CoP17 Prop. 54

Inclusion in Appendix II of 13 timber species of the genus Dalbergia native toMexico and Central America without annotation: Dalbergia calderonii; D. calycina,
D. congestiflora, D. cubilquitzensis, D. glomerata, D. longepedunculata, D. luteola,
D. melanocardium, D. modesta, D. palo-escrito, D. rhachiflexa, D. ruddae,
D. tucurensis
Proponent: Mexico
Note: The entire genus Dalbergia apart from those already included in Appendix I or II is the subject ofProposal 55. Discussion of the genus as a whole is included in the analysis of that proposal.
Summary: There are 20 Dalbergia species found in Mexico, six of which are endemic. Of the total, 15
produce high quality timber; two are already listed in Appendix II (D. retusa and D. stevensonii), theremainder are proposed here for listing in Appendix II.
Timber produced by many species of Dalbergia, often known as ‘rosewood’, is valued for the beauty,
durability and physical properties of the wood; it is consequently in demand in international trade (seeanalysis for Proposal 55). None of the 13 species currently proposed for listing is named in the National
Hongmu Standard of 33 species1, or in the Chinese Industrial Hardwood Standard 2.
There is little information on the populations and trade in most of the species. Regeneration of many
Dalbergia species is considered slow3. Mexico has now carried out risk assessments for the populations ofMexico.
Dalbergia calderonii occurs in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. This species is rare andslow growing, and occurs in a region with high deforestation. Mexico considers its population endangeredand El Salvador has assessed it as threatened.
Dalbergia calycina occurs in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and Nicaragua. No data
are available on the volume of trade; exports from Guatemala (which listed its population in Appendix III)
were reported in 20144. Known to occur in a number of protected areas, there are no specific data relating to
the population size of this taxon, however, it is considered to be rare in Nicaragua and assessed as
threatened by Mexico. In 2012 IUCN classified the species as of Least Concern.
Dalbergia congestiflora is distributed in Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador, it is currently considered
endangered in Mexico, but according to the most recent assessment it now qualifies as subject to special
protection.
Dalbergia cubilquitzensis occurs in Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua.
Mexico considers this species endangered. No data are available on the volume of trade; exports from
Guatemala (which has listed the species in Appendix III) were reported in 2014 4.
Dalbergia glomerata is reported to occur in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico, although
Mexico considers that it is endemic and the populations elsewhere are D. congestiflora. It was listed inAppendix III by Guatemala in 2015 and, according to the CITES Trade Database, since then 42m 3 of sawn
wood have been reported as exported from Honduras to Taiwan (Province of China). The species isharvested for timber; populations are believed to be declining as a result. Also believed to be affected bydecline in area and quality of habitat as a result of conversion to agriculture. Road construction is making
areas more accessible for logging5. Classified as in need of special protection in Mexico and as Vulnerableby IUCN (2012).
Dalbergia longepedunculata occurs in Honduras and Mexico; considered endangered by Mexico.
Dalbergia luteola occurs in Guatemala and Mexico and Guatemala; considered endangered in Mexico.
Dalbergia melanocardium occurs in El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico; considered endangered inMexico.
Dalbergia modesta endemic to Mexico where it is considered threatened.

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CoP17 Prop. 54
Dalbergia palo-escrito is endemic to Mexico where it is considered threatened, this species is in highdemand for the manufacture of classical guitars and is subject to selective logging6.
Dalbergia rhachiflexa is endemic to Mexico where it is considered threatened.
Dalbergia ruddae occurs in Costa Rica and Mexico; considered threatened in Mexico.
Dalbergia tucurensis naturally occurs in Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua;
introduced into Costa Rica. Nicaragua listed the species in Appendix III in 2014 and Guatemala added its
population in 2015; the CITES Trade Database records just over 29,000m3 in trade, mainly from Nicaragua
to East Asia. Considered endangered by Mexico.
The 13 species proposed for listing in Appendix II have timber that is similar to that of species already listed
in Appendix II from the same geographical region. Enforcement of the current listing is difficult due toproblems in species identification. Trade is often reported at genus level and enforcement officers do nothave a quick and easy technique to identify to species level. Under laboratory conditions, there areidentification tests that can be done to species level but they are both costly and complicated. There is also
reported to be illegal trade in Dalbergia species in the region.
For a broader discussion of trade in Dalbergia species see analysis of Proposal 55.
With no annotation, all parts and derivatives, live or dead, would be regulated. Most current Dalbergia listings
have annotations (#5 and #6) that variously include logs, sawn wood and veneer sheets and plywood.
However Proposal 53 notes that in a review of the trade in D. cochinchinensis a large portion of the trade in"rosewood" species from eastern Asia is currently in the form of secondary processed products, particularlyfurniture. The traders can crudely process the timber in the source country and then export it as furniture tocircumvent the control. That proposal is to expand the scope of the listing by switching to annotation #4.
Analysis: The species of Dalbergia proposed here are timber-producing species that share range Stateswith two Dalbergia species that are already included in Appendix II. There is insufficient information todetermine whether any of the species proposed here meets the criteria in Annex 2a of the Resolution.
At least some of the species are known to be in trade and have timber that is difficult to distinguish from theAppendix-II listed species. Trade in timber from Dalbergia species may be reported at genus level. Thiscreates problems in the implementation of the existing Appendix-II listing. It would appear therefore thatthese species meet the criteria for inclusion in Appendix II in Annex 2b of Res. Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP16)(lookalike criteria). With no annotation proposed, all parts and derivatives, live or dead, would be regulated;
under the current Appendix-II listings for D. retusa and D. stevensonii the only products included are logs,sawn wood and veneer sheets and plywood.
References:
Information not referenced in the Summary section is from the Supporting Statement.
1 Wenbin, H. & Xiufang, S. (2013) Tropical Hardwood Flows in China: Case Studies of Rosewood and Okoumé. ForestTrends.
2 Chinese Industrial Standard of Precious Dark Color Hardwood Furniture (QB / T 2385-2008).
3 EIA (2013) Report on CoP16 Proposals: https://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/EIA-COP16Briefing_Proposals1.pdf. Viewed on 3rd July 2016.
4 CITES (2015) PC22.Doc 17.2. Report of the Working Group for Neotropical Tree Species.
5 Groom, A. (2012). Dalbergia glomerata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012.
6 Chatham House (2012) Chatham House Workshop: Tackling the Trade in Illegal Precious Woods 23-24 April 2012
Background Paper 1: Precious Woods: Exploitation of the Finest Timber Prepared by TRAFFIC.

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