CITES must urgently take the steps to save Madagascar’s unique species of rosewood and ebony

Abstract

This contribution is an open letter to all CITES Management and Scientific Authorities, which is signed by all of the co-authors. As CITES convenes its 19th Conference of the Parties in November 2022, some of the largest seizures in history of illegally harvested CITES-listed species are poised to be handed back to the criminals who smuggled them out of Madagascar. Nearly 40,000 rosewood logs were illegally exported from the country in 2014, in clear violation of CITES and national embargos, as explicitly declared in Notices issued by the CITES Secretariat. The logs were seized by Singapore, Kenya, and Sri Lanka, but as a result of both passive and active interference from various Malagasy officials and aggressive use of these countries’ national court and political systems, orders have now been issued for the logs to be returned to the smugglers. Release of this wood would have catastrophic consequences for the future sustainable management of Madagascar’s remaining rosewood and ebony resources. We propose five essential steps that should be taken at the upcoming CITES CoP 19 in Panama to prevent this from happening.

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“…In 2014, nearly 40,000 rosewood logs originating from Madagascar were confiscated in the ports of Singapore, Kenya, and Sri Lanka; one of the largest seizures of illegally harvested CITES species ever recorded. Approximately 30,000 rosewood and ebony logs currently remain in stockpiles in Madagascar (Roberts et al, 2022).…”

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“…Perhaps more pertinent to this post is the second of the two atrociously carbon emission-intensive CoPs, the CITES CoP in Panama. Discussed all-too-briefly at the event was the ongoing issue of Malagasy rosewood and ebony, including the fate of some 40,000 illegally sourced logs that have been held in Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Kenya since 2014 (Roberts 2022. The consignment in Singapore-valued at US$ 50 million at the time it was identified-represents the largest ever seizure of illegally trafficked CITES-listed species.…”

“…Briefly, the outcome from the CITES conference thus far, is that stockpiled logs-illegally sourced-across the country, are ostensibly to be used 'domestically'. By this is meant that the timber will be used for construction, building restoration and for "sale to domestic tourists, with items weighing a maximum of 10kg (Roberts et al 2022). With regards the latter, questions that go begging are (a) what kind of items are 'domestic tourists' going want to purchase; (b) considering the heavy, dense nature of both rosewood and ebony, is that weight limit realistic; and (c), who will measure and monitor all these items, given the controversial nature of the wood?…”