CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) triennial World’s Wildlife Conference which closed today on 14th March 2013 took decisive action to protect precious timber and marine species from
overexploitation.
In a press release CITES informed that international trade in a range of rosewoods (belongs to genus Dalbergia) and ebonies (belongs to genus Dyspyros) from Asia,
Central America and Madagascar will now be regulated by the Convention.
Rapidly rising demand for these precious tropical hardwoods has led to
serious concerns that unregulated logging is depleting populations of
already rare species.
The joint programme between CITES and the International Tropical
Timber Organization (ITTO) will support the efforts of the countries
concerned to strengthen their capacities to implement the Convention. Cross-border movement of wooden musical instruments was also
addressed during the meeting. Special procedures under CITES have been
agreed for musicians and institutions travelling with musical
instruments containing precious woods such as Brazilian rosewood, and
other productes of species listed by the Convention.
