28 September 2011: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has announced that it will list 91 species of hardwood from Madagascar and Panama on its Appendix III, effective 22 December 2011. Appendix III lists those species identified by a CITES Party as being subject to regulation within its jurisdiction for the purpose of preventing or restricting exploitation, and as needing the co-operation of other Parties in the control of trade.

The listing of ebony wood and rosewood species in Convention’s Appendix III is seen as helping to facilitate detection of fraud and make critical trade information available to exporting and importing countries. The accompanying regulations mean that all cross-border shipments will have to be authorized by a document certifying their origin.

Madagascar requested the inclusion in Appendix III of five species of rosewood (Dalbergia spp) and 84 species of ebony wood (Diospyros spp) after illegal trade increased by 25 percent in 2009 and approximately 25,000 cubic meters of rosewood were exported. In future, all international trade in logs, sawn wood and veneer sheets of the listed species will need to be accompanied by CITES documentation confirming the country of origin. Panama has also requested the listing of their national populations of Dalbergia darienensis and Dalbergia retusa, known as black rosewood or cocobolo. [CITES Press Release]