Only four of 105 shark-fishing nations have implemented any shark fishery management plans. Most nations don't monitor shark fisheries, and in many cases basic figures on the species or volume of sharks caught are unavailable. Many conservationists are disappointed that the only shark proposal under consideration this year is for Appendix I listing of sawfishes, taken mainly for the curio trade. Some contend that several species deserve immediate listing. A rainforest species that ranges from Mexico and Central America to Brazil and Bolivia, bigleaf mahogany is valued internationally for its luxurious wood.
Conservation groups say the trees have been decimated by decades of unsustainable logging.
The industry argues that there is insufficient scientific evidence that bigleaf mahogany is declining and cites plantations in Indonesia and other countries that have expanded the range of the species. New scientific evidence clearly justifies bigleaf mahogany Appendix II listing. During demonstrations outside Vice President Gore's office and in letters to Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, conservationists called on the United States, the world's largest consumer of bigleaf mahogany, to ensure its sustainable use. Bolivia, a major bigleaf mahogany exporter, is cosponsoring the listing proposal. By ensuring that bigleaf mahogany is used sustainably, the proposal would benefit both the timber industry and conservation.