Tropical Forest Foundation -- Mahogany


About - History - Leadership - Board of Directors RIL - TFF Standard for Reduced Impact Logging - Cost/Benefits Study - South America - Asia - Africa Mahogany Contributors - Corporate Sponsors - Partners Support TFF - Contributor's App. TFF Newsletters TFF Species Bulletins Press Releases/News/ Documents of Interest CITES Tomorrow's Forests Industry Can Help Consider This Links Contact "Once you have some promising way to use the forest, it's very important to spread that far and wide so people understand here is something that works, and here is something that works economically." Dr. Thomas Lovejoy Smithsonian Institution.		Mahogany Management Swietenia Macrophylla, commonly known as "Big Leaf" mahogany, for many generations, has been the most popular exotic tropical timber species in the trade. Used primarily in fine furniture, cabinetry, fancy veneers, musical instruments, boats, and interior paneling, this rich, reddish brown wood denotes prestige and commands a high price. Consequently, the high market value and desirability of mahogany have contributed to mismanagement and illegal trade of the species, creating the need for leadership in managing mahogany. Since its institution, the Tropical Forest Foundation (TFF), in partnership with the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) and with the support of the International Wood Products Association (IWPA) has been actively researching and creating educational opportunities for forest stakeholders to learn more about mahogany management. In 1992, TFF co-sponsored a mahogany management workshop in Belém, Brazil that attracted forest industry officials, conservation experts, government agencies, and academics. Participants addressed a variety of topics, including the listing of S. Macrophylla in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), mahogany plantations, certification, and labeling. Though no formal conclusions were reached, many important issues were addressed and a dialogue was established for future deliberations. A decade later, more than 100 forest stakeholders gathered in the Amazon Basin for a second TFF workshop, Sustainable Trade and Management of Mahogany. The workshop was unique in that it was designed to feature the participation of mahogany producers and buyers, groups essential to public perception, and the future of mahogany. To learn more about the Sustainable Trade and Management of Mahogany workshop, please review the Workshop Proceedings [PDF]. The success of the workshops in addition to the conclusions and recommendations that resulted from them, have prompted TFF to plan a mahogany management pilot program in the Amazon region, specifically in small, sparsely populated areas of Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. The program will demonstrate that mahogany can be legally harvested and tracked from the forest to the marketplace. Mahogany Proceedings Cover Letter - (Word) Workshop Proceedings - (PDF)