At the recent CITES meeting held in Johannesburg, a decision was passed to list the entire Dalbergia genus in Appendix II of the CITES convention meaning only controlled trade in sustainable volumes will be allowed. By consensus CITES has placed the entire Dalbergia genus of rosewood under trade restrictions. CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also called the Washington Convention) is an international agreement to ensure that international trade of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of their species. Demand, especially in Asia, has had a devastating impact on available resources in South‐East Asia and traffickers are now tapping alternative sources in Africa and Central America.

The genus Dalbergia is large and widespread, comprising over 300 species of plants of many different forms: some species produce high quality and sought-after timber traded as “rosewood” or exported to China as Hongmu (“redwood”), a timber with a beautiful deep red glow intensively used to produce luxury furniture.

Until now, only a restricted number of Dalbergia species has protected listed under the CITES agreement, and the extension will make it easier to enforce the law,

In many countries, the trade of “rosewood” has driven the illegality in the forestry sector. Protected species has been so far smuggled under the name of very similar un-protected sister species. Last CITES decision is an effort to end the ploy by those trafficking rosewood to pass off illegally sourced species as legitimate.

Some rosewood species can still be logged under the new rules but will require permits issued only if the supply is deemed sustainable.