The wood of the endangered tree species Paubrasilia echinata (previously Caesalpinia echinata), has traditionally been used for making string instrument bows. Currently, there is a discussion about how best to conserve this species. In particular, there is an initiative to upgrade its international conservation status on CITES, which would lead restriction of Brazilwood trading . Bow makers and related industries are presently lobbying against the CITES upgrade. I find it difficult to obtain unbiased, objective information on how to best address this problem from a conservation perspective. Can anyone please comment? Many thanks,
Thomas
(see https://cites.org/sites/default/files/ndf_material/WG1-CS5.pdf)
Against the background of the obviously critical population situation of the species and the fact that - as far as I understand it correctly - there has been no substantial improvement over the last decades, it seems to me that it is appropriate to suspend the trade. At the same time, those who are locally dependent on the wood product should be supported structurally and financially in order to rebuild tree populations of the species in the medium and long term that will later be suitable for economic exploitation again. This may be the case in 30, 60 or 120 years. The decisive factor for that point in time is that the conservation status of the tree species has significantly improved.
This is just an opinion, I am not personally involved with work on this tree species or similar cases.
I understand that the background and interrelationships are otherwise complex and should certainly be taken into account (see Lichtenberg et al 2022). However, this should not affect the basic decision to protect the species.
Lichtenberg, S., E. Huber-Sannwald, J. Reyes-Agüero, D. Anhuf, and U. Nehren. 2022. Pau-brasil and string instrument bows
telecouple nature, art, and heritage. Ecology and Society 27(1):32. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-13047-270132
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