Many plants and animals in the coastal forests of East Africa, from where most of the carving wood originates, are found nowhere else on earth. It has been calculated that up to half of all mahogany logs used by carvers are hollow. These species, referred to as 'good woods', can be harvested with minimal ecological impact and their increased use will generate extra income to the farmers who grow them. For instance, a play with Wakamba carvers as actors has travelled the major cooperatives and spread the message that there is a need to change to prevent loss of livelihoods. However, carvers are familiar with the hardwoods, and at present they have few incentives to make the switch.
Hardwoods cost little more than good woods.
Carving hardwoods is also more convenient, because there is no need for first curing the timber. The key is to give carvers an incentive to switch to good woods. Kenyan carvers, as with any business, are very responsive to falling trends in demand and there is a good chance that market-led demand for good woods could change their practice. People and Plants has used posters and produced a video to convey the message to prospective buyers. Certification gives consumers an ethical choice.