Realising sustainable trade in African Blackwood

Designer Tanya Bowd will show her environmentally sustainable African blackwood jewellery collection at London Fashion Week.

Each piece in Tanya’s ‘Africa East’ collection is hand carved from African blackwood.

Using Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)–certified wood ensures Tanya’s collection, which she designs under the name Candescent, features only wood from trees that are grown and the forests managed sustainably according to an international standard.

“My designs always begin with the environment and sustainability in mind,” Tanya says, “The narrative of culture, style, beauty and colour in my range are not compromised by my decision to use only fair trade materials – in fact this adds to the beauty.” (more…)

Sign the petition against downgrading the Lacey Act which aims to combat the illegal trade in timber

Many of the world’s tonewood species have been pushed to the brink of extinction by illegal logging.

Musicians need to be responsible stewards of the world’s forests, both for their own sake and to ensure that future generations of musicians have access to these materials. (more…)

New regulations banning sale of illegal timber in consumer countries will force companies to move away from business-as-usual practices, part of a two-pronged approach to ensure the sustainability of supply for wood products.

Under a regulation that will come into effect in the European Union next year, companies will have to verify the legality of timber from the harvest country onwards, said Chen Hin Keong, Global Forest Trade Programme Leader at TRAFFIC. (more…)

In March 2012, James Laizer, a Maasai conservationist from Tanzania, and Huw Crompton, a leading advocate of fairly harvested hardwoods for musical instruments, will be visiting music colleges and schools to talk about the role that musicians play in preserving valuable tonewoods and delivering sustainable development for some of the world’s poorest people.

African blackwood is the primary component in many woodwind instruments including clarinets, oboes, flutes and recorders. The species is under severe threat due to over-exploitation almost entirely for the music industry.

However, a pioneering project in Tanzania has given communities ownership of the forest and they are now managing the resource in a sustainable way whilst also earning money to pay for community development including clean water systems and healthcare facilities.

During Music and Sustainability, James and Huw will demonstrate how this project is making a huge difference to the lives of people in Africa and explain the  role that musicians play in sustainable development and the preservation of forests. (more…)

Imprisonment is one of the penalties facing timber importers in the Australian government’s new legislation prohibiting the importation and sale of illegally logged timber.

The Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill (2011), now being debated in Parliament, carries other significant penalties for importing illegally logged timber or processing illegally harvested domestic raw logs, including large fines. (more…)

Martin Guitar has recently confirmed an order for FSC®-certified African blackwood.

The order is in line with the company’s firm policy of only buying wood from legally verified, sustainable and independently cerified sources.

These environmental principles have been communicated via a series of Wood Summits hosted at Martin Guitar headquarters in Nazareth, Pennsylvania.

Tom Roche of Sound & Fair partner, Just Forests, attended the last Wood Summit in May 2011 and was left in no doubt of Martin Guitar’s intentions with regards to sustainable wood sourcing:

“There was no doubt whatsoever that Martin meant ‘business as usual’ was not part of their plans. (more…)

Renowned US guitar maker, Martin, have become the latest musical instrument manufacturer to place an order for Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC)-certified African blackwood.

The FSC®-certified wood originates from community-managed forests in Tanzania and with Martin Guitar already being FSC chain-of-custody-certified, the wood can be used to make FSC 100% instruments carrying the FSC logo.

Tim Teel, Martin Guitar Director of Instrument Design said: “I was delighted to find a beautiful solid wood ebony substitute while attending the Musikmesse in 2011, which is harvested in a responsible manner under FSC.

“This discovery will aid in producing high-quality instruments that will last lifetimes. Many thanks to all those involved.” (more…)

Misinformation has been abundant in the media reporting of the Lacey Act investigation of Gibson guitars.

Particularly misleading has been the widespread suggestion that musicians could have their instruments seized on suspicion that they contain illegally harvested wood, even if those instruments were built many years ago.

Some commentators have even suggested that Michelle Obama could be arrested after giving France’s First Lady, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, a gift of a Gibson guitar during a recent state visit.

Peddlers of such myths fail to understand the fundamentals of the Lacey Act, most significantly the rule that in order for a prosecution to take place the buyer of wood must be aware of illegality. (more…)

The Lacey Act, US legislation aimed at controlling the importation of illegally harvested wood, was a winner at the 2011 World Future Council‘s Future Policy Awards.

The Future Policy Award provides valuable international recognition of the Lacey Act as one of the world’s most inspiring and innovative forest policies. (more…)

With the Lacey Act under sustained assault from right wing commentators and some sections of the music industry, it has been refreshing to see some notable figures in the guitar world expressing their support for the US legislation aimed at curtailing illegal logging.

Chris Martin, Chairman and CEO C.F. Martin Guitar, said: “I think it’s a wonderful thing. I think illegal logging is appalling. It should stop. And if this is what it takes unfortunately to stop unscrupulous operators, I’m all for it. It’s tedious, but we’re getting through it.” (more…)