Opening the Rosewood Pandora’s Box

Consideration of Risks and Impacts Associated with Prematurely Lifting the Trade Ban for SC77

Research from the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) indicates that the CITES trade suspension of Pterocarpus erinaceus – an endangered species of rosewood found in the dry savannahs of western and central Africa – implemented since March 2022 has been effective in limiting international trafficking while improving the conservation of a threatened species. Any move to relax the current suspension for one or more countries within the species’ range would not only lead to an increase in the potentially illegal and unsustainable trade in the respective countries, but effectively undermine efforts to protect the species and risk reopening the deadly boom and bust cycle of illegal logging and trade that has been well documented in the past.

Once opened, the rosewood Pandora’s box will not easily be closed. Learn more in the briefing.