There is little dispute that the most valuable species are being cut at unsustainable rates in some areas, and have been commercially eliminated in some of their historic range. The presence of mahogany trees is sometimes a reason constructing roads. Behind roads, human settlement almost invariably follows. Thus, in contrast to some species whose loss is caused by deforestation, logging mahogany trees is one factor leading to deforestation. Even so, many mahogany species are fairly abundant in parts of their historic range.
Many species have common names only in local languages.
Listing proposals are restricted to these 17 species, plus S. macrophylla. Species of Khaya range from Liberia east to Tanzania and Uganda, and south to Angola and Zimbabwe. Species of Entandrophragma range throughout the tropical lowlands of Africa, from Liberia to Kenya to Mozambique to Namibia. African species are found in most forest types. Many, perhaps most, of these species are over-exploited or severely reduced in parts of their ranges, or have been eliminated in all but plantation culture in certain areas.