lima 27Peru

Tel: ++(51-1) 225-2381/225-3287Fax: ++(51-1) 224-3298E-mail: cesargiovannini@hotmail.com

Ms. Rocío Malleux HernaniIntendencia Forestal y de Fauna Silvestre (IFFS)Instituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales (INRENA)Ministerio de AgriculturaCalle Diecisiete No. 355Urb. El PalomarSan Isidro, Lima 27Peru

Tel: ++(51-1) 225-0316Fax: ++(51-1) 224-3298E-mail: rmalleux@inrena.gob.pe

Mr. Guillermo Pastor PicónAdministradorAdministración Tecnica Forestal y Fauna SilvestreInstituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales (INRENA)Carr. Federico Basadre Km 4.200PucallpaPeru

Tel: ++(51-61) 574-665/591-127Fax: ++(51-61) 591-127E-mail: guimopastor@hotmail.com

atcffs-pucallpa@inrena.gob.pe

Ing. Carlos SalinasCoordinador TallerInstituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales (INRENA)Ministerio de AgriculturaCalle Diecisiete No. 355Urb. El PalomarSan Isidro, Lima 27Peru

Tel: ++(51-1) 475-2455Fax: ++(51-1) 224-3298E-mail: csalinas@inrena.gob.pe

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Ing. Nicolas Vander WerfINRENA/CIEF

Tel: ++(51-1) 224-3678E-Mail: nvanderwerf@inrena.gob.pe

NGOs

Ms. Pina GervassiGerente GeneralConsejo Peruano deCertificación Forestal Voluntaria

Tel: ++(51-1) 440-5550Fax: ++(51-1) 440-2133E-mail: pgervassi@cp-cfv.org

Ms. Micha TorresConsultor Ambiental Ex DirectoraPolíticas de Conservación yRelaciones InterínstitucionalesPRONATURALEZAAlberto del Campo 417Magdalena del Mar, LimaPeru

Tel: ++(51-1) 434-4520/467-1729/264-2736Fax: ++(51-1) 264-2753E-mail: micha@terra.com.pe

Ing. Jorge MalleuxDirector ProyectoCEDEFOR-WWFTrinidad Morán 853LincePeru

Tel: ++(51-1) 440-5550Fax: ++(51-1) 440-2133E-mail: jorge@wwfperu.org.pe

Mr. Carlos Marcos CastroConsultor en CITESWWF PeruTrinidad Morán 853LincePeru

Tel: ++(51-1) 476-5451/9970-5732E-mail: cmarcos_castro@yahoo.com

Mr. José Carlos Minaya RivasDirector de la Oficina Regional de UcayaliWWF-OAP-CEDEFOR-UJr. Tarapacá 930, 2º pisoUcayaliPeru

Tel: ++(51-61) 576-941Fax: ++(51-61) 576-941E-mail: jose@wwfperu.org.pe

Ms. Linda NorgroveWWF PeruTrinidad Morán 853LincePeru

Tel: ++(51-1) 440-5550Fax: ++(51-1) 440-2133E-mail: linda@wwfperu.org.pe

Mr. Teddy PeñaherreraDirector de ConservaciónWWF PeruTrinidad Morán 853LincePeru

Tel: ++(51-1) 440-5550E-mail: teddy@wwfperu.org.pe

Ms. Diana VegaEspecialista en Monitoreo ForestalCEDEFOR-WWFJr. Tarapacá 930, 2º pisoPucallpaPeru

Tel: (51-61) 576-941E-mail: diana@wwfperu.org.pe

Trade

Mr. Alfredo BiasevichAsociación de Exportadores (ADEX)Av. Javier Prado Este 2875San Borja, Lima 4Peru

Tel: ++(51-1) 435-7899Fax: ++(51-1) 346-1879E-mail: abiasevich@millicom.com.pe

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Mr. Drago BozovichAsociación de Exportadores (ADEX)Av. Javier Prado Este 2875San Borja, Lima 4Peru

Tel: ++(51-1) 435-7899Fax: ++(51-1) 346-1879E-mail: drago@bozovich.com

Mr. Erick FischerAsociadoAsociación de Exportadores (ADEX)Av. Javier Prado EPeru

Tel: ++(51-1) 346-2530Fax: ++(51-1) 346-1879E-mail: huancaro@hotmail.com

Mr. César Guerrero SaavedraPresidenteAsociación de Extractores Madereros yReforestadores de Ucayali (AEMRU)Jr. Sucre 413PucallpaPeru

Tel: ++(51-61) 574-554

Mr. Fernando Reyes EspinozaCoordinadorAsociación de Extractores Madererosy Reforestadores de Ucayali (AEMRU)Jr. Sucre 413PucallpaPeru

Tel: ++(55-61) 574-554E-Mail: fereyese@yahoo.com

abelre_33@hotmail.com

Mr. Rómulo Coronado CalderónPresidenteAsociación de Madereros de UcayaliJr. Raymondi No. 365PucallpaPeru

Tel: ++(51-61) 575-132/575-444E-mail: amdu@gmx.net

Mr. Antonio Chambergo Asociación de Productores Forestalesde Ucayali (APROFU)Jr. Bolivar No. 163PucallpaPeru

Tel: ++(51-61) 578-928 - 0198406820E-mail: achamber@terra.com.pe

Mr. Miguel PalominoAsociación de Productores Forestalesde Ucayali (APROFU)Jr. Bolivar No. 163PucallpaPeru

Tel: ++(51-61) 592-220/(51-1) 9909-1302Fax: ++(51-61) 577-045

Mr. Miguel Planas MorelliAsociación de Productores Forestalesde Ucayali (APROFU)Jr. Bolivar No. 163PucallpaPeru

Tel: ++(51-61) 592-220/(51-1) 9909-1302Fax: ++(51-61) 577-045E-mail: pyp@terra.com.pe

Ms. Patricia Kristen Comité de Industrial de la MaderaAsociación de Exportadores (ADEX)Av. Javier Prado Este 2875San Borja, Lima 4Peru

Tel: ++(51-1) 346-2530Fax: ++(51-1) 346-1879

Mr. Martín MenéndezCoordinador GeneralComité de Industria de la Maderas Asociación de Exportadores (ADEX)Av. Javier Prado Este 2875San Borja, Lima 4Peru

Tel: ++(51-1) 346-2530Fax: ++(51-1) 346-1879E-mail: mmenendez@adexperu.org.pe

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Ing. Wilfredo OjedaPresidenteCámara Nacional Forestal (CNF) – PeruRamón Dagnino 369Jesús María, Lima 11Peru

Tel: ++(51-1) 423-6726Fax: ++(51-1) 330-4872E-mail: wilojeda@terra.com.pe

cnf@cnf.org.pe

Mr. Emilio Balarín Gerente GeneralCORMADERACalle Cuatro # 157 Urbanización Industrial VulcanoAteLimaPeru

Tel: ++(51-1) 316-2031Fax: ++(51-1) 348-0936E-mail: ebalarin@pimsac.com

pimsac@pimsac.com

Mr. Henry BalarínCORMADERACalle Cuatro # 157 Urbanización Industrial VulcanoAteLimaPeru

Tel: ++(51-1) 348-0936Fax: ++(51-1) 348-0932E-mail: hbalarin@terra.com.pe

Dr. Rosa Victoria Hidalgo GarciaAsesora LegalCORMADERAAv. Paseo de la República # 4154-202Miraflores, LimaPeru

Tel: ++(51-1) 440-9038Fax: ++(51-1) 440-9038E-mail: rosavictoria@terra.com.pe

Mr. Roberto SaveriGerente GeneralCORMADERAAv. El Sol 2276Villa El SalvadorLimaPeru

Tel: ++(51-1) 288-2020/275-7755Fax: ++(51-1) 275-8585E-mail: rsaveri@alpirosa.com

Mr. Herbert Frey BullónDirector GerenteForestal Venao S.R.L.Carretera FedericoBasadre K.M. 9.200PucallpaPeru

Tel: ++(51-64) 578-649Fax: ++(51-64) 478-656E-mail: venao@wayna.scp.net.pe

Mr. Mitchell TigerGerente GeneralPeru Traders Inc.Calle La Balsa 270Las Lagunas de La MolinaLima 12Peru

Tel: ++(51-1) 368-2691/251-0791Fax: ++(51-1) 368-2691/251-0791E-mail: tiger@terra.com.pe

Others

Ing. Enrique ToledoDirector EjecutivoFONDEBOSQUELas Tordilla 195San Isidro, LimaPeru

Tel: ++(51-1) 222-3703Fax: ++(51-1) 222-3704E-mail: etoledo@fondebosque.org.pe

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Ing. Edgardo LizarragaGerente de Operaciones RegionalesFONDEBOSQUELas Tordilla 195San Isidro, LimaPeru

Tel: ++(51-1) 222-3703Fax: ++(51-1) 2223704E-mail: elizarraga@fondebosque.org.pe

Ms. Martha PugaAdministradoraFONDEBOSQUELas Tordilla 195San Isidro, LimaPeru

Tel: ++(51-1) 222-3703Fax: ++(51-1) 222-3704E-mail: mpuga@fondebosque.org.pe

Ing. Renato MaurtuaCoordinadorFONDEBOSQUEJr. Libertad 218 – 222PucallpaPeru

Tel: ++(51-61) 591-554Fax: ++(51-61) 591-554E-mail: ucayali@fondebosque.org.pe

Ms. Nilda VásquezAsesoraBosques, Sociedad y DesarrolloAv. Pablo Carriquirry 315San Isidro, LimaPeru

Tel: ++(51-1) 224-5181Fax: ++(51-1) 224-5181E-mail: nildavasquez@hotmail.com

Mr. Markus TrefzerCCITU-DEDAvenida Centenaria km 4.800 (Kahlua)PucallpaPeru

Tel: ++(51-61) 593-506E-mail: markus.trefzer@web.de

Mr. Eduardo RíosTropical Forest Consultores SACAv. Lima Sur 961Lurigancho – ChosicaLima 15Peru

Tel: ++(51-1) 360-0433Fax: ++(51-1) 360-0381E-mail: tropicalforestc@infonegocio.net.pe

Mr. William CorderoGerente de Recursos NaturalesUSAIDAvenida Republica de Panama 3055Piso 14San Isidro, LimaPeru

Tel: ++(51-1) 690-3012Fax: ++(51-1) 690-3006E-mail: wcordero@chemonicspdap.com

Ms. Lola Reyna FarjeConsultoraCarret. Federico Basadre Km4800Interior KaluaPucallpaPeru

Tel: ++(51-62) 571-569Fax: ++(51-1) 449-0138E-mail: lolarja@hotmail.com

Spain

CITES authority

Mrs. Mercedes Nuñez RománJefe de Area CITESSubdirección de Inspección, Certificacióny Asistencia Técnica de Comercio ExteriorSecretaria General de Comercio ExteriorMinisterio de EconomíaPaseo de la Castellana, 162 - 28046 MadridSpain

Tel: ++(37- 913) 493 757/ 754 / 770Fax: ++(34- 913) 493 740 / 777E-mail: Mercedes.Nunez@sscc.mcx.es

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United Kingdom of Great Britainand Northern Ireland

CITES authority

Ms. Maria FabianiWildlife Licensing and Registration ServiceDept. for Environment Food and Rural AffairsTemple Quay House2 The SquareTemple QuayBristol BS1 6EBUK

Tel: ++(44-0117) 372-8831E-mail: maria.fabiani@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Trade

Mr. Gunther HentschelForest Policy AdviserTimber Trade Federation Ltd.4th Floor, Clareville House 26/27 Oxendon StreetLondon SW1Y 4ELU.K.

Tel: ++(44-20) 7839-1891Fax: ++(44-20) 7930-0094E-mail: ghentschel@ttf.co.uk

United States of America

CITES authority

Dr. Peter ThomasDivision ChiefUS CITES Management AuthorityU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 700Arlington, VA 22203USA

Tel: ++(1-703) 358-2093 Ext. 1922Fax: ++(1-703) 358-2280E-mail: peter_thomas@fws.gov

Other government authorities

Dr. David BrooksOffice of Environment and Natural ResourcesOffice of the U.S. Trade Representative600 17st, N.W.Washington, DC 20508USA

Tel: ++(1-202) 395-9579Fax: ++(1-202) 395-6865E-mail: dbrooks@ustr.gov

Mr. Harvey S. LeeInternational Relations OfficerBureau of Oceans and InternationalEnvironmental and Scientific AffairsU.S. Department of State2201 C Street., N.W., Room 4333Washington, DC 20520USA

Tel: ++(1-202) 647-2255Fax: ++(1-202) 736-7351E-mail: leehs@state.gov

Dr. Ana VillegasBureau of Oceans and InternationalEnvironmental and Scientific AffairsU.S. Department of State2201 C Street, N.W., Room 4333Washington, DC 20520USA

E-mail: villegasAC@state.gov

Mr. David LippeattComercial AttacheEmbassy of USALimaPeru

Tel: ++(51-1) 434-3000 Ext. 2414E-mail: lippeattjd@state.gov

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Mr. Jorge ElgegrenUSAID/PeruOffice of Environment and Natural ResourcesAv. La Escalada, cuadra 17 s/nMonterrico, SurcoLimaPeru

Tel: ++(51-1) 618-1282Fax: ++(51-1) 618-1353E-mail: jelegren@usaid.gov

Trade

Ms. Brigid SheaManagerGovernmental and Environmental AffairsInternational Wood Products Association4214 King Street, WestAlexandriaVirginia 22302USA

Tel: ++(1-703) 820-6696Fax: ++(1-703) 820-8550E-mail: brigid@iwpawood.org

Mr. Romel Bezerra Vice PresidentHardwoods DivisionAljoma Lumber, Inc.10300 N.W. 121 WayMedley, FL 33178USA

Tel: ++(1-305) 556-8003Fax: ++(1-305) 556-4991E-mail: romel.bezerra@aljoma.com

Mr. Jamie Molina – Exporterc/o International Wood Products Association4214 King Street, WestAlexandriaVirginia 22302USA

Mr. Sam Robinson4000 Tchoupitoulas StreetNew Orleans, LA 70115USA

Tel: ++(1-504) 895-6377Fax: ++(1-504) 897-0820E-mail: srobinson@roblumco.com

Mr. Don ThompsonThompson Mahogany7400 Edmund StreetPhiladelphia, PA 19136USA

Tel: ++(1-215) 624-1866Fax: ++(1-215) 338-1060E-mail: dthompson@thomahog.com

Mr. Rafael Villacorta - Small producer/exporterc/o International Wood Products Association4214 King Street, WestAlexandriaVirginia 22302USA

International organizations

CIFOR

Ms. Violeta ColánCoordinadora CIFOR PeruCenter for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)Carretera Federico Basadre km 4.200Peru

Tel: ++(55-61) 591-151Fax: ++(55-61) 578-704E-mail: vcolan@terra.com.pe

CITES

Ms. Milena Sosa SchmidtSenior Scientific OfficerCITES SecretariatInternational Environment HouseChemin des AnémonesCH-1219 Châtelaine, GenevaSwitzerland

Tel: ++(41-22) 917-8139/8140Fax: ++(41-22) 797-3417E-mail: milena.schmidt@unep.ch

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FAO

Mr. Froylan CastañedaForestry Officer (Tropical Forest Management)Forest Resources Development ServiceForest Resources DivisionFood and Agriculture Organizationof the United Nations (FAO)Viale delle Terme di Caracalla00100 RomeItaly

Tel: (39-06) 705-4056Fax: (39-06) 705-5618E-mail: froylan.castaneda@fao.org

ITTO

Dr. Steven E. JohnsonInternational Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)International Organizations Center 5FPacifico-Yokohama1-1-1, Minato-Mirai, Nishi-kuYokohama 220-0012Japan

Tel: ++(81-45) 223-1110Fax: ++(81-45) 223-1111E-mail: johnson@itto.or.jp

Ms. Naho TamuraSecretaryEconomic Information and Market IntelligenceInternational Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)International Organizations Center 5FPacifico-Yokohama1-1-1, Minato-Mirai, Nishi-kuYokohama 220-0012Japan

Tel: ++(81-45) 223-1110Fax: ++(81-45) 223-1111E-mail: eimi@itto.or.jp

International NGOs

Fauna & Flora International

Dr. Georgina MaginSustainable Wood Use Project ManagerFauna & Flora InternationalGreat Eastern HouseTenison RoadCambridge CB1 2TTUK

Tel: ++(44-1223) 571-000Fax: ++(44-1223) 461-481E-mail: georgina.magin@fauna-flora.org

TRAFFIC International

Miss Ximena BuitrónTRAFFIC South America – Regional Officec/o IUCN Regional Office for South AmericaAv. De los Shyris 2680 y Gaspar de VillaroelEdificio MITA COBADELSA, Penthouse (PH)QuitoEcuador

Tel: ++(593-2) 226-1075 Ext. 400Fax: ++(593-2) 226-1075 Ext. 230E-mail: ximena.buitron@traffic.sur.iucn.org

WWF International

Mr. Edgar MaraviGlobal Forest ProgramWWF1250 24th Street, NWWashington, DC 20037-1132USA

E-mail: edgar.maravi@wwfus.org

Ms. Catherine PlumeRegional Forest CoordinatorLatin America & CaribbeanLAC SecretariatWWF1250 24th Street, NWWashington, DC 20037-1132USA

Tel: ++(1-202) 778-9511Fax: ++(1-202) 296-5348E-mail: catherine.plume@wwfus.org

ITTO

54

Annex 2

Resolution 1 – exporting countries

The CITES scientific and management authoritiesresponsible for the CITES Appendix-II listing ofmahogany in Bolivia, Brazil and Peru, having meton the occasion of the Workshop on Capacity-building for Implementation of CITES Appendix-IIListing of Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla),

HEREBY AGREE:

• That the utmost effort should be made to ensurethe optimal implementation of the Convention’sprovisions, in particular, the implementation ofthe Appendix-II listing of mahogany

• That a working group should be establishedin order to coordinate and join efforts to ensurebetter achievement of objectives, particularly inrelation to non-detriment findings

• That each country has different realities and henceparticular situations for the implementation ofthe CITES Appendix-II listing of mahogany

AND HEREBY SUGGEST:

• That the international financial communityshould provide support for the implementationof national strategies as required for theapplication of this provision through projects

• That financial support should be provided so thatthe working group to be established by CITESauthorities in the three countries can meet anddevelop a common strategy to be implementedby all three States

• That international institutions should supportin-country initiatives to be undertakenindependently of regional initiatives

Pucallpa, 21 May 2004

Signed by the CITES scientific and managementauthorities of Bolivia, Brazil and Peru

Resolution 2 – Ucayali Declaration, Peru

The undersigned participants of the Workshop onCapacity-building for Implementation of CITESAppendix-II Listing of Mahogany (Swieteniamacrophylla) recognize and commend the effortsbeing made by CITES scientific and managementauthorities in Bolivia, Brazil and Peru to facethe challenges derived from the commitmentsundertaken in relation to CITES Appendix IIand the implementation of measures aimed atthe conservation and sustainable development ofmahogany, and welcome the constructive attitude ofkey industrial and non-industrial forest stakeholdersfor the sustainable management of Amazon forests.

We hereby express our sincere hope that, as a resultof these efforts, the listing of mahogany will betransferred from CITES Appendix II to Appendix IIIin the shortest term possible.

Pucallpa, 21 May 2004

Signed by representatives from a range of trade,non-governmental and international organizationspresent at the workshop

ITTO

MAKING THE MAHOGANY TRADE WORK

Report of the workshop on capacity-building for the implementation of the CITES Appendix-II listing of mahogany

OCTOBER 2004

I N T E R N A T I O N A L T R O P I C A L T I M B E R O R G A N I Z A T I O NInternational Organizations Center, 5th Floor, Pacifico-Yokohama, 1-1-1, Minato-Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, 220-0012, Japan

Tel 81-45-223-1110 Fax 81-45-223-1111 Email itto@itto.or.jp Web www.itto.or.jp© ITTO 2004

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