UNEP-WCMC technical report Non-CITES timber species from South East Asia (Leguminosae) potentially warranting further protection (Version edited for public release) 2 Non-CITES timber species from Southeast Asia (Leguminosae) potentially warranting further protection Prepared for The European Commission, Directorate General Environment, Directorate E - Global & Regional Challenges, LIFE ENV.E.2. – Global Sustainability, Trade & Multilateral Agreements , Brussels, Belgium Prepared January 2014 Copyright European Commission 2014 Citation UNEP-WCMC. 2014. Non-CITES timber species from Southeast Asia (Leguminosae) potentially warranting further protection . UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge. The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) is the specialist biodiversity assessment of the United Nations Environment Programme, the world’s foremost intergovernmental environmental organization. The Centre has been in operation for over 30 years, combining scientific research with policy advice and the development of decision tools. We are able to provide objective, scientifically rigorous products and services to help decision - makers recognize the value of biodiversity and apply this knowledge to all that they do. To do this, we collate and verify data on biodiversity and ecosystem services that we analyze and interpret in compreh ensive assessments, making the results available in appropriate forms for national and international level decision -makers and businesses. To ensure that our work is both sustainable and equitable we seek to build the capacity of partners where needed, so that they can provide the same services at national and regional scales. The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP, contributory organisations or editors. The designations employed and the presentations do not im ply the expressions of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP, the European Commission or contributory organisations, editors or publishers concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city area or its authorities, or concerning the delimitat ion of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of a commercial entity or product in this publication does not imply endorsement by UNEP. UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) 219 Huntingdon Road, UNEP promotes Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK environmentally sound Tel: +44 1223 277314 practices globally and in its www.unep-wcmc.org own activities. Printing on paper from environmentally sustainable forests and recycled fibre is encouraged. 3 Contents Executive summary ................................................................................................................................ 4 Introduction and background .............................................................................................................. 5 Methods .................................................................................................................................................. 6 Overview of Dalbergia spp. ................................................................................................................... 7 Dalbergia annamensis ........................................................................................................................ 8 Dalbergia oliveri (including D. bariensis and D. mammosa ) ......................................................... 9 Dalbergia tonkinensis ....................................................................................................................... 15 Koompassia grandiflora ................................................................................................................... 20 Pericopsis mooniana ........................................................................................................................ 22 Appendix ............................................................................................................................................... 27 4 Executive summary The aim of this report is to assist the SRG with the identification of non-CITES timber tree species that may be threatened by international trade and require action accordingly. In particular, it reviews a selection of South East Asian Leguminosae timber tree taxa identified as of potential concern at a 2007 regional workshop on " Strategies for the sustainable use and management of timber tree species subject to international trade ". Introduction and background 5 This report provides an update on the status of selected timber species to inform SRG deliberations on further action to ensure that trade is sustainable The report has been produced on the basis of the findings of the South East Asia workshop on " Strategies for the sustainable use and management of timber tree species subject to international trade ", held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in September 2007. In 2013, the SRG agreed to revisit the findings of the workshop, starting with Leguminosae, to assess whether any additional action may be required. This report provides an update to the information gathered at the 2007 Workshop for a selection of Leguminosae timber tree taxa considered to be of higher priority. The 2007 Workshop aimed at identifying South East Asian timber species in international trade and in need of action at the national or international level to ensure their long-term sustainable use. The Workshop was funded by the governments of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom and managed by UNEP-WCMC, with participation of experts from various sectors, including CITES, forestry, timber trade and plant taxonomy. Participants provided information on 115 South East Asian timber tree taxa in international trade, identified by UNEP-WCMC based on a global survey undertaken previously (WCMC, 1998). They also nominated an additional seven species for consideration. Preliminary reviews of these taxa were assessed and prioritised by the group of experts on the basis of their conservation status and evidence of international trade. Following this workshop, Dalbergia cochinchinensis , which had been identified as a priority for action, was listed in CITES Appendix II at CITES CoP16 following a proposal by Thailand and Vietnam. The EU FLEGT Action Plan, in particular through its Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs), aims to ensure that only legally harvested timber is imported into the EU from countries part of the scheme. Under this scheme, VPA partner countries develop systems to verify that their timber exports are legal and the EU only accepts licensed imports from those countries. Indonesia is currently the only South East Asian VPA partner country, but agreements are under negotiation with Lao PDR, Malaysia, Thailand and Viet Nam. In addition, the EU Timber Regulation lays down the obligations of EU operators who place timber and timber products on the market. 6 Methods Species selection Twenty-eight Leguminosae timber tree taxa were assessed at the 2007 Workshop (PC17 Inf. 7). Twelve of these taxa were considered to meet the criteria for listing under CITES Appendix II by an earlier assessment of non-CITES tree species (WCMC, 1998). Out of these 12 taxa, Dalbergia cochinchinensis was excluded from this report as it was listed in CITES Appendix II at CoP16; on the basis of the findings of the 2007 Workshopk, Afzelia rhomboidea and Kalabbia celebica were excluded due to lack of international trade; and Dalbergia cambodiana and Erythrophleum fordii were excluded due to insufficient information on trade. This report therefore provides an update to the trade and conservation status information of the remaining seven taxa: • Dalbergia annamensis • Dalbergia bariensis 1 • Dalbergia mammosa 2 • Dalbergia oliveri • Dalbergia tonkinensis • Koompassia grandiflora • Pericopsis mooniana Trade information In the absence of trade statistics for timber by species in the data routinely collected by FAO or the World Customs Organisation, information on trade from the 2007 Workshop has been updated on the basis of recent regional reports on timber trade issues (TRAFFIC, 2012; Environmental Investigation Agency, 2012; Wenbin and Xiufang, 2013) and International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) Annual Review and Assessment of the World Timber Situation (years 2002-2012). In addition, information on the purposes of use of the different species was collected from relevant literature. According to ITTO’s Annual review of Tropical log production in 2011, there were no reports from EU countries of imports of the species under review. However, Malaysia did report production of Koompassia spp. Anecdotal reports indicate that timber of some species under consideration may have been reaching the EU through indirect trade. 1 Combined with Dalbergia oliveri in this report due to taxonomic uncertainties. 2 Combined with Dalbergia oliveri in this report due to taxonomic uncertainties. Overview of Dalbergia spp. 7 Trade and management Dalbergia spp. rosewood was reported to be Despite domestic legislation controlling and highly prized by international traders and restricting its use, Lao People's Democratic worth up to USD 6000 per cubic metre Republic (hereafter referred to as Lao PDR), (Environmental Investigation Agency, Cambodia and Viet Nam were considered to 2012). be significant source and transit countries in the illegal rosewood trade (Environmental According to Wenbin and Xiufang (2013), Investigation Agency, 2012). It was reported China accounted for over half of the global that rosewood was often smuggled from