CoP17 Prop 56 [Gabon and the European Union] Inclusion of Guibourtia demeusei, G. pellegriniana and G. tessmannii in Appendix II withannotation #4
All three Guibourtia species in this proposal are traded internationally as Bubinga, and as a substitute for Hongmu timbers in China. Available tradedata, often reported under trade names is rarely species specific. The species, particularly G. tessmannii and G. pellegriniana, are known to be indemand internationally for their rosewood-type timber, the market for which has grown very rapidly in Asia, particularly China, in recent years. There
are indications of illegal harvest and trade, the volume of which is not fully quantified but which may be relatively high.
While information on the species has improved in recent years, there is still insufficient data to determine if these species meet the criteria for inclusion
in Appendix II. Recent assessments in forestry concessions in Gabon found extremely low stocks of G. tessmannii and G. pellegriniana combined that
could be harvested on a sustainable basis, while inventories in Cameroon have found similarly low stocking densities. A considerably higher density ofG. demeusei has been reported in the Central African Republic, Given the evident scarcity of harvestable-sized G. tessmannii and G. pellegriniana, it islikely that current harvest for export of these species is exceeding the rate at which such trees are entering the harvestable population. This has led toprobable commercial extinction of these species and it is unlikely these species will be able to sustain the international trade. Reported harvest andexport of G. demeusei in several range States increased around 2009 and 2010, which may be associated both with increasing demand for rosewoods ingeneral at that time, and declining availability of G.tessmannii and G. pellegriniana. The trade has shifted from logs to sawn timber, due to the log exportbans for Cameroon and Gabon, and a harvest suspension for Cameroon. Illegal harvesting and illegality is suspected to continue to occur due to misdeclaration of exports.
Given the difficulties in distinguishing between G. tessmannii and G. pellegriniana, if either were to be included in Appendix II, then the other would
meet the criteria in Annex 2b of the Resolution as lookalikes. Information regarding the similarity of these species to G. demeusei is conflicting but all
three may be traded under the same generic trade name. Since there are between 14 and 16 species in the genus Guibourtia, this may lead toenforcement issues. To support strengthened international controls such as an Appendix II listing, proponent States should also consider thedevelopment of identification guides to avoid confusion between all these Guibourtia species, range States should also be encouraged to capture more
species information at harvest and in trade, including for the whole genus so as to monitor for the possibility of future substitutions with otherGuibourtia species for the market.

TRAFFIC Recommendations on the Proposals to amend the CITES appendices at CoP17

Listing of these three species in Appendix II will give added impetus to the range States to conduct non-detriment findings to ensure the sustainabilityof the trade and increase revenue from legal trade.

ACCEPT

TRAFFIC Recommendations on the Proposals to amend the CITES appendices at CoP17