EU agricultural ministers held discussions in December 2009 on proposed legislation that would oblige EU timber importers to ensure that wood does not come from illegal forestry. Read More
The world’s first sustainably harvested African blackwood generates new income for Tanzanian forest communities.
Some of the world’s poorest people have opened up a new source of revenue by selling the world’s first sustainably harvested African blackwood from their forests.
The timber harvest was carried out under the strict criteria of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Read More
In September 2009, Irish flute maker, Martin Doyle, travelled from the West coast of Ireland to Southern Tanzania in find and learn about the African Blackwood or mpingo tree. Read More
John Osmond, Director of the Institute of Welsh Affairs (IWA), is climbing Kilimanjaro in January 2010 in support of the Mpingo Conservation Project in southern Tanzania.
John’s Kilimanjaro climb is a part of the IWA’s commitment to a new project called Rainforest – the Size of Wales.
An area “the size of Wales” is frequently used to emphasise how fast forest is being lost. Read More
Federal agents from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and local police seized wood, guitars, computers and boxes of files from Gibson Guitar’s Massman Road manufacturing facility yesterday.
Sources say the Nashville-based guitar manufacturer is being investigated for violating the Lacey Act, a key piece of environmental law, for importing endangered species of rosewood from Madagascar. Read More
New FSC certificate for African Blackwood heralds a brighter future for rural Tanzanians and ethical woodwind instruments.
Some of the world’s poorest people have achieved international recognition for responsible forest management, and a golden opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty, through selling responsibly harvested timber for musical instruments Read More
This report assesses the retail market for woodwind instruments in the UK and the implications for the Sound & Fair campaign which aims to realise a sustainable trade in African blackwood through a fully-certified chain of custody linking village communities in Tanzania to woodwind instrument musicians in the UK. Read More
This report assesses the supply chain and economic issues related to the certification of community managed forests in Tanzania and the implications for the Sound & Fair campaign which aims to realise a sustainable trade in African blackwood through a fully-certified chain of custody linking village communities in Tanzania to woodwind instrument musicians in the UK. Read More
This report provides background information on UK consumers of musical instruments made from African blackwood and the implications for the Sound & Fair campaign which aims to realise a sustainable trade in African blackwood through a fully-certified chain of custody linking village communities in Tanzania to woodwind instrument musicians in the UK.
It features the results of a small consumer survey of musicians covering customer types, key issues, demand assessments and perceived willingness to pay a premium for musical instruments made from certified timber. Read More
WALDEN GUITARS LAUNCHES FSC-CERTIFIED ACOUSTIC GUITAR RANGE
Walden Guitars has launched a range of FSC-certified acoustic guitars that will enable guitarists to make purchasing decisions based environmental as well as cost factors.
The FSC-certified MADERA guitar range will be built with 100% FSC-Pure certified tonewoods such as Sitka spruce, Western Red cedar, and South American ‘True’ mahogany.
With an FSC Chain-of-Custody certification, all woods on the MADERA are tracked from forest to finished instrument thereby guaranteeing its sustainable origins.
“We all share the same world and we all need to do our part to be a part of the solution and ensure we live in a sustainable way,” says Jonathan Lee, Chief Designer behind Walden guitars.
“Ecologically friendly products are in high demand but sustainable-wood acoustic guitars are rare and expensive.
“‘Green’ acoustic guitars made by ethically run factories in Mainland China do not exist; until now.
“Obtaining certification and building with FSC-Pure materials is the only way we can be sure that we are honestly obtaining woods from responsible sources.
“However, these sources are rare at this time. It is my hope that demand for these instruments will aid in certifying more forests around the world and make sustainable living commonplace.”
Find out more at Walden Guitars