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

ITTO TECHNICAL SERIES 22

INTERNATIONAL TROPIC AL TIMBER ORGANIZATIONInternational 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

MAKING THE MAHOGANY TRADE WORK

INTERNATIONAL TROPICAL TIMBER ORGANIZATIONITTO

Making the mahogany
trade work
Report 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 Institutefor 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

ITTO

Making the mahogany trade work
Report of the workshop on capacity-building forthe implementation of the CITES Appendix-II
listing of mahogany

ITTO Technical Series No 22
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
The International Tropical Timber Organization(ITTO) is an intergovernmental organization
promoting the conservation and sustainable
management, use and trade of tropical forest
resources. Its 59 members represent more than 75%of the world’s tropical forests and 90% of the global
tropical timber trade. ITTO develops internationallyagreed policy documents to promote sustainable forest
management and forest conservation and assists
tropical 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 production
and trade of tropical timber and funds a rangeof projects and other action aimed at developing
industries at both community and industrial scales.
All projects are funded by voluntary contributions,mostly from consuming member countries. Since it
became operational in 1987, ITTO has funded morethan 700 projects, pre-projects and activities valued

at more than US$250 million. The major donors
are 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 its
policy 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 or
for the unedited report in English and Spanish (which
includes all the papers presented at the workshop),see the ITTO website (www.itto.or.jp) or contact
the ITTO office.

Cover photos
Left: W. Wust
Top 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 publication
may be reproduced in whole or in part provided
that it is not sold or put to commercial use andits source is acknowledged. Although this report
was commissioned by ITTO, ITTO does notnecessarily endorse or support the findings
or recommendations presented herein.
ISBN 4 902045 14 1

ITTO

Foreword
Mahogany 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 world
since the 16th century, while S. humilis from Central
America has been extensively used locally. Heavy
demand for both these species has resulted in declines
in their populations to the point where they are nolonger commercially available. S. macrophylla, also
known as caoba or big-leaf mahogany, is now themain true mahogany in commerce. The species has
recently become a cause célèbre in discussions on
international timber utilisation and forest
conservation policy.
After ten years of debate among parties to theConvention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), many ofwhom are also members of ITTO, and a considerable
degree of controversy, the decision was taken at the12th Conference of the Parties to CITES in 2002
to include S. macrophylla in Appendix II of theConvention. All species in the genus Swietenia
are 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 of
CITES imposes exporting, importing and monitoring
requirements on the species, which should be linked
to its sustainable management in natural forest
habitats. A key requirement is the formulation of
the so-called non-detriment finding prior to export.
The CITES listing of this valuable and somewhat
symbolic species has been operational since November
2003. 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 a
strategy for achieving exports of tropical timber andtimber products from sustainably managed sourcesby the year 2000.
National policies for sustainable forest management
are well advanced in the main producer countries
for big-leaf mahogany, but aspects of practicalimplementation remain challenging. ITTO andother international agencies are supporting progressin sustainable forest management through a wide
range of project and policy initiatives. ITTO’s
policy initiatives include facilitating debate and theexchange of practical knowledge and experiences
between member countries. One such initiative has
been 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 workshop
organized 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 CITES
non-detriment findings for mahogany exports.
Discussions at the workshop were based on theunderstanding that the determination of nondetriment findings is an individual country’s roleand that the criteria for that determination will
be set by each country in line with the broader
implementation of national forest policy. Focusing
on the key mahogany-producing countries (Bolivia,
Brazil and Peru), the workshop provided a forum
for sharing initial experiences in implementing the
Appendix-II listing of mahogany and allowed areview of capacity in key range states to effectively
implement CITES obligations with respect to thisspecies. The workshop drew on the cooperative
efforts of exporters, importers, governments andthe non-governmental community.
When the proposal to include S. macrophylla in
CITES Appendix II was approved in November
2002, CITES parties stressed that this should bea measure to promote the sustainable trade of thespecies and should not be interpreted as a trade
restriction. The challenge is now to ensure thatthe sustainability of the species is in fact enhanced.
Recommendations in this report set out the key steps
necessary to reach the goal of a sustainable mahogany
trade. ITTO urges all members of the international
community to work together towards the achievementof this crucial objective.
Manoel Sobral Filho
Executive Director
International Tropical Timber Organization

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Acronyms
ADEX

Exporters Association (Peru)

ITTO

AFOP

Annual Forest Operational
Plan (Bolivia)

International Tropical
Timber Organization

IUCN

World Conservation Union

AFOPAR

AFOP Annual Report (Bolivia)

IWPA

AIMEX

Para State Export Industry
Association (Brazil)International Wood Products
Association (USA)MCD

Minimum cutting diameter

AOP

Annual Operational Plan

MMA

APHIS

Animal and Plant HealthInspection Service (USA)Ministry for theEnvironment (Brazil)

NDF

Non-detriment finding

ASL

Local Social Groups (Bolivia)

NGO

ATFF

Technical Forest
Administration Unit (Peru)

Non-governmentalorganization

OEMA

Convention on Biological
Diversity

State Environmental
Organizations (Brazil)

OSINFOR

Forest Certificate of Origin(Bolivia)

Timber Forest Resource
Supervisory Agency (Peru)

PAPMP

Raw Material Supply andProcessing Program (Bolivia)

PPF

Permanent production forest

SENASAG

National Agricultural HealthService (Bolivia)

CBD
CFO
CITES

Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Speciesof Wild Fauna and Flora

COP

Conference of the Parties

DBH

Diameter at breast height

SIF

DEFRA

Department of Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (UK)Forest Superintendence(Bolivia)

SIF

Department of Homeland
Security (USA)Forest Information System(Peru)SIVEX

Single Export Office System(Bolivia)

SPDA

Peruvian Environmental
Law Society

TTF

Timber Trade Federation (UK)UNALM-FCF

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

UNEP-WCMC

United Nations Environment
Programme-World
Conservation Monitoring
CentreUSAID

United States Agency forInternational Development

DHS
EC

European Commission

EU

European Union

FSC

Forest Stewardship Council

FUNDEMPRESAFoundation for Enterprise
Development (Bolivia)

FWS

Fish and Wildlife Service
(USA)

GFMP

General Forest Management
Plan (Bolivia, Peru)

HPVA

Hardwood Plywood andVeneer Association (USA)HS

Harmonized System

IBAMA

Institute for Environment andNatural Resources (Brazil)

USDA

United States Departmentof Agriculture

INRENA

National Institute for
Natural Resources (Peru)

VMRNMAITTA

International Tropical
Timber Agreement

Vice-Ministry for Natural
Resources and theEnvironment (Bolivia)

WWF

Worldwide Fund for Nature

YOP

Yearly Operational Plan

ITTC

4

International Tropical
Timber Council

ITTO

Acknowledgements
ITTO gratefully acknowledges the assistance andsupport of INRENA and FONDEBOSQUE inthe convening of the workshop. We are particularly
grateful to Mr Leoncio Álvarez Vásquez, the Chiefof INRENA, for making time in his busy schedule
to enable his active participation. Mr Carlos Salinas(INRENA), Mr Enrique Toledo and Ms Martha
Puga (both of FONDEBOSQUE) all deserve credit
for the smooth conduct of the workshop, which was
due in large measure to their excellent coordination
and administration. ITTO is also grateful to Ms Sara
Oldfield and Dr Georgina Magin of Fauna & FloraInternational, who assisted with the editing of thisreport, and to UNEP-WCMC for access to the
CITES trade database. ITTO thanks all theparticipants (and especially the many traders andNGOs who attended at their own expense) for
their 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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3Acronyms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4

Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5

Executive summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

81Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

11

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

11

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

14

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

16Market reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

18

2

3

4

Bolivia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

20

Peru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

21

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

22

Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

22

UK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

22

USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

22

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

Other international perspectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

37

Trade organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

37

Environmental organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

38

Conclusion and recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

40

Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

40

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

43Annex 1: List of participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

44Annex 2: Workshop resolutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

54

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List of figures
1
2

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

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 countries
of export, for the years 1996–2002, as recorded in CITES trade statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

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

19

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

20

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

20

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

20

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

21

9Destination 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 second
meeting of the Mahogany Working Group and components of a management plan in Bolivia . . . . . . .

27

2
3
4

List of boxes
1

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

122Key points from communication issued by the CITES Secretariat on the Appendix-II
listing of mahogany (Notification to the Parties No 2003/070, 12 November 2003) . . . . . . . . . . . .

133Import requirements for mahogany in the EU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

15

4

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

165

Timber trade monitoring system in Bolivia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

24

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

25

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

31

8

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

37

9Recommendations 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 Certification
for the implementation of the CITES Appendix-II listing of mahogany in Peru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

39

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Executive summary
Swietenia macrophylla, commonly known as bigleaf mahogany or caoba, has been included inAppendix II of the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna andFlora (CITES), with effect from 15 November 2003.
CITES aims to protect listed species against overexploitation caused by international trade and toensure that this trade is sustainable. This is done
primarily through the requirements placed on
producer 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 valuable
big-leaf mahogany under the provisions of CITES
is complementary to the key objective of theInternational Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA),
which is:to enhance the capacity of members to implement a
strategy for achieving exports of tropical timber andtimber products from sustainably managed sources.
Implementing the CITES mahogany listing presents
new challenges in sustainable forest management forthe species and in controlling the international tradein its products. At its 35th Session (3–8 November
2003), the International Tropical Timber Council(ITTC) noted the imminent entry into force of the
Appendix-II listing of mahogany and heard concerns
expressed by mahogany importers and exporters
regarding the effective implementation of the listing,particularly the ability of exporters to issue reliable
non-detriment findings. Council decided (throughDecision 4(XXXV)) to sponsor a meeting of all
stakeholders to facilitate effective implementationof the Appendix-II listing.
This report presents the discussions and outcomesof the resulting ‘workshop on capacity-building for
implementation of the CITES Appendix-II listingof mahogany (S. macrophylla)’ held on 17–21 May
2004 in Pucallpa, Peru. The main objective of theworkshop was to encourage and inform practicalaction with respect to the formulation of nondetriment findings for mahogany exports, focusedon the key mahogany-producing countries: Bolivia,
Brazil and Peru. Specific objectives included
describing current market conditions for mahogany;
identifying opportunities for national inter-agency
cooperation and regional cooperation; identifying
international assistance needs; discussing common

8

approaches to monitoring; elaborating potential
private-sector actions, and facilitating the sharing
of information.
To achieve these objectives, the workshop included
presentations by the three producer countries present
and by Canada, Spain, the UK and the US,
significant mahogany importers. The workshop
provided a forum for countries to share their earlyexperiences in implementing the Appendix-II listing
and 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, participants
formed three working groups to focus on:•

monitoring activities and technicalassistance needs;•

private-sector efforts and market conditions; and•inter-agency coordination and regional
cooperation.

From the presentations it was clear that significant
progress 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 stocks
and distribution throughout the region, and on theregeneration and ecology of the species in different
circumstances. Regulatory authorities lack capacity
and resources for monitoring and control, andtransparency, communication and information
systems need to be improved.
The importing countries represented at the workshop
generally have not encountered specific problems with
the CITES Appendix-II listing of S. macrophylla.
An implementation problem for all timber species
covered by CITES is identification by customs
officials to confirm that shipments correspond with
documentation. Various identification tools havebeen developed to address this issue, as highlighted
in this report. Irregularities in permits or incorrect
paperwork can also be a significant problem for
mahogany imports, as with other CITES-listed
species. Communication is one of the key issues
for mahogany, to ensure maximum transparency
and mutual understanding of the requirements by
all parties concerned, including the private sector.

ITTO

A significant feature of the workshop was the close
relationships forged between some of the participating
NGOs and trade representatives who are working
towards helping to ensure supplies of sustainable
and legal mahogany. Some members of the tradeoffered to investigate the possibility of providing
financial assistance to producer countries to support
inventories 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 on
mahogany stocks and ecology to be incorporated
in management plans, and the role of the private
sector and the academic and scientificcommunities in obtaining such information;•

the need for improved communication,transparency and availability of information
on mahogany management and trade;•the use of chain-of-custody tools and well-definedprocedures and documentation to track
mahogany in trade; and•the development of voluntary codes of conduct
by the private sector and coalitions of buyers,
sellers and NGOs.

The workshop recommended that both national
inter-agency cooperation and regional cooperation
should be enhanced, and that additional workshops
on mahogany should be convened, especially at thenational and sub-national levels. Technical assistanceshould be sought from relevant internationalorganizations to develop and implement control
systems for mahogany, and the CITES Secretariat
should provide training on request on theimplementation of CITES listings.
The workshop also resulted in two resolutions: one
from the CITES authorities in Bolivia, Brazil andPeru, announcing their intention to form a working
group to continue regional cooperation on mahogany
management and calling for international assistanceto support their activities, and the second from anumber of organizations commending the effortsof range-state governments to implement the CITES
Appendix-II listing of mahogany and expressing
their hope that these efforts would be successful inallowing mahogany to be transferred from Appendix
II to Appendix III as soon as possible. The full textsof these resolutions are given in Annex 2.
The recommendations and resolutions of the
Pucallpa workshop were endorsed by the ITTC at
its 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 Introduction
Big-leaf mahogany, Swietenia macrophylla, is aslow-growing species that is distributed patchily at
low densities from southern Mexico through Central
America into South America as far south as Bolivia
and Brazil. It is now the most important source ofmahogany timber; Caribbean mahogany, S. mahogani,and Honduras mahogany, S. humilis, which once
supplied 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 also
showing 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 Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to consider
listing it in Appendix II of the treaty. Proposals for an
Appendix-II listing were considered at Conferencesof the Parties (COPs) in 1992, 1994 and 1997.
Although none of these proposals was accepted, several
countries did list their populations in Appendix III:
Costa Rica in 1995, Bolivia, Brazil and Mexico in 1998
and Colombia and Peru in 2001. These AppendixIII 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) agreed
to form an informal working group to examine
the status, management and trade in mahogany.
At COP11 (Nairobi, 2000) a formal CITES
Mahogany Working Group was established (Decision
No 11.4), aiming to include the participation of all
range 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 submitted
a proposal to list mahogany in Appendix II.

The proposal referred to neo-tropical populations
and was applicable to logs, sawnwood, veneer andplywood. After a secret ballot, the proposal was
adopted, with 68 votes in favour, 30 against and
14 abstentions. The listing came into force on
15 November 2003, one year after its adoption.
COP12 also agreed to maintain the Mahogany
Working Group but under a new mandate(Decision 12.21):
The Working Group shall discuss the capacities needed
for the implementation of the Appendix-II listing of
Swietenia macrophylla related to sustainable harvestand scientifically made non-detriment findings, andshall review the recommendations contained in Annex
3 to these Decisions.
This Working Group shall report to the Conferenceof the Parties at its 13th meeting.
Accordingly, the second meeting of the Mahogany
Working Group was held in Belem, Brazil in
October 2003, with ITTO support. This meeting
was 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 establish
priorities and provide practical guidance for
their implementation. The priority measures andrecommendations agreed by the Committee are
given in Box 1. The Mahogany Working Groupwill complete its mandate when it reports to
COP13 (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 species
against over-exploitation caused by international
trade and to ensure that this trade is sustainable.
The text of the Convention sets out the provisions
for 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 establish
a management authority and a scientific authority
as part of the implementation process. Key points
relating to mechanisms for international tradein mahogany under the provisions of CITES
are given in Box 2.

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Box 1 Recommendations of the 14th Plants
Committee in relation to mahogany
Management plans: the development andofficial approval of mahogany management
plans at the national and sub-regional levels
is considered to be a priority.
Inventories: it is important to promote forest
inventories and to further and promote
programs to determine and monitor the
distribution of mahogany, its population
numbers and its conservation status.
Training: it is necessary to develop training
programs on the monitoring and managementof CITES processes and documents.
Working groups: mahogany working groups
should 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 sharing
information through regional workshops,
training programs, exchange of experiences
and identification of financing sources,
among others.

The sustainable management of mahogany as
required 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 be
non-detrimental to the survival of a species is however
essential to achieving the aims of the Convention.
The requirement for the so-called non-detrimentfinding for exports of mahogany, and all other
CITES 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 has
advised that such export will not be detrimental
to the survival of that species;(b) a Management Authority of the State of export
is satisfied that the specimen was not obtainedin contravention of the laws of that State for theprotection of fauna and flora.

12

The Scientific Authority of the exporting country is
also responsible for monitoring the levels of export as
set 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 Authority
determines that the export of specimens of any suchspecies should be limited in order to maintain thatspecies throughout its range at a level consistent with
its role in the ecosystems in which it occurs and well
above the level at which that species might become
eligible for inclusion in Appendix I, the Scientific
Authority shall advise the appropriate Management
Authority of suitable measures to be taken to limit the
grant 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 way
as to allow exports on a sustained basis that will notdamage the conservation status of the species or its
ecological functioning.
Making a non-detriment finding
The manner in which a non-detriment finding is
made is a management decision for the exporting
country. The text of the Convention indicates thata non-detriment finding should be made for each
export. 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 not
be detrimental to the survival of the species.
General guidance for the development of nondetriment findings has been developed (Rosser &Haywood 2002), but until S. macrophylla was listed in
CITES 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 of
the Mahogany Working Group, at which a paper
prepared by the IUCN Global Tree Specialist
Group suggested that:
Recognizing that the information currently available isincomplete and scattered and that policies for sustainable
forest management are not yet fully in place, procedures
for NDF [non-detriment finding] development for
mahogany should be developed and refined in an
incremental way as approaches are tested, sustainable
forest management more generally is developed andinformation is built up.

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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 export
permit may be granted only if the Management Authority (as designated by the country considering
the export or re-export) is satisfied that the specimens to be exported were acquired legally and if the
Scientific 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 be
granted 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 IV
shall apply to the export or re-export of logs, sawnwood, veneer sheets and plywood of Swietenia
macrophylla. 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 species
included in Appendix III issued in compliance with Article V may be used for export before 15 November
2003. Importing countries should accept Appendix-III documents for specimens of S. macrophylla
only if the export has taken place before that date;• Re-export certificates issued on or after 15 November 2003 for specimens that had been imported
under 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-III
listing took effect on 16 November 1995, or non-veneer plywood (eg blockboard) acquired before
15 November 2003 (‘pre-Convention specimens’), requires a special certificate that indicates theprecise date of acquisition or contains a statement that acquisition occurred before the Convention
became 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 final
recommendations 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 only
contains one outer veneer of mahogany;• Confiscated specimens of mahogany should be disposed of in the best manner possible to benefit
enforcement and administration of the Convention. Steps should be taken to ensure that the person
responsible 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 itself
that 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 forest
management units from which mahogany isharvested for export. Management plans should
demonstrate provisions for the sustainable
management of the forest unit and mahogany
stocks as a prerequisite for determining thatexport will be non-detrimental; and•the monitoring of mahogany harvesting in theforest management units and timber exports
against the overall export quota.

The second meeting of the Mahogany Working
Group agreed that the forest management unit is themost appropriate for making a non-detriment finding
for mahogany and recommended that only wood
originating 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 parties
that export permits are being issued without thebenefit of effective non-detriment findings, aninternational mechanism to address the problem has
been developed. This process is known as the Reviewof Significant Trade and is established in CITES
Resolution Conf. 12.8.
Both the Animals and Plants committees of CITES
have a specific mandate to identify Appendix-II
species 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 punitive
measures, including trade restrictions or bans, where
there are problems with the implementation of theprovisions of Article IV in particular range states.
However, individual exporting countries can also
receive assistance to undertake field studies, as well as
to develop the technical and administrative capacity
necessary to implement the requirements of Article
IV if these are lacking. Implicit in the process is the

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fact that the species remains in Appendix II rather
than being moved to Appendix I. This allows therange state to remain in control of trade and torecommence or continue the sustainable
exploitation 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 ports
without the correct documentation, and in reportingon levels of trade. Some importing countries have
imposed stricter domestic controls than those required
under the Convention; for example, the system for
CITES implementation in the European Union(EU) is given in Box 3.

Mahogany and ITTO
ITTO has undertaken a number of activities
relevant to the CITES Appendix-II listing of
mahogany. The context for these activities includes
Objective (a) of the International Tropical Timber
Agreement (ITTA):
To provide an effective framework for consultation,international cooperation and policy development among
all 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 a
strategy for achieving exports of tropical timber andtimber products from sustainably managed sources by
the year 2000.
Such activities are also relevant to Action 7 ofGoal 2 of the Economic Information and Market
Intelligence section of the ITTO Yokohama Action
Plan 2002–2006, which seeks to encourage andassist members, where appropriate, to (amongst
other things):
Identify trade barriers, shortcomings in forest law
enforcement and other factors that may affect the accessand marketability of tropical timber, and propose
measures 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 Community
wildlife trade regulations. EU Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the Protection of Species of Wild
Fauna 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 compatible
with the survival of the species or local populations, or because they pose an
ecological 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 into
the 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 new
Commission regulations. Commission Regulation (EC) No 1497/2003 of 18 August 2003 amending
EC Regulation No 338/97 was published in the (official) European Journal on 27 August 2003, featuring
S. macrophylla on Annex B with the annotation that this inclusion would come into force on
15 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 permits
for the European Community. As recommended in the Convention, permits must be issued before
shipment should take place. Import permits are issued in accordance with Article 4 of EC Regulation
No 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 the
Scientific Review Group (made up of members of national CITES scientific authorities), is of
the opinion that the introduction into the Community would not have a harmful effect on
the conservation status of the species or on the extent of the territory occupied by the relevant
population of the species, taking account of the current or anticipated level of trade. This opinion
shall be valid for subsequent imports as long as the above-mentioned aspects have not changed
significantly;• the Management Authority is satisfied, following consultation with the competent Scientific
Authority, that there are no other factors relating to the conservation of the species which militate
against 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 the
CITES 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 ITTC
made a decision concerning cooperation between
ITTO 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), the
ITTC noted the imminent entry into force of the
Appendix-II listing of mahogany and heard concerns
expressed by both importers and exporters ofmahogany regarding the effective implementationof the listing, particularly the ability of exporters

to issue reliable non-detriment findings. Council
decided (through Decision 4(XXXV)) to sponsor
a meeting of all stakeholders to facilitate effective
implementation of the Appendix-II listing.
The resulting workshop on capacity-building for
implementation of the CITES Appendix-II listingof mahogany was convened on 17–21 May 2004
in Pucallpa, Peru (a key mahogany processing andtransit point) with the assistance of the Peruvian
National Institute for Renewable Resources(INRENA).

The Pucallpa workshop
The overarching purpose of the workshop was toencourage and inform practical action with respect
to 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 between
ITTO, CITES, and the CITES Timber Working Group;
Noting that ITTO has, in recent years, attended meetings of and provided inputs to the CITES
Mahogany 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 II
listing 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 CITES
Mahogany 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 range
States 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 significant
mahogany exporters to develop and submit projects to facilitate the effective implementation of the
Appendix-II listing; and4. 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 contributions
are not received by 31 July 2003, the Executive Director is requested to use funds from the SubAccount B of the Bali Partnership Fund.

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producing countries, and drawing on the cooperative
efforts of exporters, importers, governments and thenon-governmental organization (NGO) community.
The workshop was based on the understandingthat the determination of non-detriment findings
is an individual country’s role and that the criteria
for that determination will be set by each country.
The workshop provided a forum for countries toshare their early experiences in implementing the
Appendix-II listing and allowed a review of capacity
in key range states to effectively implement CITES
obligations 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 activities
countries may find useful, including
approaches, technologies and timing;
Objective 3: identify actions that the private sector(industry and NGOs) can take toreinforce and support efforts to use
CITES to manage trade in mahogany;
Objective 4: identify opportunities for coordination
across relevant agencies within
producing countries;
Objective 5: identify regional cooperation activities
to aid implementation, including
technical assistance and resources;
Objective 6: identify areas of need fortechnical assistance;

Objective 7: share information on issues of
relevance to importing countries; andObjective 8: share information on relevantinternational developments.
Over 80 participants were involved in the workshop.
These represented seven countries (including the
major mahogany exporting and importing nations),
seven NGOs, twelve trade/business concerns,
and four international organizations (including
representatives of the ITTO and CITES secretariats);
The full list of participants is contained in Annex
1. The agenda included presentations by the main
exporting/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 regional
cooperation.

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

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2

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 all
timber processing.

2 Market reviews
Mahogany is the most valuable Latin American
timber; maintaining a sustainable trade in it isimportant to national economies within the region
and to the broader development of sustainable
forest management. Market information, in turn,is important for the planning of sustainable mahogany
production. This section contains information
presented at the workshop from exporting or key
importing 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 countries
are often weak or non-existent. The primary problem inmany producer countries is the lack of a comprehensive

Since the listing of S. macrophylla in CITES
Appendix III and more recently in Appendix II,
trade data for the species has been generated
by the licensing processes of the CITES parties.
As a general introduction to this section, tables 1–4
provide a summary of recent trade information
on mahogany compiled through CITES reporting
processes. It should be noted, however, that there
are deficiencies in all aspects of reporting to
CITES and these data cannot give a fully accurate
representation of levels of trade; this is demonstrated
by the discrepancies that exist between the data
presented 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

BrazilPeru

101,473

94,74443,43854,961

39,8574448

10,893

20,72051,48733,048Bolivia
Nicaragua

25,98927,963

20,1598520

10,54917,106

19,029

5773

5165

3863

Guatemala

2100

1687

1098

406

2716

Belize

1931

233

125

2326

2030

Mexico

2266

497

271

168

–

885

880

1324

Honduras

2001

2002

mean

40,413

41,18359,43841,40050,42930,3467613

4596

15,056

5991

7278

9172

3135

2483

1946

709

1173

1218

–

2473

589

895

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 years
1996–2002, 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

Brazil78

17,1303408
13,420 m2

5055

3621
789,081 m2

4468

3508
28 m2

5324

Mexico

31

24

–

44

44
12,636 m2

–

–

20

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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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

54,45573,84674,48589,16170,601

85,615

68,63273,828

Dominican Republic

10,214

10,6435163

17,771

14,165

9911

16,61012,068

UK

16,832

1739

4167

5664

2741

2922

1136

5029

10

28

102

278

344

–

21,2243141

Canada
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, with
re-export data excluded

Table 4 Annual volumes of S. macrophylla veneer imported, by the main countries of import, for the years
1996–2002, as recorded in CITES trade statistics
Annual import of mahogany veneer (m3; m2 where indicated)
Country of import

1996

1997

1999

2000

2001

2002

mean

USA

31

17,024

1998
2546

3182

2511
789,081 m2

3178

2037

4358

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
12,636 m2

50

77
28 m2

39

Taiwan

–

–

5

54

34

20

78

27

China

–

–

–

–

–

63

109

25

Belgium––

6
13,420 m2

50

46

48

5

22

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

country reports that follow. No CITES data are yetavailable for mahogany plywood because plywood
was only included in reporting with the uplisting of
mahogany to CITES Appendix II in November 2003.
The remainder of this section provides summaries
from 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 1998
the Forest Superintendence (SIF) has authorised
mahogany volumes to be logged mainly on thebasis of management plans for four kinds of users:

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forest concessions, native community lands, private
properties and long-term contracts. The volumes
authorised for logging each year are given in Table 5;although there are variations, in the past few years(2001–2003) the volume has been approximately
10,000 m3.

The USA was the main buyer of mahogany from
Bolivia in 1998–2003, consuming 87% of mahogany
exports under CITES certificates. Other destinations
include 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 imported
only 1% of the total volume of Bolivian mahogany.

The annual volume of mahogany exported is shownin Table 6. The annual average volume of exports
between 1998 and 2003 was 9,786 m3, almost twelve
times 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.

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

Although no data are available for the illegalmahogany trade, the situation has improved greatly
since the implementation of the 1997 Forestry Law.
CITES and Bolivian data are very similar for the last
two reporting periods, proving that there is a healthy
level of coordination between the two responsible
institutions.

A series of legislative measures in Brazil has limited
the harvesting and trade of mahogany. Biannual
export 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

12,1525213

10,5748524

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)

14,4608520

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

51,090Dominican 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

14,4608520

10,493

7405

8334

9504

–

TOTAL

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

Volume exported (m3)

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

12,33826,323

41,48352,78351,267

32,84352,13542,844these quotas were exceded in some years. The issuingof new authorizations for mahogany harvesting has
been suspended since 1996, and a decree in the same
year required that mahogany for export must comeexclusively from forests with sustainable forest
management plans approved by the country’s
Institute for Environment and Natural Resources(IBAMA). In 2001, following continued problems
with regulation of the trade, all mahogany logging
and trade was halted. New measures to regulatemahogany logging and trade have been developed in
Brazil (see page 29), but at the time of the Pucallpa
workshop, trade was yet to be resumed. Nonetheless,
CITES trade statistics show mahogany exports in 2001
and 2002 (see Table 1), and the USA reported receiving
shipments of mahogany from Brazil in 2003/2004(see page 22).

Mahogany sawnwood production in Peru was lessthan 10,000 m3 in the 1950s, increasing slowly but
steadily until 1974. Production levels varied between
15,000 m3 and 57,000 m3 between 1975 and 1993.
From 1994, production accelerated, peaking in 1995
with a record 101,386 m3 before falling to 48,000 m3
in 1997, when only the export of parts and pieces
was allowed. Between 2001 and 2003, reported
mahogany sawnwood production levels fell further.

Table 9 Destination of mahogany sawnwood
exports from Peru in 2002
Country
USA

Volume (m3)
43,835

Dominican Republic

6946

Denmark

273

Peru

Sweden214

The main export product of Peru’s forest industry
is sawnwood, accounting for about two-thirds offoreign exchange earnings from the export of timberover the last few years. Exports increased steadily
up 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 value
accounted for by mahogany has increased over thelast few years, and it now represents around 80%of the total value of sawnwood exports.

Mexico193

Others (five countries)

410

The volume of mahogany exported in 1996–2003
is shown in Table 8. As a result of the export ban
imposed by Brazil and the high price of Bolivian
mahogany, exports experienced a boom in 2002, rising
to 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 mahogany
sawnwood exports from Peru in 2002. The USA is
the main mahogany sawnwood importing country,

Table 10 Major Peruvian mahogany exporters, 2003
Volume (m3)

FOB Value (US$)

9770

9,896,966

Maderera Vulcano SAC

8374

10,499,326

Transforestal C.C.C. SAC

4631

4,578,875

ExporterMaderera Bozoviich SAC

Procesos Industriales Madereros SAC

3927

4,381,695

Others

16,142

17,706,581

Total

42,84447,063,443

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accounting for 85% of exports in 2002. It is followed
in importance – but very distantly in volume –by the Dominican Republic, at around 13%.
As a result of the mahogany export boom, exporters
have increased their influence over all mahogany
producing areas. They are now at the top of an
economic pyramid supported by transactions andexchanges of all types, including fair and equitable
practices, but also abusive and corrupt practices,where the lower social classes only benefit fromthe opportunity to work under very unfavourable
conditions. Table 10 shows the main Peruvian
mahogany exporting companies in 2003.

CanadaS. macrophylla is, for the most part, imported to
Canada as a re-export from the USA. The quantities
traded 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 major
import form, with limited veneer quantities also
received. In 2002, it was estimated that Canada
imported roughly 1% of the total global
S. macrophylla trade.

Spain
Spain mainly imports S. macrophylla as sawnwood
and 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 to
the EU market, and the timber is not re-exported.
There has been an increase in recorded import
volumes in recent years. However, this is probably
not due to an increase of imports in real terms but
rather to improved control systems and, therefore,
to improved recording procedures for imports.

UKThe UK used to be the main market for
S. macrophylla in Europe, when the main supplying
country was Brazil. Imports peaked at the end of
the 1980s and early 1990s at about 100,000 m3 ofsawnwood. From then on they declined continuously
to 4,000 m3 after Brazil’s ban on mahogany
exploitation in 2001. According to UNEP-WCMC,

22

total EU imports in the years 2000–2001 were lessthan 7,000 m3. Currently, imports into the UK are as
low as only several hundred cubic meters. According
to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs (DEFRA), which is the CITES Management
Authority in the UK, three import applications witha total volume of less than 100 m3 have been received
since 15 November 2003. The few UK companies
that still offer mahogany mainly rely on their own
older stock.
The decline in the volume of mahogany imported
into the UK is due largely to increased prices,with limited availability pushing prices to about
US$1,200 per m3. According to traders in Britain,
the restricted availability and high prices are not
likely to change and the remaining growing stockof mahogany is not of a commercially interesting
magnitude. In addition, regardless of CITES
certification, mahogany is controversial inenvironmental terms or embodies reputational risk to
UK merchants. Therefore, most of the British tradesees little or no potential for S. macrophylla tradein the near future, and many companies formerly
involved 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 for
the timber, but supply has shifted progressively toSouth America. By the late 1990s, Brazil was thelargest supplier to the USA, but since Brazil has
imposed restrictions on mahogany trade, Bolivia andPeru have taken over as the main source countries.
Approximately 204 shipments of mahogany were
imported by the USA between 15 November 2003
(the effective date of the Appendix-II listing) and
15 May 2004. One hundred and twenty of these hadan export date of 15 November 2003 or later and were
exported under CITES Appendix II; 21 were from
Bolivia, two were from Brazil, and 60 were from Peru
and the remaining 37 shipments were from Belize,
Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua.
Data on volumes are not yet available.

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3 Experience to date with
CITES 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 the
implementation of CITES. With the Appendix-II
listing in place for six months, producers were able
to review experiences and identify needs.
Significant progress has already been made in meeting
the requirements of Appendix II for mahogany, but
in each country further work is considered necessary.
While the legislative and regulatory framework varies
between the three represented producer countries,
common issues prevent the development of a robust
non-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 different
circumstances. Regulatory authorities lack capacity
and resources for monitoring and control, andtransparency, communication and information
systems need to be improved. Recommendations
were developed during the workshop for actions
to 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 the
implementation 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 sustainable
management and protection of forest and forest
lands are issues of public interest, and their regulationis universally and compulsorily enforceable. Any
forest right granted to private persons is subject toreversal in the case of failure to comply with official
regulations and conditions.
The Bolivian Forest Act was enacted in 1997.

Under Section 19 of the Act, the national forest
regime is managed by the Ministry for Sustainable
Development as the governing body, SIF as theregulatory body, and the National Fund for Forest
Development as the financing body. Prefectures andmunicipal councils complement and contribute to theregime in a supporting role, strengthening municipal
forest 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 lands
for the benefit of present and future generations,harmonising the social, economic and ecologicalinterests of the nation. The objectives of the law
include the following:•

to promote the establishment of sustainable
and efficient forest activities so as to contributeto the achievement of national socioeconomic
development targets;•to achieve improved sustainable forest resourceyields while ensuring the conservation of
ecosystems, biodiversity and the environment;•

to improve access to forest resources and theirbenefits for the entire population, in strict
compliance with protection and sustainability
standards; and•to promote forest research, as well as thedissemination of research results, for the benefit
of 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 regulates
the logging of forests by private and community
owners, such as indigenous peoples with community
lands. At present, over 2.1 million hectares aremanaged by these new users, out of the total ofnearly 8 million hectares that are currently under
forest management.
The Forestry Law includes regulations and technicalstandards for forest management. The following issues
required 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, which
are a function of the logging cycle. The GFMP
must be updated every five years;•

restriction of the logging of species with fewer
than 0.25 specimens per hectare, or the so-called
rare 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 trees
with 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 as
wildlife food. Census of all commercial species
in 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. AFOPs
include maps indicating the location of trees tobe logged and trees to be left standing, possible
collection areas, and planning of major andsecondary roads;•

establishment of permanent monitoring plots
to determine the impact of logging on forest
dynamics and yield; and•the application of silvicultural treatments
as required.

SIF has fixed and mobile control posts, and carriesout random forest inspections of the areas under
forest management. SIF will also conduct five-yearly
audits 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 5
and 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 Sustainable
Development. Within the Vice-ministry, the24

Box 5 Timber trade monitoring system
in Bolivia
All along the production chain, the timberfrom any species is accompanied by various
certificates of origin (CFO) issued by SIF.
For the purposes of this report, three kindsof CFOs will be mentioned: CFO1, CFO2
and CFO4.
CFO1 – used to transport logs from the logging
area to processing centres. The number of CFO1s
issued by SIF to a forest company will dependon the volume reported in its AFOP.
CFO2 – required to trade processed boards
to other processing centres.
CFO4 – only required by processing centres
that produce boards for export, or exporting
companies without processing centres.
SIF monitors volumes logged by producers
by 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 material
supply and processing program (PAPMP) andsubmit quarterly reports to SIF. Quarterly
reports include the origin and volume oftimber entering the processing centre as logs
and the volume leaving the centre as boards
either for the domestic market (CFO2) orfor export (CFO4). Export companies use
a similar procedure.

task has been delegated to the General Office for
Biodiversity. The CITES scientific authority is the
National Museum of Natural History. Both theManagement Authority and the Scientific Authority
coordinate their activities with SIF and with theSingle Exports Office System (SIVEX).
For a company to be able to export mahogany
sawnwood, laminated sheets and veneer, it mustregister once with the CITES office, providing the
documentation listed in Box 6. Once registered,
the company may request a CITES export licenceby submitting the appropriate documentation(see Box 6). The Management Authority will
send the documents to the Scientific Authority forassessment, and the CITES licence will be issued
within five days at the latest (three days in general).

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Box 6 Document requirements for CITES
licence applications in Bolivia
Documents required for company
registration 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 reports
submitted to SIF;
– accreditation of its legal representative;– legalised copies of the Single Annual
Registry and Single Exports Registry, and– legalised copy of its registration with
FUNDEMPRESA.
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.

Since the CFO4 accompanies any timber to beexported from Bolivia, it is the basic document
required by the CITES management and scientificauthorities to issue a CITES licence. The management
and scientific authorities verify the information
provided in the CFO4, checking with the PAPMP(see Box 5) and the quarterly reports. In order toimprove information flow between the Management
Authority and SIF, a real-time internet communication
network has been set up between CITES, SIVEX
and the local office of SIF in La Paz. This makes it
possible to check compliance with the requirementsof each institution for mahogany exports. The
implementation 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 least
some of the Appendix-II requirements were alreadybeing met under the Appendix-III listing. According
to TRAFFIC, the introduction of the Forestry Law
in 1997 has “facilitated the development andrestructuring of government institutions andmechanisms which are contributing to more
effective forest management, harvest and tradecontrols” (TRAFFIC 2001). The implementationof the Forestry Law has resulted in integrated forest
utilisation, and there has been a considerable
reduction in the pressure exerted on the mostvaluable species such as mahogany, which represented
only 0.55% of the volume logged in 2002 (SIF 2003).
To assist with the introduction of the Appendix-II
listing, a national workshop on capacity-building
for the implementation of the CITES Appendix-II
listing of mahogany was held in the city of Santa
Cruz 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 exported
should come from areas under a management plancontaining at least the components listed in Table
11. As the table shows, most of these components
are 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 dynamics
of the species is lacking, and resources to carry out
this kind of study are not available. Studies on theabundance and dynamics of mahogany would help
determine suitable management tools (logging cycle,
intensity of use, MCD) for sustainable use under
different conditions (low or high density of specimens,varying environmental conditions, indiscriminately
logged areas or areas logged according to current
regulations). Studies suggest that these variables
have an impact on mahogany density, survival rates
and growth rates, and it is therefore important thatthey are incorporated into non-detriment findings.
Since the density and stand structure of the species
varies within its range, setting a production quota
for each producer is not considered appropriate.
The second meeting of the Mahogany Working
Group also recommended that non-detrimentfindings should contain information on silvicultural
treatments, regular audit systems, and mechanisms
to ensure long-term implementation of the forest

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Figure 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
Forest Superintendence
In charge of authorisations,monitoring, field inspections, audits
CFO issue
Submissionof AFOP and
AFOPAR

CFO
monitoring,issue

Submissionof PAPMP andquarterly reports

Timber production (1) CF01
Processing centre (1)Timber from forest
Timber is processed
concessions andto a certain level
private properties,
based on a GFMP

Timber producer(2, 3, …)

SENASAG
Phytosanitary

CF02

CF04
monitoring,issue

Exporter (1)Purchases timberfrom one or several
processing centres

Processing centre(2, 3, …)Exporter (2, 3, …)Exporters'
PAPMPs26

Documents required,including CF04
and CITES licence

ExportIssue of
CITES license

Documents
required, including
other CF04
Scientific authority
Based at the
National Museumof Natural History

management plan. Bolivia has experience withvarious silvicultural methods to promote tree growthand natural and artificial regeneration, and this could
be incorporated into the non-detriment finding. The
country already has a monitoring and control system
for areas under forest management, implemented
by SIF, and this system could be the basis for thedevelopment of a specific and more detailed system
for mahogany logging. The Scientific Authority
and SIF have shown an interest in working jointly
on this subject once the necessary resources become
available. There are also incentives to ensure longterm implementation of management plans. These
include the granting of 40-year concessions renewable
every five years, the incentives for gaining FSC
certification, and the exemption of private properties
under forest management from land tax. However,
the issue of land tenure has not been settled in the
country, and this represents a risk to long-term
forest management.

SIVEX
Export permit,
document check,
export statistics
by item

CITES office
Management
Authority basedat VMRNMA

In order to make progress towards the formulationof non-detriment findings, it is important tomake financial resources available to the Scientific
Authority so that it can carry out necessary studies
and establish a multidisciplinary working groupfor the joint review of this subject.
Problems
Problems identified during the Santa Cruz meeting
include the following:•

the Management Authority and Scientific
Authority offices are located in the city of La Paz;
they have little information on the mahogany
production chain to qualify them to certify
timber for export. The CFO4 and the PAPMP
are issued or approved by SIF. Both CITES
authorities are therefore only able to certify
the work done by SIF;

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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 andsub-commercial trees (AFOP)

Prepared on the basis of the forest census, including location of rivers, topographicalfeatures and roads. Maps are attached to the AFOP. No mapping is done for subcommercial trees

Selection of seed trees and minimum
density per hectare after logging

20% of commercial trees are left untouched, numbered and mapped. A symbol is painted
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
trees destined for future logging

Not done. There are permanent plots in different regions of the country to monitor the forest
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

the Management Authority is unable to impose
direct sanctions on the exporter when it detects
irregularities in the CFO4 because it lacks
the relevant mechanisms (S. Arias, CITESManagement Authority, pers. comm.). The
Management Authority is only able to returnthe document to SIF, which will then analyse
the situation and impose the sanction on theoffender. It is therefore important that theManagement Authority has adequate
coordination channels with SIF;
there is no non-detriment finding yet todetermine the mahogany volume that can belogged without damaging the natural stand. At
this point in time, the Scientific Authority only
confirms that the logging has been done in forests
under management plans and forest operational
plans based on the commercial census approved
by SIF;SIF is part of the Renewable Natural Resources
Regulation System and, as such, has had an
important 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 production
chain (from tree-cutting to its final marketingin domestic or foreign markets) will require thedesign of more efficient control mechanisms
for some of the links in the production chain.
SIF has been working on the identificationof problematic links, which include:– a lack of accurate information on performanceat the time of timber-processing,– the difficulties encountered in tracing timber
once it has been processed and sold to different
consumers, and– the lack of formality of processing centres
and of some exporting companies;•

SIF is keenly interested in continuing with thiswork, but it needs far greater support (mainly
financial) to enable it to have suitable control
tools for the entire production chain; and•Bolivia signed the Agreement to become aparty to the CITES Convention on 23 December
1974 and ratified it through Supreme Decree
No 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 discussed
during the Santa Cruz meeting, which will help
find solutions to the problems identified:•the General Office for Biodiversity and the
CITES office are studying the possibility ofdecentralizing the roles of the Management
Authority and the Scientific Authority. Thispossibility has been discussed at different levels
and 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 Ministry for Sustainable Development hasa regulatory role through the General Office for
Biodiversity, while SIF is in charge of monitoring
and control. The Scientific Authority could be
decentralised at the taxa level in order to finda better option in scientific capacity terms.
It is essential, however, that both the Scientific
Authority 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 control
mechanisms. For example, the difficulty indefining the precise origin of timber through thecurrent system is due to the fact that processing
centres are able to purchase timber from various
producers who can sell to many processing centres
at the same time. Therefore, two years ago SIF
introduced the use of a single ‘authorization
code’ for each producer, processing centre andexporting company. This code must be included
in quarterly reports submitted to SIF and in the
CFOs. However, follow-up and assessment are
required to ensure that the code is fully adopted
throughout the entire production chain. In
addition, regular inspections of companies put
a focus on the control of logging of valuablespecies (including mahogany), and five-yearly
audits to be carried out this year for most areas
under 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 implement
cross-checking mechanisms among institutions
such as SIF, the CITES office, SIVEX andSENASAG by means of a real-time intranet
connection. This connection will make itpossible to monitor compliance with mahogany
export 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 introduced
to other departments;
another important step taken by SIF is thebanning of the export authorization of timber
originating from an illegal act that has been

28

seized and sold at auction. In such cases, therelevant CFO4 is not issued (SIF Administrative
Resolution 50/2002); and•the country has the technical capacity to study
the dynamics of mahogany stands in sites witha high concentration of the species. Further
permanent plots could be set up that, together
with those already established by companies
and other institutions, could help monitor the
impact of mahogany logging more efficiently.

National strategya) Identification of cross-sectoral synergies
The recognition of problematic links in the
mahogany production chain has allowed theidentification of the sectors involved and the steps
needed to implement the monitoring of mahogany
logging and trade, and to speed up the permit
procedure. The following issues were discussed
at the Santa Cruz meeting:•there is a need to continue the decentralization
process of CITES authorities. This must be a
gradual process with a clear and agreed joint
policy involving the various stakeholders of
this sector. Institutions assuming the role ofManagement Authority and Scientific Authority
must be highly credible;•

the Scientific Authority needs institutional
support and a minimum of financial resources
to be able to adequately fulfil its role;•

SIF and the Scientific Authority have shown
their willingness and interest in working jointly
towards field checking to verify that exported
mahogany timber really does come from wellmanaged areas (production chain). Funds must
be made available to cover the cost of such work;•

financial resources are essential to improve
inter-institutional synergies for institutions
currently involved in the mahogany production
chain. Such funds would cover ongoing training
costs for various stakeholders (approximate cost:
US$40,000), minimum operational expensesof the Scientific Authority (approximate cost:
US$15,000/year), implementation of an internet
communication network (US$50,000) andoperation and maintenance expenses for thecommunication network (US$25,000/year).
This communication network would help
monitor the progress of the implementationof the CITES agreement; and

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•

there is a need to train stakeholders involved in
the 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 producers
and importers
For the implementation of the CITES Appendix-II
listing of mahogany to be really effective there must
be a sense of shared responsibility among producer
and consumer countries.
The adequate control of the mahogany production
chain requires countries to have access to information
generated by importer countries. In this way, national
CITES offices can cross-check information andestablish whether mahogany is leaving their country
without the relevant CITES documentation. This
information exchange may be implemented withreasonable ease, since major exit ports and buyers
are 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 irregularities
in the logging of mahogany in border areas,
but official information has been lacking. It is
recommended that such reports be made formallyand with the relevant evidence to facilitate inspections
by the authorities of the countries involved.
Moreover, agreements should be drafted between
equivalent 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 of
mahogany management instruments, and controlof the mahogany production chain.
Conclusions
Bolivia has made significant progress in theimplementation of the Appendix-III and now
Appendix-II listings of mahogany. Since theForestry Law was enforced, exported mahogany
volumes have decreased substantially, which isevidence of a major improvement in the regulationand control of forest utilisation. The existence of

the Forestry Law has made it easier for many areas
to obtain certification under Forest StewardshipCouncil (FSC) criteria, which contributes not
only to mahogany management but also to thesustainable management of the forest as a whole.
Despite its financial and logistic limitations, SIF
has maintained a presence in the main mahogany
production areas, as well as in major access points.
SIF has also identified problematic links in thetimber production chain and launched a process
to remedy failures. This is encouraging, not only
for the control of the mahogany production chain
but also for the control of any species.
The management and scientific authorities forthe implementation of CITES in Bolivia have had
a 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 CITES
authorities’ roles has also been initiated, which will
be 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 been
forthcoming for the country, several research
initiatives are under way to help provide informationon the dynamics of mahogany under different
ecological and disturbance conditions. However,
it is important to continue developing more studies
and monitoring the response of mahogany stands
that are subject to logging, so that a robust nondetriment finding can be made.

BrazilThere has been an inter-institutional and multidisciplinary discussion of the mahogany issue
involving IBAMA technicians and experts inmahogany ecology, management and genetic
conservation. Specific legislation has been established
for the development of forest management plans that
regulate the logging of mahogany. It covers specificecological and silvicultural issues that are relevant to
the 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 been
submitted in the states of Acre and Rondônia, andthese are under technical and legal review. The reviews
are carried out by the Inter-Agency TechnicalCommission (consisting of the regional IBAMA
office, 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 the
management and scientific authority. Relevant
legislative documents for issuing CITES permits
are a regulation of 3 January 2004, and standardsof 17 April 2004.
The CITES Scientific Authority is under the
responsibility of IBAMA's General Forest Resource
Management Coordination Department. A ScientificCommittee made up of 5–7 experts has been formed
to assist in the implementation of the Appendix-II
listing and to provide support to the Authority.
Two experts will accompany a field visit as part ofthe mahogany harvesting process (as stipulated in
the management plan). The experts’ findings will be
submitted to the Scientific Committee, and the final
conclusions of the Committee will be forwarded to the
Scientific Authority for consideration and decision.
The Management Authority is under the
responsibility of the Forest Directorate of IBAMA.
Several procedures in Brazil help with theimplementation of the Appendix-II listingof mahogany. The standards regulating forest
management for the harvesting of mahogany are
unique and include specific requirements for logging
in accordance with CITES regulations. The marketingof mahogany from clearing permits has been banned
for a period of five years (Decree No 4722 of 5 June
2003). Chain-of-custody monitoring is achieved
through submission of an official statement on all
stages 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 the
Appendix-II listing
Legislation on mahogany harvesting and trade isavailable on the internet in Brazil. An information
system for the issuing of CITES permits is currently

30

being tested. This would include the ability to request
CITES permits on-line and would facilitate thetracking of the permit process from the request to
issuing 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 the
CITES Management Authority in the importing
country containing the permit number, CITES
stamp number, exported volume and date of issue.
No progress has been made regarding regional forest
inventories; the populations to be managed are still
to be mapped. Undertaking forest inventories is clearly
important, and these should include not only
mahogany but also other species. These inventories
should be used as a tool for forest zoning, forest
management subsidies and the planning ofgovernment actions.
A total of 50 technicians will be trained on timber
identification, focusing firstly on those who workat the ports so that timber species are not exported
under false names. A timber identification manual
will be developed to support monitoring activities.
Technicians from other producer countries will be
invited for the training on timber identification.
An ad-hoc working group was established in Brazil
in 2003 to address the issue of mahogany forest
management. The findings of this group are
available at www.mma.gov.br. IBAMA and MMA
have technicians involved in the implementationof proposals. These technicians meet as required
to 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 includes
permanent production forest (PPF), in which forest
concessions for harvesting may be granted. To date,in a process that began in 2002, 475 concessionaires
have been granted concessions covering a total of
7.4 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, which
entered into force after the promulgation of Law

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No 27308, and ‘extraordinary authorizations’, for the
movement of logs from permits of less than 1,000
hectares. 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 there
are 262 lots that have extraordinary authorizations forthe removal of already-felled logs up to a scheduled
date. The expiry date for these authorizations is
30 June 2004, but this date has already been changed
twice due to a delay in the incorporation of the
Department of Loreto into the concession system.
Another important source of mahogany logs is native
community lands. The material limitations thatprevent INRENA from exercising adequate control
in the PPFs are even more apparent in forests thatfall into this category. Opportunistic traders takeadvantage of this fact and acquire timber simply
by 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 be
harvested. 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-producing
concessions. However, this agency has not yet been
established and, in the meantime, INRENA iscarrying out its monitoring and control functions.
At the decentralized level, there are currently 30
technical forest administration units (adminstraciones
técnicas forestales – ATFFs), which are directly
responsible to INRENA, but also coordinate with
regional authorities from the agricultural sector.
The 14 ATFFs that cover tropical forest lands are
responsible, on behalf of INRENA, for the approvalof general forest management plans (GFMPs)
and yearly operational plans (YOPs), and theirsubsequent monitoring and control. Extraordinary
authorizations are also approved, monitored andcontrolled by these bodies. Inadequate control
has been exerted by these bodies in some cases.
Procedures for CITES implementation in Peru
The CITES management and scientific authorities
in Peru are INRENA and the National AgrarianBox 7 Requirements for the exportof 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 authority
issuing the approval as per model
2. Registration with the Forest ProductExporters and Traders Registry or
authorization by INRENA to operate
as a processing plant or warehouse
and/or commercial establishment
3. Forest transport waybill (original
document) and receipts or invoices
for payment of forest logging fees
for the products to be exported
4. Product purchase order or transaction
receipt
5. Certificate of identification and primaryprocessing of products to be exported,
signed by an INRENA certified
professional or body. For parts andcomponents, a moisture content
certificate is required
6. Packing list
7. Receipt for payment of administrative fees

University of La Molina, Faculty of Forestry Science(UNALM – FCF), respectively. The procedurerequired by the Management Authority to regulate
the export of mahogany is given in Box 7.
The Scientific Authority is currently assessing thestatus of mahogany populations in Peru, but due
to a lack of reliable information, no non-detrimentfinding has yet been made. However, the Scientific
Authority has developed a preliminary map ofmahogany distribution in four major producing
departments, which is based on an inventory offorest resource studies carried out over the last
50 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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Figure 2 Preliminary map of mahogany distribution
in the departments of Loreto, San Martin,
Ucayali and Madre de Dios, Peru

Authority has established a mahogany quota fortimber felled prior to 15 November 2003, which
will be submitted to the CITES Secretariat.
A geo-referenced database on mahogany stocks(volume and number of trees per hectare) has been
compiled, systematized and integrated, based on
information derived from inventories conductedin the last century and data generated recently
by WWF through surveys carried out for thedevelopment of GFMPs and YOPs. UNALM has
secured support from ITTO for a project that will,among other things, evaluate commercial stocks
of mahogany in Peru.

Density
0 trees/hectare<0.01 trees/hectare
0.01–0.1 trees/hectare
0.1–1.0 trees/hectare

Both authorities have prepared a strategy to reverse
the conditions that led to the listing of the species
in 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 reproductive
biology of mahogany.

•

GFMP approval procedures are not as expedientas they should be.

•

The forest-concession supervising agency –OSINFOR – does not yet exist; the draft rules
and regulations for this have been formulated
and are under review by the Presidency of the
Ministerial Council.

•

There is a lack of effective mechanisms to assess
both compliance of commitments by concession
holders and the development of control andsupervisory bodies.

•

There are limited financial resources to carry out
monitoring and control activities, which hampers
the field supervision and verification of YOPs.

•

The forestry control system is still
not consolidated.

•

The information system generated by the
ATFFs is not integrated into or accessible
through a database system.

Developments in the implementationof the Appendix-II listing
A number of activities have been undertaken to
implement the Appendix-II listing of mahogany in
Peru. Information and dissemination meetings havebeen held in several locations with the participationof producers, industrialists, exporters and INRENA
regional offices. Participants were informed of the
impacts of the CITES listing and of the requirement
to have a report by the Scientific Authority to exportmahogany.
Prior to hosting the international ITTO workshop
in Pucallpa, a national preparatory meeting was held,with the participation of exporters, concession
holders, INRENA, UNALM, the Worldwide Fundfor Nature (WWF) and the Peruvian Environmental
Law Society (SPDA). This meeting facilitated theexchange of ideas and the definition of the Peruvian
position for the international workshop. An ongoing
dialogue between the management and scientificauthorities, exporters and producers has been
established.
In order to facilitate the transfer of mahogany
from Appendix III to Appendix II, the Management

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Opportunities•

There is a sustained demand for mahogany
timber in the international market.

•

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

•

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

•

Exporters are willing to support the Scientific
Authority (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 in
the areas defined by the YOPs.

•

Forest professional associations, such as the
National Forestry Chamber, the National
Timber Corporation and the National Timber
Confederation, among others, carry out
information and coordination activities
aimed at the management of production forests.

•

Technological studies have been identifying
potential substitute species for mahogany,
which could eventually be part of more
specific mahogany conservation strategies.

•

Positive results have been obtained inreforestation projects with Meliacea species.

•

Low impact logging techniques have been
introduced in Peruvian forests with some success.

•

Various forest sub-sector stakeholders share theview that there is a need to launch an aggressive
research 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 permanent
access, would help to improve the managementof forest resources in general and of mahoganyin particular.
INRENA has professional teams with extensive
experience, powerful information systems anda sound organizational structure, which could
help achieve better efficiency in the managementof forest resources in general and of mahoganyin particular.

•

Forest Discussion and Coordination Round
Tables have been established at the nationaland regional levels, as well as Forest Management
Committees, which contribute to theimprovement of the administration of resources.

•

Both CITES authorities have an outstanding
track record and an undeniable commitment
to the principle of the sustainable managementof forest resources in general and of mahoganyin particular, which, strengthened by ongoing
consultation and coordination mechanisms
and adequate financial support, will ensure
effective compliance with CITES regulations
on mahogany.

National strategy
The national strategy for the implementationof the CITES Appendix-II listing of mahogany
represents a coordinated effort between both CITES
authorities and key forest-sector stakeholders.
The objective of the strategy is to achieve the unlistingof mahogany from CITES Appendix II. It contains
four implementation stages or terms:
Immediate•

Establish a permanent coordination commission
with the Scientific Authority, the Management
Authority and users•

Establish a verification program for harvesting
volumes authorized by the competent authorities

Short term•

Establish a mechanism to control the felling oftrees and monitor the application of silvicultural
techniques 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 produce
mahogany at the national, regional and local
levels, and even at the concession and native
community levels, so as to determine theannual production quota for each unit•

Implement a mechanism to verify compliancewith the quota

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Long term•

Ongoing monitoring of the status of planted
populations (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 throughthe ITTO-funded project ‘Evaluation ofCommercial Stocks and Strategy for the
Sustainable Management of Mahogany(Swietenia macrophylla) in Peru’•Set up a technical support unit to provide
support to CITES mahogany authorities•

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

Establish a Permanent Coordination Commission
with the Management Authority so as to improve
the implementation of CITES mahogany
mechanisms•

Establish a mahogany research anddevelopment fundManagement Authority•

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

Strengthen the information system, with
documents confirming the legal origin of
mahogany at the national level, througha mahogany trade monitoring database•

Strengthen the capacity of forest concession
holders in silvicultural treatments proposed
for mahogany species•

Ensure the transfer of technology on low
impact mahogany logging techniques

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

34also be a problem. Communication is one of the
key issues for ensuring maximum transparency andmutual understanding of the requirements by allparties concerned, including the private sector.

CanadaS. macrophylla is, for the most part, imported to
Canada in the form of sawnwood that is re-exported
from the USA. It is the view of most Canadianobservers and CITES authorities consulted that thelisting of S. macrophylla in Appendix II has not posed
any new enforcement problems.
In the Canadian experience, species identificationis the primary enforcement problem relating to
S. macrophylla, as it is with other tropical woods.
In 2002, CITES Canada Enforcement Branch
produced the CITES Identification Guide B Tropical
Woods (Environment Canada 2002), which greatly
contributed to the resolution of identification
problems experienced at Canadian borders. The
guide, which uses the internal anatomic structureof wood for making species’ determinations, has
proved a useful tool in the identification of logs
and sawnwood. However, it does not offer great
assistance in the identification of veneers andplywoods.
Given that ongoing challenges relating to
S. macrophylla identification remain, the listingof S. macrophylla in CITES Appendix II is likely
to prove helpful. A particularly useful aspect of
the change is the grouping of all species in thegenus Swietenia within the same Appendix. The
requirement to identify specimens at the genus
level, rather than as individual species, has greatly
simplified the work of enforcement authorities.

Spain
The mechanisms for CITES implementation in
Spain are based on the EC regulations outlined inBox 3. No particular problems have been detectedin Spain after the listing of mahogany in CITES
Appendix II. On the contrary, the Appendix-II
listing 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 imported
tropical timber species and are mainly related tothe identification of species. Although informationmaterials have been prepared by the Botanical GardensITTOof Cordoba, and a guide has been made available
by the Canadian authorities, the identification oftimber is complicated, especially when imported
as veneer or plywood.
Furthermore, the way the timber trade is structured
makes the identification problem all the moredifficult. Timber consignments usually arrive inlarge ships carrying many different timber species,
with documentation that in the majority of cases
only refers to the common or local names of species.
This makes the work of customs services very
complicated.
As a result of certain problems that have arisen withother tropical timber species, the National Natural
Science Museum is currently developing a DNA
identification system. However, useful results are
not expected in the short term.

UK
The UK Government is committed to sustainable
forest management and is playing a leading role ininternational negotiations on forests in a numberof fora, including the Convention on Biological
Diversity, the United Nations Forum on Forests,
Forest Law Enforcement and Governance processes
and the G8.
The CITES Management Authority in the UK is
the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs (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 Appendix
III, the UK Management Authority’s involvement
was limited to recording the import. Provided thata valid export permit accompanied the shipment
or certificate of origin, the only other requirement
was the presentation to customs of a self-completed
import notification form, which would bechecked/endorsed by customs and returned tothe authority so that the import could be recorded.
Any further Management Authority involvement
was generally limited to assisting customs invalidating the export documentation.
The major change in permit requirements with the
Appendix-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 before
shipment takes place. Transparency, the flow of
information and timing (ensuring applications
can 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 to
involve all stakeholders in the process of implementing
the regulations. The Management Authority works infull collaboration with the Scientific Authority and theappropriate enforcement authorities (Her Majesty’s
Customs and Excise, the police, etc), not only on
individual cases but also on training. The Management
Authority also has a cooperative working relationshipwith traders. Regular Sustainable Users Network
meetings 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’s
Scientific Authority has prepared various help packs
for timbers, including posters for S. macrophylla.
Transparency and the sharing of information between
the origin/exporting and importing countries is
crucial 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. Updated
information on stocks, quantities harvested, andremainders would be very useful to the Scientific
Authority’s assessment of the conservation impactsof trade in S. macrophylla before it issues advice on
import applications.
Accurate timing of applications is also very important,so that they can be processed and import permits
produced before export/import takes place.
Applications made after the goods have arrived in the
UK have to be considered retrospectively; permits
for Annex B-listed specimens may only be issued
retrospectively where the competent management
authority of the member state is satisfied that:(a) any irregularities which have occurred are
not attributable to the (re)exporter and/or
the importer; and(b) that the (re-)export/import of the specimens
concerned is otherwise in compliance with theprovisions of: (i) Regulation (EC) No 338/97,(ii) the Convention, and (iii) the relevant
legislation of a third country.

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USA
The CITES management and scientific authorities of
the USA are housed with the US Fish and Wildlife
Service (FWS). These offices are responsible for
evaluating whether applications for the import orexport of CITES-listed species meet the requirementsof CITES, and for coordinating US government
efforts on setting CITES policy and evaluating species
for listing. These primary CITES authorities workin concert with FWS Law Enforcement, which has
port inspection and enforcement responsibilities
for animals, and with the US Department ofAgriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (USDA-APHIS) and the Departmentof Homeland Security (DHS), which share these
responsibilities for plants. Regular participants in
the CITES Coordinating Committee include theseagencies as well as other USDA agencies (Forest
Service, Foreign Agricultural Service), Departmentof State, Office of the US Trade Representative,
USAID, Department of Justice and Departmentof Commerce.
Since November 2002, when the CITES parties
decided 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 support
implementation 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 notified
holders of APHIS S. macrophylla import permitsof the implementation changes that would occur at
US 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 Veneer
Association (HPVA), about the effect of the uplistingin terms of CITES export permit requirements,
especially with regard to plywood. US port inspectors
were informed about the change from Appendix III
to Appendix II and the manual used by APHIS port
inspectors was amended.

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The USA launched a timber page on its CITES
website, with specific pages on the Appendix-II
listing of S. macrophylla, and has communicatedwith range countries, major importing countries,
and importers before, on, and after 15 November
2003 regarding US implementation measures. The
FWS provided an information packet to more than
350 US mahogany importers and re-exporters on
implementation of the Appendix-II listing.
The USA worked with IWPA and HPVA to develop
the US interim definition of S. macrophylla plywood.
This document was provided to S. macrophylla range
countries and submitted to the 13th meeting of the
CITES Plants Committee, which endorsed it. The
document was adopted by the second meeting of
the Mahogany Working Group and reaffirmed by
the 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 the
Mahogany Working Group, the USA submitted adocument entitled ‘The use of marks and numbers
in lieu of bill of lading numbers for CITES export
and re-export documents for timber species’. Thisis designed to assist importing authorities in cases
when bills of lading are not available until exporting
vessels have departed the port.
A critical component of the implementation of
CITES is monitoring of the trade by the Management
Authority. This is done in the US through review of
the import documents that are endorsed at the ports
by USDA-APHIS or DHS. As of 15 May 2004,
approximately 204 shipments of bigleaf mahogany
had been imported since 15 November 2003, theeffective date of the Appendix-II listing (see page 22).
While data on volumes of mahogany imported
in this period are not yet available, 120 of these
shipments had an export date of 15 November 2003
or later and were exported under CITES Appendix
II. The rest of the shipments were exported prior
to 15 November 2003 under CITES Appendix III.
In reviewing these Appendix-II and Appendix-III
documents there were only three instances ofapparent confusion related to the transition in
documentation between Appendix III andAppendix II. Each of these involved a different
issuing country.

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4 Other international
perspectives
Trade organizations
Trade bodies from both exporting and importing
countries have mixed experiences and views of the
CITES Appendix-II listing of mahogany. The tradebodies present at the Pucallpa workshop all recognized
the 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-II
listing of mahogany as a trade restriction that will
disadvantage both the species and the region’s tropicalforests as a whole. Many find the procedures required
for CITES-listed species to be excessively bureaucratic,
and do not believe that the Convention can assist in
addressing the real issues of illegal logging, conversionof forest to other land-uses, and the underlying causeof many of these problems: poverty. The IWPA
noted that a primary concern in the USA market
is continuity and reliability of supply, and thatdifficulties implementing the Appendix-II listing
were already impacting negatively on mahogany
in this regard. From the consumer angle, the UK’s
Timber Trade Federation reported that CITES lacks
credibility in the marketplace, and does not fulfil
the 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 to
implement a number of activities in relation to
the listing (see Box 8). During the course of theworkshop, some members of IWPA (USA) offered toinvestigate the possibility of raising funds to support
the strengthening of CITES authorities in producer
countries (with a particular focus on conducting
inventories of mahogany stocks) through a voluntary
levy on mahogany sales.
The Pará State Export Industry Association (AIMEX)
from Brazil reported that mahogany is just one of
the 400 marketable timber species in the Brazilian
forest. They also stressed the importance to producer
countries of increasing the amount of mahogany thatis processed at home into value-added products suchas furniture (currently, it is mostly sold as sawn
timber or veneer). AIMEX drew attention to theinvolvement of industry in collaborative research in
Brazil, studying pest control and genetic improvementof mahogany with a view to diminishing the risks toplantations and minimizing the pressure on natural
populations of the species.
Although some trade representatives questioned
the 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 isBox 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 approved
management 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 actions
with 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 ensuring
improved mahogany harvesting practices and genetic improvement of the species

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

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

1. Develop a framework for third-party
auditing/independent verification; inputs
may be taken from the Timber Trade
Federation work on a framework forthe auditing of legality, to be finalized
by the end of 2004

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

2. CITES will have to ensure there is asignificant improvement in regulatory
capacity in countries where both law
enforcement and more general governanceis weak, including provision for
independent auditing by third parties
3. Increase the involvement of NGOsin the issuing of CITES permits andmonitoring
4. Further support measures should include
substantial communication, informationand education campaigns for CITES
officials, particularly at border control
points and harbours

becoming increasingly important for maintaining
certain 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) commending
the efforts of range state governments to implement
the CITES Appendix-II listing of mahogany andexpressing their hope that these efforts would be
successful 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 immediate
implementation of CITES Appendix II for mahogany
by all stakeholders. Their rationale for this positionis given in Box 10.

38– conserve an indicator species of forest
health 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 development
opportunities for local populations; and– contribute to national and regional
economic growth and prosperity ina vital industry.

Many environmental NGOs are helping with CITES
implementation 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. TRAFFIC
International is also working in Peru on a wideranging sustainable forest management project, which
will include the production of a manual or guide forthe implementation of Appendix II in the country.
Fauna & Flora International and the Nicaraguan
government are jointly organizing a workshop on
the development of non-detriment findings formahogany in Nicaragua.
In Brazil, the NGO Imazon has been involved inseveral research projects relating to mahogany ecology
and management, and has analysed information
on human settlement, deforestation and fires in the
Amazon region. They warned that, according to theirdata, all mahogany forest is economically available
for harvesting in the Brazilian Amazon and that,
although information is limited, there are worrying
signs for remaining stocks of the species.
An approach to improving mahogany management
suggested by Imazon is to focus on the foresters activein the region, checking their performance history forprevious involvement in fraud or failure to implement
management plans, and providing training on the
new regulations. Some groups also highlighted

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the need for improved communications between
institutions and the establishment of strategic
partnerships between projects.
Several groups at the Pucallpa meeting mentioned
the use of the precautionary principle in mahogany
management. In practical terms, Imazon suggested
that the application of the precautionary principle
through management could include the creationof reserves and measures to ensure regeneration at
the stand level. TRAFFIC International and Fauna& Flora International are working with IUCN
and Resource Africa on a major project on the
precautionary principle in sustainable development,
natural resource management and biodiversity
conservation. This project will include a detailed
case-study on how the precautionary principle isapplied to forest management in general andspecifically to mahogany.
The use of voluntary certification schemes is widely
supported by environmental NGOs, including thoseat the Pucallpa workshop. The Peruvian Council
for Voluntary Forest Certification pointed out thatchain-of-custody certification, as conducted by the
FSC alongside forest management certification,
provides a useful model for monitoring legal products
from the forest. The FSC certification system can help
guarantee legality by ensuring compliance withnational and local legislation, international treaties
and agreements (eg CITES), and the paymentof taxes and royalties. Specific recommendations
made to the meeting by the Peruvian Council for
Voluntary Forest Certification are given in Box 11.

Box 11 Recommendations from the Peruvian
Council for Voluntary Forest
Certification for the implementationof the CITES Appendix-II listingof mahogany in Peru
Management Authority:– Outsource the state monitoring system
to independent certification bodies– Strengthen capacities for internalmonitoring and control– Analyse risk levels to prioritise control areas
Scientific Authority, NGOs:– Conduct studies on mahogany
regeneration to ensure its sustainability– Link the concept of high-conservationvalue forests with the status ofmahogany populations– Work together with importers on thedevelopment of specifications andresponsible purchasing policies
FSC:– Consider the possibility of mutual
recognition between the FSC and CITES– Identify strategic partners and reliableverification systems

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

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5

5 Conclusion andrecommendations
Participants in the workshop recognized that it hadprovided an excellent opportunity for dialogue andinteraction between all stakeholders related to the
management and trade of mahogany. The background
papers presented and the working groups convened
during the workshop greatly facilitated the sharing ofexperiences on the implementation of, and concerns
about, the CITES Appendix-II listing of mahogany.
The workshop participants also highlighted the strong
synergies between the work of CITES and ITTO, andprovided direction for continuing and strengthening
such synergies. All participants expressed their sharedcommitment to the successful implementation of the
Appendix-II listing of mahogany and on-going efforts
towards sustainable forest management in general.
The workshop participants identified the following
recommendations for consideration and early action
as appropriate by national governments, the private
sector (trade and NGOs), international organizations
and other stakeholders. Recommendations were madewith the workshop objectives in mind and aregrouped accordingly below. Note that some may apply
to more than one objective. No recommendations
were made for Objective 1 on current market
conditions for mahogany, but the workshop did
stress the need for better market information tofacilitate the sustainable management, monitoring
and 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 countries
may find useful, including approaches, technologies
and timing

4 Charges and penalties for violations of mahogany
regulations, as well as the procedures throughwhich they are imposed, should be clearly defined
and widely publicized
5 When resources are limited, national forestry
authorities should concentrate first on applying
control systems in situations involving highconservation risks in areas where mahogany
is present
6 National authorities should make resources
available to establish databases on the managementof mahogany and other species. Such databases
should be accessible to the public
7 Management plans should incorporate data
relevant to the diversity of distribution, densityand ecology of mahogany populations
8 On-site inspection of mahogany management
should be increased as a means of control
9 Forest management plans (and, as appropriate,utilization plans) for all areas where mahogany
production occurs (including agricultural andindigenous holdings) should be based on accurate
data including forest inventories on the diversity,
density and ecology of mahogany, consistent
with 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) should
list scientific names as well as customs codes
12 Shipping documents for forest products should
be designed so as to make it difficult for them
to be changed, forged or counterfeited
13 Tax collection authorities should detect andprevent false price quotations for the purposeof tax evasion

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

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

2 Countries should simplify, make more transparent
and publicize their legal requirements for the
extraction, transformation, transportation andexport of wood products

1 The academic and scientific communities should
be encouraged to continue playing major roles
in undertaking the research necessary for proper
forest management (ie by developing volume oryield tables, etc)

3 National forestry authorities and the international
community should consider incentives formahogany concessionaires who stay within
the terms of the law and produce sustainably

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

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countries. Particular attention should focus on
the scientific authorities and developing theirinformation systems and operational
capabilities by:a) providing direct financial assistance andpolitical support, andb) working through the national authorities
and the CITES Secretariat to provide
information 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 information
on problems in implementation and assist in
identifying needs for technical assistance fornational CITES authorities
4 The private sector should strengthen or develop
effective 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), technology
transfer, and facilitating inventory work
6 Voluntary formal coalitions of buyers, sellers andNGOs should be used to reinforce national laws
including those related to CITES
Objective 4: identify opportunities for coordination
across relevant agencies within producing countries
1 Within the framework of national policies,
synergies should be enhanced and autonomies
recognized between CITES scientific andadministrative authorities
2 Communications among national forestry
authorities, users, producers, exporters andimporters should be improved to ensuretransparency in the control process
3 Governments in range states should immediately
declare forest development a subject of national
interest affecting society as a whole, with a special
focus (including national campaigns) on theissue of illegal logging. National programsand bilateral/multilateral agreements shouldbe employed (as appropriate) to achieve this

5 Additional workshops on mahogany should be
convened, especially at the national and subnational levels, to continue and extend interaction
and cooperation among the commercial private
sector, NGOs and national authorities (including
representatives 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 been
established
2 Regional agreements already reached andconnections already established should serve as
the framework for joint actions by the countries
implementing the Appendix-II listing of
mahogany
3 Countries should share forest management
and control systems/software with each otherObjective 6: identify areas of need for technicalassistance
1 Countries should seek technical assistance fordeveloping and implementing control systems
for mahogany from CITES, ITTO, FAO,
TRAFFIC and/or other relevant organizations
2 The CITES Secretariat should provide training
for authorities implementing CITES listings uponrequest as appropriate. Such training should
include an information program to make
CITES known to all stakeholders
3 The report of the Pucallpa workshop should be
widely disseminated and results of the workshop
should be communicated to relevant fora,
particularly the 36th session of the International
Tropical Timber Council (20–23 July 2004)
and COP 13 of CITES (2–14 October 2004)

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

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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 forest
management in general
Objective 8: share information on relevantinternational developments
1 CITES should discuss a revision of CITES
listing procedures so as to adapt them to thespecific needs of timber species. Bolivia, Brazil
and 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 Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species ofWild Fauna and Flora. Text in English, French, andSpanish. Environment Canada, Ottawa, Canada.
ITTO 2004. Annual Review and Assessment of the World
Timber Situation 2003. ITTO, Yokohama, Japan.
Robbins, C. 2000. Mahogany Matters: the US Market
for Big-leafed Mahogany and its Implications forConservation of the Species. TRAFFIC North
America, Washington DC, USA.
Rosser, A. & Haywood, M. 2002. Guidance for
CITES Scientific Authorities. Checklist to Assist in
Making Findings for Appendix II Export. IUCN
Species Survival Commission Occasional Paper
No 27. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland, andCambridge, UK.
SIF 2003. Annual Report 2002. Forest
Superintendence, Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
TRAFFIC 2001. Implementation of CITES Appendix
III Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) Listing.
Document submitted to the first meeting of the
Mahogany Working Group, Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

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Annex 1
List of workshop participants
Countries
Bolivia
CITES authorities

Other government authorities
Ing. Olvis Camacho Mercado
Intendente técnico
Superintendencia Forestal
Santa Cruz
Bolivia
Tel: ++(591-3) 348-8393
Fax: ++(591-3) 348-8394

Lic. Saúl Arias Cossío
Coordinador CITES-Bolivia
Dirección General de Biodiversidad
Viceministerio de Medio Ambientey Recursos Naturales
Ministerio de Desarrollo Sostenible y Planificación
Av. Mariscal Santa Cruz No. 1092, 6to piso
La PazBoliviaIng. William Pariona Arias
Sub-coordinador del Instituto Bolivianode Investigación Forestal
Santa Cruz
Bolivia

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

Ab. Jorge E. Avila
Cámara Forestal
Prol. Manuel Ignacio Salvatierra, 1055
Casilla 346
Santa Cruz
Bolivia

Lic. Marianela Subieta
Museo Nacional de Historia Natural
Campus Universitario
Calle 26 de Cota Cota
La PazBolivia
Tel: ++(591-2) 279-5364
Fax: ++(591-2) 277-0876
E-mail: mnhn@caobaentelnet.bo
Ing. Mario Saldías Paz
Jefe del Herbario
Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado
Santa Cruz
Bolivia
Tel: ++(591-3) 337-1216
E-mail: msaldias@mail.museonoelkempff.org
msaldias@museo.sczbo.org

44

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

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

BrazilCITES authorities
Mr. Adalberto Meira Filho
Assessor
Diretoria de Florestas
Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos
Recursos Naturais Renovávies - IBAMAIBAMA – Edifício Sede
SCEN-Trecho 2
70.818-200 – Brasilia – DF
BrazilTel: ++(55-61) 316-1257/226-2081
Fax: ++(55-61) 226-8711
E-mail: adalberto.meira-filho@ibama.gov.brITTO

Ms. Cristina Galvão Alves
Coordenadora Geral de Gestao deRecursos Florestais
Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos
Naturais Renovávies - IBAMAIBAMA – Edifício Sede
SCEN-Trecho 2
70.818-200 – Brasilia – DF
BrazilTel: ++(55-61) 316-1474
Fax: ++(55-61) 226-8711
E-mail: cristina.alves@ibama.gov.br
Ms. Cláudia Maria Correia de Mello
Analista Ambiental
Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos
Naturais Renovávies - IBAMAIBAMA – Edifício Sede
SCEN-Trecho 2
70.818-200 – Brasilia – DF
BrazilTel: ++(55-61) 316-1257/226-2081
Fax: ++(55-61) 226-8711
E-mail: claudia.mello@ibama.gov.br
Other government authority
Ms. Carmen Roseli Caldas MenezesAgência Brasileira de Cooperação
Cooperação Técnica Recebida Multilateral – CTRM
Ministério das Relações Exteriores
Esplanada dos Ministérios – Anexo I, 8o andar
CEP. 70.170-900 – Brasilia – DF
BrazilTel: ++(55-61) 411-6595
Fax: ++(55-61) 411-6894
E-mail: carmen@abc.mre.gov.brNGO
Mr. Paulo Barreto
Researcher and Executive Director
The Amazon Institute of People andEnvironment (IMAZON)
Caixa Postal 5101
Belém, PA
Brazil CEP 66613-397

Trade
Mr. Evaristo Francisco de Moura Terezo
AIMEX
Tv. Quintino Bocaiúva
1588, 5˚ andar, Bloco “A”
Casa da Indústria – FIEPA
CEP 66035-190
Belém- Pará
BrazilTel: ++(55-91) 242-7161/242-7218/299-3455
Fax: ++(55-91) 242-7342/242-4081
E-mail: terezo@terra.com.br

CanadaCITES authority
Mr. Ken Farr
Canadian Forest Service/Science Branch
580 Booth Street, 7th Floor, D-6
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1A 0E4
Tel: ++(1-613) 947-9007
E-mail: ken.farr@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

Peru
CITES authorities
Ing. Leoncio Álvarez Vásquez
Jefe
Instituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales (INRENA)
Ministerio de Agricultura
Calle Diecisiete No. 355
Urb. El Palomar
San Isidro, Lima 27
Peru
Tel.: ++(51-1) 225-3287
Fax: ++(51-1) 224-3218
E-mail: lalvarez@inrena.gob.pe

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

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Bio. Rosario Acero
Directora de la Conservación de la Biodiversidad
Autoridad Administrativa CITES
Dirección Conservación de Biodiversidad
Intendencia Nacional de Recursos Naturales (IFFS)
Instituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales (INRENA)
Ministerio de Agricultura
Calle Diecisiete No. 355
Urb. El Palomar
San Isidro, Lima 27
Peru
Tel: ++(51-1) 224-2864/225-9809
Fax: ++(51-1) 224-3298
E-mail: racero@inrena.gob.pe
Ing. Victor Barrena
Decano Facultad de Ciencias Forestales
Universidad Nacional Agraria la Molina
Av. La Universidad s/n
La Molina, Lima
Peru
Tel: ++(51-1) 349-5647 Ext.: 203
Fax: ++(51-1) 349-2041
E-mail: vbarrena@lamolina.edu.pe
Ing. Ignacio Lombardi
Universidad Nacional Agraria la Molina
Av. La Universidad s/n
La Molina, Lima
Peru
Tel: ++(51-1) 349-5647
Fax: ++ (51-1) 349-2041
E-mail: ilombardi@lamolina.edu.pe
Other government authorities
Mr. Teddy Tuesta
Gerente de Recursos Naturales
Gobierno Regional de Ucayali
Jr. Raymondi No. 220
Pucallpa
Peru
Tel: ++(51-61) 575-018 Ext. 127
E-mail: ttuesta7@hotmail.com

Mr. César Giovannini
Asesor Jefatura
Comisión de Lucha contra la Tala Ilegal
Instituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales (INRENA)
Ministerio de Agricultura
Calle Dieciocho No. 124
San Isidro, Lima 27
Peru
Tel: ++(51-1) 225-2381/225-3287
Fax: ++(51-1) 224-3298
E-mail: cesargiovannini@hotmail.com
Ms. Rocío Malleux Hernani
Intendencia Forestal y de Fauna Silvestre (IFFS)
Instituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales (INRENA)
Ministerio de Agricultura
Calle Diecisiete No. 355
Urb. El Palomar
San Isidro, Lima 27
Peru
Tel: ++(51-1) 225-0316
Fax: ++(51-1) 224-3298
E-mail: rmalleux@inrena.gob.pe
Mr. Guillermo Pastor Picón
Administrador
Administración Tecnica Forestal y Fauna Silvestre
Instituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales (INRENA)
Carr. Federico Basadre Km 4.200
Pucallpa
Peru
Tel: ++(51-61) 574-665/591-127
Fax: ++(51-61) 591-127
E-mail: guimopastor@hotmail.com
atcffs-pucallpa@inrena.gob.pe
Ing. Carlos Salinas
Coordinador Taller
Instituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales (INRENA)
Ministerio de Agricultura
Calle Diecisiete No. 355
Urb. El Palomar
San Isidro, Lima 27
Peru
Tel: ++(51-1) 475-2455
Fax: ++(51-1) 224-3298
E-mail: csalinas@inrena.gob.pe

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Ing. Nicolas Vander Werf
INRENA/CIEF
Tel: ++(51-1) 224-3678
E-Mail: nvanderwerf@inrena.gob.pe
NGOs
Ms. Pina Gervassi
Gerente General
Consejo Peruano deCertificación Forestal Voluntaria
Tel: ++(51-1) 440-5550
Fax: ++(51-1) 440-2133
E-mail: pgervassi@cp-cfv.org
Ms. Micha Torres
Consultor Ambiental
Ex Directora
Políticas de Conservación yRelaciones Interínstitucionales
PRONATURALEZA
Alberto del Campo 417
Magdalena del Mar, Lima
Peru
Tel: ++(51-1) 434-4520/467-1729/264-2736
Fax: ++(51-1) 264-2753
E-mail: micha@terra.com.pe

Mr. José Carlos Minaya Rivas
Director de la Oficina Regional de Ucayali
WWF-OAP-CEDEFOR-U
Jr. Tarapacá 930, 2º piso
UcayaliPeru
Tel: ++(51-61) 576-941
Fax: ++(51-61) 576-941
E-mail: jose@wwfperu.org.pe
Ms. Linda Norgrove
WWF Peru
Trinidad Morán 853
Lince
Peru
Tel: ++(51-1) 440-5550
Fax: ++(51-1) 440-2133
E-mail: linda@wwfperu.org.pe
Mr. Teddy Peñaherrera
Director de Conservación
WWF Peru
Trinidad Morán 853
Lince
Peru
Tel: ++(51-1) 440-5550
E-mail: teddy@wwfperu.org.pe

Ing. Jorge Malleux
Director Proyecto
CEDEFOR-WWF
Trinidad Morán 853
Lince
Peru

Ms. Diana Vega
Especialista en Monitoreo Forestal
CEDEFOR-WWF
Jr. Tarapacá 930, 2º piso
Pucallpa
Peru

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

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

Mr. Carlos Marcos Castro
Consultor en CITESWWF Peru
Trinidad Morán 853
Lince
Peru
Tel: ++(51-1) 476-5451/9970-5732
E-mail: cmarcos_castro@yahoo.com

Trade
Mr. Alfredo Biasevich
Asociación de Exportadores (ADEX)
Av. Javier Prado Este 2875
San Borja, Lima 4
Peru
Tel: ++(51-1) 435-7899
Fax: ++(51-1) 346-1879
E-mail: abiasevich@millicom.com.pe

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Mr. Drago Bozovich
Asociación de Exportadores (ADEX)
Av. Javier Prado Este 2875
San Borja, Lima 4
Peru
Tel: ++(51-1) 435-7899
Fax: ++(51-1) 346-1879
E-mail: drago@bozovich.com
Mr. Erick Fischer
Asociado
Asociación de Exportadores (ADEX)
Av. Javier Prado E
Peru
Tel: ++(51-1) 346-2530
Fax: ++(51-1) 346-1879
E-mail: huancaro@hotmail.com
Mr. César Guerrero Saavedra
Presidente
Asociación de Extractores Madereros y
Reforestadores de Ucayali (AEMRU)
Jr. Sucre 413
Pucallpa
Peru
Tel: ++(51-61) 574-554
Mr. Fernando Reyes Espinoza
Coordinador
Asociación de Extractores Madererosy Reforestadores de Ucayali (AEMRU)
Jr. Sucre 413
Pucallpa
Peru
Tel: ++(55-61) 574-554
E-Mail: fereyese@yahoo.com
abelre_33@hotmail.com
Mr. Rómulo Coronado Calderón
Presidente
Asociación de Madereros de Ucayali
Jr. Raymondi No. 365
Pucallpa
Peru
Tel: ++(51-61) 575-132/575-444
E-mail: amdu@gmx.net

48

Mr. Antonio Chambergo
Asociación de Productores Forestalesde Ucayali (APROFU)
Jr. Bolivar No. 163
Pucallpa
Peru
Tel: ++(51-61) 578-928 - 0198406820
E-mail: achamber@terra.com.pe
Mr. Miguel Palomino
Asociación de Productores Forestalesde Ucayali (APROFU)
Jr. Bolivar No. 163
Pucallpa
Peru
Tel: ++(51-61) 592-220/(51-1) 9909-1302
Fax: ++(51-61) 577-045
Mr. Miguel Planas Morelli
Asociación de Productores Forestalesde Ucayali (APROFU)
Jr. Bolivar No. 163
Pucallpa
Peru
Tel: ++(51-61) 592-220/(51-1) 9909-1302
Fax: ++(51-61) 577-045
E-mail: pyp@terra.com.pe
Ms. Patricia Kristen
Comité de Industrial de la Madera
Asociación de Exportadores (ADEX)
Av. Javier Prado Este 2875
San Borja, Lima 4
Peru
Tel: ++(51-1) 346-2530
Fax: ++(51-1) 346-1879
Mr. Martín Menéndez
Coordinador General
Comité de Industria de la Maderas
Asociación de Exportadores (ADEX)
Av. Javier Prado Este 2875
San Borja, Lima 4
Peru
Tel: ++(51-1) 346-2530
Fax: ++(51-1) 346-1879
E-mail: mmenendez@adexperu.org.pe

ITTO

Ing. Wilfredo Ojeda
Presidente
Cámara Nacional Forestal (CNF) – Peru
Ramón Dagnino 369
Jesús María, Lima 11
Peru
Tel: ++(51-1) 423-6726
Fax: ++(51-1) 330-4872
E-mail: wilojeda@terra.com.pe
cnf@cnf.org.pe

Mr. Roberto Saveri
Gerente General
CORMADERA
Av. El Sol 2276
Villa El Salvador
Lima
Peru
Tel: ++(51-1) 288-2020/275-7755
Fax: ++(51-1) 275-8585
E-mail: rsaveri@alpirosa.com

Mr. Emilio Balarín
Gerente General
CORMADERA
Calle Cuatro # 157 Urbanización Industrial Vulcano
Ate
Lima
Peru

Mr. Herbert Frey Bullón
Director Gerente
Forestal Venao S.R.L.
Carretera Federico
Basadre K.M. 9.200
Pucallpa
Peru

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

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

Mr. Henry Balarín
CORMADERA
Calle Cuatro # 157 Urbanización Industrial Vulcano
Ate
Lima
Peru

Mr. Mitchell Tiger
Gerente General
Peru Traders Inc.
Calle La Balsa 270
Las Lagunas de La Molina
Lima 12
Peru

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

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

Dr. Rosa Victoria Hidalgo Garcia
Asesora Legal
CORMADERA
Av. Paseo de la República # 4154-202
Miraflores, Lima
Peru

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

Ing. Enrique Toledo
Director Ejecutivo
FONDEBOSQUE
Las Tordilla 195
San Isidro, Lima
Peru
Tel: ++(51-1) 222-3703
Fax: ++(51-1) 222-3704
E-mail: etoledo@fondebosque.org.pe

49

ITTO

Ing. Edgardo Lizarraga
Gerente de Operaciones Regionales
FONDEBOSQUE
Las Tordilla 195
San Isidro, Lima
Peru

Mr. Eduardo Ríos
Tropical Forest Consultores SAC
Av. Lima Sur 961
Lurigancho – Chosica
Lima 15
Peru

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

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

Ms. Martha Puga
Administradora
FONDEBOSQUE
Las Tordilla 195
San Isidro, Lima
Peru

Mr. William Cordero
Gerente de Recursos Naturales
USAID
Avenida Republica de Panama 3055
Piso 14San Isidro, Lima
Peru

Tel: ++(51-1) 222-3703
Fax: ++(51-1) 222-3704
E-mail: mpuga@fondebosque.org.pe
Ing. Renato Maurtua
Coordinador
FONDEBOSQUE
Jr. Libertad 218 – 222
Pucallpa
Peru
Tel: ++(51-61) 591-554
Fax: ++(51-61) 591-554
E-mail: ucayali@fondebosque.org.pe
Ms. Nilda Vásquez
AsesoraBosques, Sociedad y Desarrollo
Av. Pablo Carriquirry 315
San Isidro, Lima
Peru
Tel: ++(51-1) 224-5181
Fax: ++(51-1) 224-5181
E-mail: nildavasquez@hotmail.com
Mr. Markus Trefzer
CCITU-DED
Avenida Centenaria km 4.800 (Kahlua)
Pucallpa
Peru
Tel: ++(51-61) 593-506
E-mail: markus.trefzer@web.de50

Tel: ++(51-1) 690-3012
Fax: ++(51-1) 690-3006
E-mail: wcordero@chemonicspdap.com
Ms. Lola Reyna Farje
Consultora
Carret. Federico Basadre Km4800
Interior Kalua
Pucallpa
Peru
Tel: ++(51-62) 571-569
Fax: ++(51-1) 449-0138
E-mail: lolarja@hotmail.com

Spain
CITES authority
Mrs. Mercedes Nuñez Román
Jefe de Area CITES
Subdirección de Inspección, Certificacióny Asistencia Técnica de Comercio Exterior
Secretaria General de Comercio Exterior
Ministerio de Economía
Paseo de la Castellana, 162 - 28046 Madrid
Spain
Tel: ++(37- 913) 493 757/ 754 / 770
Fax: ++(34- 913) 493 740 / 777
E-mail: Mercedes.Nunez@sscc.mcx.es

ITTO

United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland
CITES authority
Ms. Maria Fabiani
Wildlife Licensing and Registration Service
Dept. for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Temple Quay House
2 The Square
Temple Quay
Bristol BS1 6EB
UK
Tel: ++(44-0117) 372-8831
E-mail: maria.fabiani@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Trade
Mr. Gunther HentschelForest Policy Adviser
Timber Trade Federation Ltd.
4th Floor, Clareville House
26/27 Oxendon Street
London SW1Y 4EL
U.K.
Tel: ++(44-20) 7839-1891
Fax: ++(44-20) 7930-0094
E-mail: ghentschel@ttf.co.uk

United States of America
CITES authority

Other government authorities
Dr. David Brooks
Office of Environment and Natural Resources
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
600 17st, N.W.
Washington, DC 20508
USA
Tel: ++(1-202) 395-9579
Fax: ++(1-202) 395-6865
E-mail: dbrooks@ustr.gov
Mr. Harvey S. Lee
International Relations Officer
Bureau of Oceans and International
Environmental and Scientific Affairs
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street., N.W., Room 4333
Washington, DC 20520
USA
Tel: ++(1-202) 647-2255
Fax: ++(1-202) 736-7351
E-mail: leehs@state.gov
Dr. Ana Villegas
Bureau of Oceans and International
Environmental and Scientific Affairs
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, N.W., Room 4333
Washington, DC 20520
USA

Dr. Peter Thomas
Division Chief
US CITES Management Authority
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 700
Arlington, VA 22203
USA

E-mail: villegasAC@state.gov

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

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

Mr. David Lippeatt
Comercial Attache
Embassy of USA
Lima
Peru

51

ITTO

Mr. Jorge Elgegren
USAID/Peru
Office of Environment and Natural Resources
Av. La Escalada, cuadra 17 s/nMonterrico, Surco
Lima
Peru
Tel: ++(51-1) 618-1282
Fax: ++(51-1) 618-1353
E-mail: jelegren@usaid.gov
Trade
Ms. Brigid SheaManager
Governmental and Environmental Affairs
International Wood Products Association
4214 King Street, West
Alexandria
Virginia 22302
USA
Tel: ++(1-703) 820-6696
Fax: ++(1-703) 820-8550
E-mail: brigid@iwpawood.org
Mr. Romel Bezerra
Vice President
Hardwoods Division
Aljoma Lumber, Inc.
10300 N.W. 121 Way
Medley, FL 33178
USA
Tel: ++(1-305) 556-8003
Fax: ++(1-305) 556-4991
E-mail: romel.bezerra@aljoma.com
Mr. Jamie Molina – Exporter
c/o International Wood Products Association
4214 King Street, West
Alexandria
Virginia 22302
USA
Mr. Sam Robinson
4000 Tchoupitoulas Street
New Orleans, LA 70115
USA
Tel: ++(1-504) 895-6377
Fax: ++(1-504) 897-0820
E-mail: srobinson@roblumco.com

52

Mr. Don Thompson
Thompson Mahogany
7400 Edmund Street
Philadelphia, PA 19136
USA
Tel: ++(1-215) 624-1866
Fax: ++(1-215) 338-1060
E-mail: dthompson@thomahog.com
Mr. Rafael Villacorta - Small producer/exporter
c/o International Wood Products Association
4214 King Street, West
Alexandria
Virginia 22302
USA

International organizations
CIFOR
Ms. Violeta ColánCoordinadora CIFOR Peru
Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)
Carretera Federico Basadre km 4.200
Peru
Tel: ++(55-61) 591-151
Fax: ++(55-61) 578-704
E-mail: vcolan@terra.com.pe
CITES
Ms. Milena Sosa Schmidt
Senior Scientific Officer
CITES Secretariat
International Environment House
Chemin des Anémones
CH-1219 Châtelaine, Geneva
Switzerland
Tel: ++(41-22) 917-8139/8140
Fax: ++(41-22) 797-3417
E-mail: milena.schmidt@unep.ch

ITTO

FAO

International NGOs

Mr. Froylan Castañeda
Forestry Officer (Tropical Forest Management)
Forest Resources Development Service
Forest Resources Division
Food and Agriculture Organizationof the United Nations (FAO)
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
00100 Rome
Italy

Fauna & Flora International

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

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

ITTO

TRAFFIC International

Dr. Steven E. Johnson
International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)
International Organizations Center 5F
Pacifico-Yokohama
1-1-1, Minato-Mirai, Nishi-ku
Yokohama 220-0012
Japan

Miss Ximena Buitrón
TRAFFIC South America – Regional Officec/o IUCN Regional Office for South America
Av. De los Shyris 2680 y Gaspar de Villaroel
Edificio MITA COBADELSA, Penthouse (PH)
Quito
EcuadorTel: ++(81-45) 223-1110
Fax: ++(81-45) 223-1111
E-mail: johnson@itto.or.jp

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

Ms. Naho Tamura
Secretary
Economic Information and Market Intelligence
International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)
International Organizations Center 5F
Pacifico-Yokohama
1-1-1, Minato-Mirai, Nishi-ku
Yokohama 220-0012
Japan
Tel: ++(81-45) 223-1110
Fax: ++(81-45) 223-1111
E-mail: eimi@itto.or.jp

Dr. Georgina Magin
Sustainable Wood Use Project Manager
Fauna & Flora International
Great Eastern House
Tenison Road
Cambridge CB1 2TT
UK

WWF International
Mr. Edgar Maravi
Global Forest ProgramWWF
1250 24th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037-1132
USAE-mail: edgar.maravi@wwfus.org
Ms. Catherine Plume
Regional Forest Coordinator
Latin America & Caribbean
LAC Secretariat
WWF
1250 24th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037-1132
USA
Tel: ++(1-202) 778-9511
Fax: ++(1-202) 296-5348
E-mail: catherine.plume@wwfus.org

53

ITTO

Annex 2
Resolution 1 – exporting countries

Resolution 2 – Ucayali Declaration, Peru

The CITES scientific and management authorities
responsible for the CITES Appendix-II listing of
mahogany in Bolivia, Brazil and Peru, having met
on the occasion of the Workshop on Capacitybuilding for Implementation of CITES Appendix-II
Listing of Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla),

The undersigned participants of the Workshop on
Capacity-building for Implementation of CITES
Appendix-II Listing of Mahogany (Swietenia
macrophylla) recognize and commend the efforts
being made by CITES scientific and management
authorities in Bolivia, Brazil and Peru to face
the challenges derived from the commitments
undertaken in relation to CITES Appendix II
and the implementation of measures aimed at
the conservation and sustainable development ofmahogany, and welcome the constructive attitude of
key industrial and non-industrial forest stakeholders
for the sustainable management of Amazon forests.

HEREBY AGREE:• That the utmost effort should be made to ensure
the optimal implementation of the Convention’s
provisions, in particular, the implementation of
the Appendix-II listing of mahogany••

That a working group should be establishedin order to coordinate and join efforts to ensure
better achievement of objectives, particularly in
relation to non-detriment findings
That each country has different realities and hence
particular situations for the implementation of
the CITES Appendix-II listing of mahogany

AND HEREBY SUGGEST:•

That the international financial community
should 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 CITES
authorities in the three countries can meet anddevelop a common strategy to be implemented
by all three States•

That international institutions should support
in-country initiatives to be undertaken
independently of regional initiatives

Pucallpa, 21 May 2004
Signed by the CITES scientific and management
authorities of Bolivia, Brazil and Peru54

We hereby express our sincere hope that, as a resultof these efforts, the listing of mahogany will betransferred from CITES Appendix II to Appendix III
in the shortest term possible.
Pucallpa, 21 May 2004
Signed by representatives from a range of trade,non-governmental and international organizations
present at the workshop

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

ITTO TECHNICAL SERIES 22

INTERNATIONAL TROPIC AL TIMBER ORGANIZATIONInternational 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

MAKING THE MAHOGANY TRADE WORK

INTERNATIONAL TROPICAL TIMBER ORGANIZATION