International Trade in Plants and Wildlife Information for Musicians and Manufacturers of Musical Instruments
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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service International Trade in Plants and Wildlife Information for musicians and manufacturers of musical instruments People have been using natural materials Antique Piano with Ivory Keys (specimens acquired before the CITES to make musical instruments for thousands listing date of the species) and rules for of years. Turtle shell and ivory, desired personal imports when traveling with your for their beauty as accent materials, were instrument, see http://1.usa.gov/OPviI1. used for centuries in the manufacture of musical instruments, while fine woods The Lacey Act such as Brazilian rosewood, sought for This U.S. conservation law, which dates to their tonal quality and appearance, have 1900, originally focused on helping States a much shorter history in the musical safeguard game species and keeping instrument industry. This very demand harmful exotic wildlife out of this country. has also contributed to the decline of wild The Lacey Act has been amended several populations of these species. Many of the times since it was first enacted, including species used in the production of musical amendments to prohibit interstate or Colin Sewers, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Colin Sewers, CC BY-NC-SA instruments are now protected under U.S., international transport of wildlife taken in foreign, and international law. Convention on International Trade in violation of State, Federal, tribal, or foreign Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora law and to provide some limited safeguards This fact sheet provides a general overview (CITES) for certain plant species. In May 2008, of requirements under U.S. conservation CITES is an international agreement the Lacey Act was amended to expand its laws for importing wildlife and plant among governments that aims to ensure protection to a broader range of plants and parts and products and for travelling that international trade in species of wild plant products. internationally with instruments made from animals and plants does not threaten their protected species, and directs you to other survival. It entered into force in 1975 and With the 2008 amendments, it is now resources for additional information. currently provides protection to more unlawful to import, export, transport, sell, than 30,000 species of animals and plants. receive, acquire, or purchase in interstate It also highlights some wildlife and plant Species covered under CITES are afforded or foreign commerce any plant, with some species that are either currently or were varying degrees of protection, depending in limited exceptions, taken or traded in historically used in the manufacture of which of the three Appendices the species violation of the laws of the United States, instruments and are globally protected or is listed a State, or an Indian Tribe, or any foreign subject to special requirements. law that protects plants. Additionally, Appendix I includes species threatened individuals or businesses importing The U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) with extinction and prohibits commercial commercial shipments of plants and plant Recognizing that our rich natural heritage trade in these species. Appendix II includes products covered under the Lacey Act is of “esthetic, ecological, educational, species that, although currently not into the United States must now file a recreational, and scientific value to our threatened with extinction, may become declaration form upon importation. Nation and its people,” Congress passed so without trade controls. Appendix the ESA in 1973. The purpose of the III includes species for which a range Additional information on the import ESA is to protect and recover imperiled country has requested the cooperation of requirements and a link to the Plant species and the ecosystems upon which other CITES Parties in helping to ensure and Plant Product Declaration Form they depend, and both U.S. native and effective control of international trade in can be found on the U.S. Department of nonnative species are protected under the that species. Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health ESA. The ESA prohibits the interstate Inspection Service, website at http://1.usa. and international trade in listed plants and Through a system of permits and gov/1kBgOuc. animals, including their parts and products, certificates, CITES provides a framework except under Federal permit. Such permits for cooperation and collaboration among Brazilian rosewood generally are issued for conservation and nations to prevent further decline in wild Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra) is scientific purposes. Pre-ESA items, such populations of plants and animals. As a a leguminous tree species that is endemic as antiques, may be exempt from permit signatory Party to CITES, the United to Brazil. This dark and dense wood requirements. For additional information, States ensures that imports, exports, is used for flooring, furniture, musical contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and re-exports of CITES-listed species instruments, and other fine wooden articles. (FWS), Office of Law Enforcement at be accompanied by required permits and Unfortunately, the international demand [email protected]. certificates. For information on CITES for Brazilian rosewood, coupled with requirements, including documentation widespread conversion of the forests where needed for pre-Convention specimens the species occurs, largely for agricultural purposes, has led to the species becoming turtles) are included in CITES Appendix I. endangered. The hawksbill sea turtle has been listed in Appendix I since 1975, and as a result, all Brazilian rosewood has been listed in commercial trade in the species has been CITES Appendix I since 1992, and prohibited since that date. international commercial trade in Brazilian rosewood harvested after that date, Mother of pearl and products made from such wood, is Mother of pearl, or nacre, is a material prohibited. produced from the inner shell layer of many mollusks. Mother of pearl is strong and Pernambuco wood iridescent, and is used in manufacturing a Pernambuco wood (Caesalpinia echinata) wide range of products, including buttons, is also a leguminous tree occurring only jewelry, and decorative accents on musical along the northeastern coast of Brazil. The instruments. Although mother of pearl dense, red heartwood of the tree produces is a wildlife product, it is not listed under an economically important dye and was the ESA or CITES, and may be traded heavily exploited for trade to Europe internationally without permits. for centuries, beginning in the 1500s. Pernambuco is also the premier wood for However, like other wildlife shipments, making bows for stringed instruments and commercial imports of mother of pearl has been used for that purpose for over 250 must be declared to the Service and must years. Large scale habitat conversion, as be imported through specific ports of entry. well as significant international demand for Visit www.fws.gov/le for more information. the wood, led to the species being included in CITES Appendix II in 2007. As the information in this fact sheet Solid Rosewood Guitar highlights, there are a variety of laws Mark Bidder, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 CC BY-NC-ND Mark Bidder, The CITES listing of pernambuco covers and regulations that apply to many of the logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets, and sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), plants and wildlife used to make musical unfinished wood articles used for the and killer whale (Orcinus orca) produce instruments. However, equipped with the fabrication of bows for stringed musical ivory, the tusks from Asian elephants necessary information, manufacturers instruments, but does not include finished (Elephas maximus) and African elephants of musical instruments can still create wood articles, such as bows. All shipments (Loxodonta africana) are the most beautiful instruments with natural of pernambuco logs, sawn wood, veneer desired sources of ivory. One of the most materials and sell them worldwide. The sheets, and unfinished wood articles used well-known traditional uses of ivory is conservation measures enacted by the for making bows being imported into or for covering piano keys. Ivory has also U.S. Government and the international re-exported from the United States must be been used in guitars and other stringed community help to ensure that these accompanied by CITES documents. At the instruments, as well as in violin bows. precious plant and wildlife species will time of the listing, a number of individuals flourish in their native habitats and be and businesses in the United States The Asian elephant is listed in CITES around for the enjoyment of generations possessed previously acquired stockpiles of Appendix I and as endangered under to come, both in the wild and as beautiful pernambuco wood. FWS has advised those the ESA. Because of their status under works of humancreated art. entities to document their stockpiles with CITES and the ESA, all commercial trade sales receipts, inventory logs, and other in Asian elephants and their parts and For more information visit: appropriate records to show that the wood products is prohibited. African elephants was acquired before the September 13, are listed as threatened under the ESA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: 2007, effective date of the listing. and most populations are listed in CITES • Office of Law Enforcement, Appendix I. African elephants are also http://www.fws.gov/le/. Rosewood (Dalbergia), Bubinga and protected under the U.S. African Elephant • What Can I Do With My Ivory?