Issue Number 2-7 September 2014

ITTO - PROGRAM FOR IMPLEMENTING CITES CITES LISTINGS OF TROPICAL TREE SPECIES

Newsletter

This Newsletter reports on activities under the second phase of the ITTO-CITES Program for Implementing CITES Listings of Tropical Tree Species. Following up on the successful first phase of In this the Program (2007-2011), this second phase is continuing work for four more years (2012-2015) on the most important CITES-listed tropical tree species in trade. The Program is majority-funded through a grant from the European Union (via the European Commission), which calls for part of Issue the available funds to be devoted to activities relevant to both the ITTO-CITES Program and the ITTO Thematic Program on Trade and Market Transparency (TMT). The Newsletter is published EDITORIAL...... 1 on a quarterly basis, in English, French and Spanish, and is made available to all Program ITTO-CITES PROGRAM...... 2 stakeholders and other individuals interested in the progress of the ITTO–CITES Program. This PROGRAM FUNDING...... 2 issue covers a summary of the Program activities up to August 2014. ACTIVITY PROGRESS Suggestions and contributions from Program stakeholders are essential to make future issues of REPORTS...... 3 this Newsletter as informative and interesting as possible. Please send any correspondence to the RELEVANT EVENTS/ relevant contact(s) listed on the last page. INITIATIVES...... 13 ARTICLE FROM PROGRAM ACTIVITY...... 14 Editorial UPCOMING EVENTS...... 16 Since 2007, the ITTO-CITES Program has strengthened the capacity and enhanced the PROGRAM MONITORING.... 17 knowledge and skills of forest managers, enforcement and customs officers, forest owners and concessionaires, and the timber industries in Asia to comply with the rules and obligations of CITES in managing the trade in products from Gonystylus, and species, especially the CITES Management and Scientific Authorities of Indonesia and Malaysia. During Phase I of the ITTO-CITES Program, activities implemented in the Asian region focused exclusively on Gonystylus species (ramin), and in particular G. bancanus, as its products Donors are the most widely traded in the global market. These activities included improvement of inventory design and silvicultural practices; development of specific guidelines for undertaking non-detriment findings (NDFs) forGonystylus species; guidelines for monitoring flowering and fruiting, and vegetative propagation, of G. bancanus in Indonesia; the development of a DNA database for G. bancanus using leaf and bark samples in Sarawak, Malaysia; and the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) to track and trace the supply chain of ramin which has now been adopted for application in Peninsular Malaysia. The activities implemented in Indonesia, among others, have formalized cooperation in the mass propogation of ramin planting materials between the Forestry Research and Development Agency (FORDA) and the Centres for Seed Production (BPTH) of South Sumatra and South Kalimantan. This included the establishment of hedge orchards and genepools, the production of rooted cuttings, and the certification of seed sources. As a result of the successful implementation of, and the benefits derived from the activities implemented under, Phase I of the ITTO-CITES Program, a number of the activities currently being implemented under Phase II of the ITTO-CITES Program will further enhance and ensure that the trade in ramin products are sourced from legal and sustainably managed forests. A case in point is the activity to further develop the DNA database developed in Sarawak to utilize timber extracts and to cover not only G. bancanus, but also to include the other 21 Gonystylus species found in Sarawak. (Activity “Use of DNA for identification ofGonystylus species and timber geographical origin in Sarawak”). Another follow-up activity under Phase II is the wider application of vegetative propagation techniques of ramin that will contribute to the survival of populations in the wild, and the “Guideline for Non-Deterimental Finding Assessment on Ramin (Gonystylus spp.)” in Indonesia, as well as the further dissemination of the “Roadmap Toward Sustainable Management and Conservation of Ramin (Gonystylus spp.)” under the Activity “Capacity building on seedling propagation techniques and awareness raising on CITES implementation and ramin roadmap”. With the expanded species scope of Phase II of the ITTO-CITES Program, Indonesia and Malaysia Private sector donors: Abbott- will also be able to address gaps in managing Aquilaria and Gyrinops species, especially those Solvay, Indena, EuroMed and Plavuma Cont’d on page 15 ITTO-CITES Program Program funding The “ITTO – CITES Program for Phase II of the Program has an approved budget of nearly $10 million and has so Implementing CITES Listings of Tropical Tree far received pledges of funding from the European Union (through the European Species” aims to ensure that international Commission - EC), United States of America, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands and trade in CITES-listed tropical tree species the private sector. The second and third pre-financing of EUR 1.2 million each under is consistent with their sustainable the ITTO-EC contract (that provides for two-thirds of the Phase II budget) was received management and conservation. The specific from the European Commission in March 2013 and March 2014 respectively, with objective of the Program is to assist CITES the same amount expected under the fourth pre-financing in early 2015. The United national authorities and the private sector States of America is another strong supporter of the Program, with pledges to Phase to meet the requirements for managing and II of USD 180,000 during the 48th ITTC Session in November 2012 and USD regulating trade in CITES-listed tree species; 200,000 during the 49th ITTC Session in November 2013. The Netherlands pledged to provide capacity-building support, and to USD 70,000 at the end of 2013; Germany, Norway and the private sector have conduct specific studies where information is made pledges of between USD 100,000 – 200,000 each for Phase II activities, some lacking so as to develop an enhanced global of which were carried over from Phase I. ITTO will encourage donors to continue framework for the collection and analysis providing funds to meet the co-financing provisions of the ITTO-EC contract since of information related to the biology and requests for support under the Program continue to exceed available resources. management of species and trade in tropical forest products. The main species covered to date are Pericopsis elata (afrormosia or assamela), Prunus africana (pygeum) and Activity progress reports Status: Completed Diospyros spp. (ebony) of Central Africa Start date: September 2012 and Madagascar; Swietenia macrophylla Under Phase II of the Program, ITTO has, Planned duration: 12 months (big-leaf mahogany), Cedrela odorata and in consultation with the CITES Secretariat, Actual duration: 24 months other Cedrela spp. (cedro) in Latin America; approved 10 new Activities in Africa, 12 in The Activity was completed in August 2014. as well as Dalbergia spp. (rosewood) in both Asia, 10 in Latin America and two global It developed an effective monitoring system Africa and Latin America. Those covered Activities; while one Activity in both Africa for logging, processing and trade in assamela in Southeast Asia are Gonystylus spp. and Latin America approved during Phase products, and trained control agents in forest (ramin) and Aquilaria spp./Gyrinops spp. I of the ITTO-CITES Program was extended control and the use of CITES tools. A total (). and continued to be implemented under Phase II of the Program. All of the 35 of six outputs were achieved including (i) The main range States exporting significant Activities approved or extended under Phase the scheme of data flow was developed; volumes of these species are Cameroon, II have finalized agreements with ITTO to (ii) data required were identified; (iii) the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar facilitate their implementation or are in the architecture of the system was built; (iv) and Republic of Congo in Africa; Indonesia process of doing so. In addition to the 36 data were collected and stored; (v) users of and Malaysia in Asia; and Bolivia, Brazil, Activities approved or extended under Phase the database were trained; and (vi) control Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay and Peru in II of the Program, an additional 12 Activity agents were trained in the use of the CITES Latin America. The direct beneficiaries of this proposals (eight in Africa, two in Asia and tools. The full completion report of the Program are public authorities and private two in Latin America) submitted to ITTO are Activity is available on the Program website. sector operators in the forest sector in the pending approval/availability of funds. Law enforcement and management of range States. The indirect beneficiaries are Pericopsis elata in production forests in other Parties to CITES and members of ITTO Information about each country Activity Cameroon that trade in these species, who will benefit (country, Activity document, executing through capacity building and awareness and implementing agency, final reports, Implementing agency: Agence Nationale raising programs. Program assistance is other outputs, etc.) can be found on the d’Appui au Développement Forestier available to countries that are significant Program website (http://www.itto.int/cites_ (ANAFOR) exporters of products from CITES-listed tree programme). The following section provides Status: Operational species, or that have the potential to become brief descriptions and progress reports for Start date: November 2013 significant exporters. Activities undertaken since the inception of Planned duration: 18 months Phase II of the Program until August 2014 Actual duration: 10 months (except for Activities which have been reported complete in previous issues of the In almost all the forest management plans Newsletter). Activities pending funding will of southeast Cameroon, prescriptions be reviewed as additional resources become were made to promote the regeneration available with a view to making the most and silviculture of Pericopsis elata, but effective use of available Program resources. tools or standards for such activities have never been developed by the forest Africa administration. The Activity is a continuation Cameroon of assistance to Cameroon to prepare its first non-detriment finding (NDF) report on Settlement of a monitoring system for P. elata in production forests under Phase logging and processing of assamela and I of the ITTO-CITES Program. The Activity, training control agents on the use of CITES which is expected to be completed in tools and procedures in Cameroon April 2015, aims to implement the main Implementing agency: Agence Nationale recommendations outlined in the NDF d’Appui au Développement Forestier report and those related to law enforcement (ANAFOR) regarding P. elata. The expected outputs of

2 the Activity will result in (i) research results A total of three experts have been recruited or local) level; and (ii) individual (tree) level. well analyzed; (ii) silvicultural operations and are currently working in the field. The The second training workshop was organized in forest concessions well promoted; first important output is expected to be at the “Espace Traiteur” centre in Brazzaville and (iii) tools required for more effective delivered in three months dealing with from 11-12 June 2014 by the Centre implementation of forest laws and the CITES establishment and management of P. elata National d’Inventaire et d’Aménagement requirements in Cameroon well developed. plantations. According to the second activity des Ressources Forestières et Fauniques The Activity is executed by the Agence report, the Activity will be completed in April (CNIAF). Participants came from the CITES Nationale d’Appui au Développement 2015 as scheduled. Management Authority (DCN), Directorate Forestier (ANAFOR) in collaboration with Pilot implementation of a DNA traceability of Forest Management, Directorate of Forest the Cameroonian Association of Timber system for Pericopsis elata in forest Control, non-governmental organizations Companies. The first Activity progress report concessions and sawmills in Cameroon and (NGOs), and the University of Marien was sent to ITTO in January 2014 while Congo Ngouabi. The workshop was organized in the second report was sent in July 2014. two parts including theoretical and practical In the second progress report, ANAFOR Implementing agency: Double HELIX (in courses. In both countries, questions had requested (and ITTO approved) the cooperation with ANAFOR and CNIAF) regarding the efficiency of the system, the completion date to be re-scheduled from Status: Operational sampling level, the salary limit imposed April to November 2015 with no change in Start date: April 2014 on the coordination team (6 months paid the ITTO budget so as to allow the experts to Planned duration: 12 months instead of 12 months), and capacity building complete their specific activities in the field, Actual duration: 5 months were raised. With regard to capacity building, participants of the workshops especially in the areas of phenology and The Activity supports the ITTO-CITES proposed that the Program should also assist silviculture studies. Program output for a cost-effective countries in establishing a laboratory for regulatory system for the trade in CITES- A total of nine experts have been recruited DNA extraction at the local level. Double listed tree species. The main outputs and are currently working in the field. They Helix has indicated that they could assist in are (i) development of genetic markers are from research institutions, including establishing such laboratory for identification for Pericopsis elata suitable for DNA universities, and the National Institute for of materials and in training local technicians. Development and Agricultural Research fingerprinting; (ii) capacity building (IRAD). ITTO sent the second installment of and training of local teams in DNA The coordination teams from Cameroon and funds in August 2014. sample collection and storage; and (iii) Congo have already sent students and field implementation of DNA traceability in three technicians to the forest to collect samples Sustainable management of Pericopsis elata controlled supply chains from pre-harvest to of P. elata as taught during the workshop. towards the implementation of the simple point of export. In Cameroon, the students were selected management plan of the Bidou II plantation from the University of Douala while in the The first training workshop on DNA sampling in the Kienké South Forest Reserve, Republic of Congo, the two students were was organized in Cameroon from 2-3 June Cameroon selected from the University of Marien 2014, in the “Residence Julie”, at Kribi, Ngouabi, Brazzaville. The Congo Brazzaville Implementing agency: Agence Nationale Cameroon by ANAFOR in collaboration team is expected to complete the first d’Appui au Développement Forestier with Double Helix. The specific objective phase of the sampling by 25 August 2014 (ANAFOR) of the workshop was to build capacity and (35 samples from each of the two forest Status: Operational train local teams in DNA sample collection concessions in the north of Congo, giving a Start date: November 2013 and storage. Some 30 participants from the total of 70 samples of P. elata). Planned duration: 18 months CITES Scientific Authority (ANAFOR), the Actual duration: 10 months CITES Management Authority (Ministry of Pilot implementation of a DNA traceability The Activity, which is expected to be Forestry and Wildlife), trade companies and system for Prunus africana in Prunus completed in April 2015, aims to implement the universities including those in Douala, Allocation Units in Cameroon and the simple management plan of Bidou II Dschang, and Yaoundé attended. It was Democratic Republic of Congo noted that DNA could be used to verify plantation of Pericopsis elata, based in Implementing agency: Double HELIX (in the south region of Cameroon, which was the origin of the product at different levels, including (i) the geographic (global, regional, cooperation with ANAFOR and DCN) prepared during Phase I of the ITTO-CITES Status: Operational Program. The expected outputs of the Activity will include (i) silvicultural operations in the Bidou plantation realized; (ii) seeds and seedlings required to develop new plantations produced; (iii) new plantations of P. elata established; and (iv) ecological, biological and silvicultural knowledge on P. elata improved and disseminated. The Activity is executed by the Agence Nationale d’Appui au Développement Forestier (ANAFOR) in collaboration with the National Institute for Development and Agricultural Research (IRAD). As with the Activity “Law enforcement and management of Pericopsis elata in production forests in Cameroon”, two progress reports have been submitted to ITTO, the first one in January 2014 and the second one in August 2014. Participants at the training workshop on DNA sampling and extraction of Pericopsis elata, Kribi, Cameroon, 3 June 2014. Photo: ANAFOR

3 Start date: June 2014 Tala Forest Management Unit in the North separates Kinshasa, the headquarters of Planned duration: 18 months Congo (see NDF report for Pericopsis elata the implementing agency at the Institut Actual duration: 3 months in Congo on Program website). It aims Congolais pour la Conservation de la to address the main recommendations Nature (ICCN), and the production sites in This Activity aims to demonstrate that by outlined in the non-detriment finding (NDF) North and South Kivu. Nevertheless, two using DNA techniques, Prunus africana report on P. elata in north Congo. The local trade companies, namely, “Maison bark could be traced back to specific trees expected outputs of the Activity include (i) Kahindo Muvunga” and “PLAVUMA” have from the controlled Prunus Allocation Units biological and ecological data on P. elata agreed to conduct Prunus inventories under (PAUs). The proposed DNA traceability collected and analyzed; (ii) silvicultural the supervision of the Activity in secure system will secure controlled supply chains, operations well promoted in forest production forests in the North Kivu. detect substitution of illegally harvested bark concessions located in north Congo; and The ICCN conducted a mission in early and allow for timely corrective actions to (iii) results of the Activity published and February 2014 to strengthen the field be implemented. Two training workshops disseminated. The Activity is implemented work done by “Phusys”, the partner of one were organized in June 2014 in Kribi, by the Centre National d’Inventaire local trade company (“Maison Kahindo Cameroon and Kinshasa, Democratic et d’Aménagement des Ressources Muvunga”), in the Walikale territory. The Republic of Congo (DRC). The specific Forestières et Fauniques (CNIAF), in ICCN has submitted to ITTO a practical objective of the workshops was to build collaboration with the Timber Industries roadmap to complete the Activity as per capacity and train local teams in DNA Association in Congo. All the experts who the monitoring mission of the Regional sample collection and storage. In DRC, are supporting CNIAF in achieving the Coordinator for Africa conducted at the the workshop was organized at the CEPAS envisaged outputs are currently working in end of 2013. ITTO has disbursed the last centre in Kinshasa Gombé, from 6-7 June the field. 2014. Some 30 participants attended the instalment of funds that will allow the ICCN training, including personnel from the CITES Democratic Republic of Congo to continue to strengthen and monitor Management Authority (DCN), Directorate the inventories conducted by the trade Non-detriment findings forPrunus africana of Forest Management, Directorate of Forest companies, and to also conduct Prunus (Hook.f.) Kalman in North and South Kivu, Control, non-governmental organizations inventories in the Kahuzi Biega National Democratic Republic of Congo (NGOs), and the University of Grabben from Park. The ICCN, the “Centre for the Butembo. Discussions were held to explore Implementing agency: Institut Congolais information and promotion of agricultural how to proceed with the DNA sampling, pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) projects” (CIPAGRI) and the two most giving the small size of the annual plots of Status: Operational important local trade companies organized less than 100 ha. Start date: March 2011 a second training workshop in Butembo, Planned duration: 10 months North Kivu from 25 April-3 May 2014. The coordination teams from Cameroon and Actual duration: 42 months During the workshop, participants were DRC have already sent students and field trained in conducting Prunus inventories. technicians to the forest to collect samples The Activity which started under Phase The Regional Coordinator assisted in of Prunus as taught during the workshop. In 1 of the ITTO-CITES Program is now this training workshop. As a result of Cameroon, the two students selected were re-scheduled for completion in December the training workshop, CIPAGRI has from the University of Yaoundé and Buea, 2014. The Activity still encounters many developed a sampling design for Prunus while in DRC the two students selected problems in its implementation, namely, inventories in the two main areas in the were from the University of Grabben the instability/insecurity in the Prunus North Kivu, including Mbakira, Masuli and from Butembo. The sampling of Prunus in production sites due the present of many Vusigha, covering a total of 10,000 ha and Cameroon has started with the use of maps rebel groups, and the long distance that Kiribata covering 1,700 ha. The Regional to identify trees in the Mount Cameroon area and that field sampling is expected to commence at the end of August 2014. The sampling in Bamenda has also started with the identification of trees in the forest (a community forest), but due to the rainy season the technician from ANAFOR in the Adamawa region (Ngaoundéré) expects that sampling in the forest will only commence at the end of September 2014. Republic of Congo Promotion of the silviculture of Pericopsis elata in the North Congo Implementing agency: Centre national d’inventaire et d’aménagement des ressources forestières et fauniques (CNIAF) Status: Operational Start date: November 2013 Planned duration: 18 months Actual duration: 10 months The Activity, which is expected to be completed in October 2015, is a continuation of the work done during Phase Training of field technicians in conductingPrunus inventories in the Kalikuku Forest I of the ITTO-CITES Program in the Tala Reserve, Butembo, DRC, May 2014. Photo: ICCN

4 Coordinator has approved the sampling elata logged in those six concessions to while about 60% of the activities relating design and Prunus inventories are about to be eligible for export in 2015, according to development and implementation of a commence in those production sites. the CITES Convention framework, the marketing plan have been achieved. six concession owners are requested to Elaboration of non-detriment findings for submit inventory management reports on The website for an online timber Pericopsis elata in the Democratic Republic their concessions by October 31st, 2014 marketplace has been designed and of Congo at the latest. By November 30th, 2014 at developed. The design of African Timber Implementing agency: Direction de la the latest, the DRC CITES Management Newsletter and social pages were also conservation de la nature Authority will inform the CITES Secretariat finalized. The online marketplace will Status: Operational of an annual 2015 quota for exports of P. promote trade and increase awareness of Start date: October 2013 elata equivalent to an allowed volume of market information among traders in the Planned duration: 12 months sustainably felled P. elata established on region. The newsletter will convey relevant Actual duration: 11 months the basis of the data contained in inventory and timely information to actors in the management reports that will have been marketplace. The marketing training will The Activity, which is expected to be submitted. Timber tracking traceability enhance the ability of companies to craft completed in October 2014, aims to collect procedures will be implemented to ensure effective marketing strategies. data on the status of Pericopsis elata in that from January 1st, 2015, CITES export The translation of the website into French the forest concessions of the Democratic authorizations issued by the DRC for P. has not been achieved due to insufficient Republic of Congo (DRC). It will include elata are linked only to volumes extracted budget. The budget deficit resulted from data on phenology, health and stocking, from forest concessions where inventory addition of relevant plugins which were as well as current harvest rates and management reports have been submitted” not available during the preparation of the information on sound silvicultural practices project. However, some adjustment in the of the species. The DRC authorities had The NDF report and the completion report budget will be made in order to have the site succeeded in preparing the non-detriment of this Activity will be posted on the Program translated into French by December 2014. finding (NDF) report in May 2014 as website when received by ITTO. The delay in translation of the site has led scheduled. The summary of the NDF report Ghana to postponement of active promotion of the is as follows: site to French speaking countries in west Improving intra-African trade and market “Pericopsis elata faces regeneration Africa. This has led to a reduced number transparency in timber and timber products problems in the Democratic Republic of of companies which have signed up from Congo that are similar to those described Implementing agency: Ghana Timber Millers French speaking countries. and documented for the species in other Organization (GTMO) The marketing survey and training were Congo Basin countries and in West Status: Operational conducted. The first draft of the training African forests. From January 1st, 2015, Start date: April 2013 proceedings will be available by December the Democratic Republic of Congo will Planned duration: 24 months 2014. For Output 3 (Database of trade only authorize exports of P. elata timber Actual duration: 17 months barriers and logistics established), customs according to the CITES Convention survey and company survey relating to framework, provided that such timber is African timber suppliers account for less physical distribution were conducted. sourced from forest concessions where, than 10% per year of the total African However, both surveys received few in compliance with legal requirements, imports of timber and timber products (ITTO responses from customs offices and freight inventory management reports have 2010). One major constraint identified was companies. The report of the customs study been submitted to the national forestry the lack of knowledge among traders in based on desk research is expected by administration. Furthermore, authorized the region. This proposal seeks to increase December 2014. export volumes of P. elata timber will be knowledge of the regional market and promote trade (thus leading to an increased strictly limited to a yearly sustainable quota Asia determined on the strength of results intra-African market share) within the region Indonesia provided by submitted management through active engagement of traders and information provision. CITES-listed species inventories. From 2015, the annual CITES Capacity building on seedling propagation will be a specific focus of this work. The quota for the species will be established techniques and awareness raising on CITES outputs of the study will be an online on the same bases. As of May 31st, implementation and ramin roadmap 2014, comprehensive and systematic timber marketplace, capacity building of management inventory reports have enterprises to leverage ICT to enhance their Implementing agency: Directorate of been compiled for six forest concessions competitiveness, and a geospatial database Biodiversity Conservation, DG Forest located in the natural distribution area of market access and logistic information. Protection and Nature Conservation of P. elata. The combined productive The online timber marketplace will Status: Operational area covered by these concessions is catalogue timber companies, trade leads and Start date: February 2014 1,072,598 hectares. On the basis of results provide social media tool to facilitate liaison Planned duration: 12 months provided by respective management among African traders. In the marketplace, Actual duration: 7 months regular surveys will be conducted with inventories, those six concessions could The Activity has revised its effective traders, market intelligence gleaned, be allowed sustainable felling of P. elata implementation period and is now expected prepared and reported on the website for totalling a yearly cumulative volume of to be completed in December 2014. The 3 various users. This Activity is implemented 16,690 m . Management inventories are main objective of the Activity is to contribute under ITTO’s thematic programme for Trade currently being conducted in six additional to the enhancement of ramin plantation and Market Transparency utilizing funding forest concessions located in the natural and conservation through capacity made available for this purpose under the distribution area of P. elata, covering a building and awareness raising activities on ITTO-CITES Program. combined total area of 784,811 hectares. vegetative propagation techniques, CITES For those six additional concessions to be The project has been progressing well. About implementation and the wider dissemination taken into account for the establishment ninety percent of the activities relating to the of the Ramin NDF Guideline and the Ramin of a quota and in order for volumes of P. creation of a website have been achieved, Roadmap which were developed during

5 Phase I of the ITTO-CITES Program. The expected outputs are (i) improved capacity on ramin vegetative propagation techniques; (ii) improved capacity and understanding of the CITES rules and regulation on ramin; and (iii) wider dissemination of the Ramin NDF Guideline and the Ramin Roadmap. From 13-15 April 2014, a training workshop on wood identification of ramin and ramin look-alike species was conducted in Bogor, Indonesia where a total of 17 participants attended. They were mainly from the Ministry of Forestry’s Research Unit Office, university and customs offices that are located in Java, especially Jakarta, Sumatra and Kalimantan. It involved technical presentations, identification techniques and an evaluation of their knowledge and skill at Identification of ramin and ramin looked-alike specimen at the Training Workshop held the end of the workshop. in Bogor, Indonesia, 13-15 April 2014. Photo: Directorate of Biodiversity Conservation, Ministry of Forestry, Indonesia As a follow-up, a more focused training workshop on Gonystylus species planted agarwood from establishment to Research and Development Agency identification was held in Jambi, Indonesia production, and trade, including artificially (FORDA) fom 23-25 April 2014 where 18 participants inoculated agarwood. The two main outputs Status: Operational from the research office of the Ministry of envisaged from the Activity are, namely, (i) Start date: October 2013 Forestry, Indonesia and local universities data on plantation, agarwood production Planned duration: 12 months which are located in Sumatra and and its quality from planted species; and (ii) Actual duration: 11 months Kalimantan attended. It involved lectures, a proposed national policy on agarwood The objective of the Activity which is field identification techniques and an plantation and production, including market expected to be completed in October assessment of their knowledge and skill at potential and trade. the end of the workshop. 2014 is to explore and obtain information In documenting agarwood plantations in on the current status of Aquilaria and Another training workshop on ramin Indonesia and in estimating the annual Gyrinops species in Indonesia, with specific vegetative techniques was held in production of agarwood and its quality, field reference to their , population and Pekanbaru-Riau, Indonesia from 8-10 June visits to West Kalimatan, North Sumatra conservation status, and to promote initial 2014, where 16 participants attended, and Riau were undertaken to verify their establishment of genepools of selected mainly from the technical staff of the Forestry establishment, including conducting species in specific and secure areas. Its Research Unit, Ministry of Forestry, Indonesia in-depth interviews with farmers. In this expected outputs are (i) knowledge of and from local universities located in regard, the documentation of agarwood the taxonomical and population status of Riau, South Sumatra and Jambi. It involved plantations is now completed while a draft Aquilaria and Gyrynops species; and (ii) the classroom learning and field practices, technical report on the annual production of initial establishment of genepools of selected including an evaluation of their knowledge agarwood and its quality has been prepared Aquilaria and Gyrinops species. and skill at the end of the workshop. for further deliberation by the relevant As of July 2014, the assessment of the authorities in Indonesia. In June 2014, two national experts had been taxonomical and population status of appointed to assess the current estimate A public consultation was held in Makasar, Aquilaria and Gyrinops species through of ramin growing stock in Indonesia South Sulawesi, Indonesia on 3 July 2014 examination of herbaria collection has been where field survey is planned for the in an effort to develop a mechanism to conducted at Puskonser, Wanariset and month of August 2014 in Riau and Central register and capture information ranging Bogoriensem, as well as the collection of Kalimantan. Another national expert had from plantation establishment to agarwood agarwood at the Bogor Botanical Garden; also been appointed in June 2014 to further production and trade. It was attended by while field survey in selected areas was disseminate the Ramin Roadmap developed 30 participants comprising 25 participants conducted in Lampung, East Nusa Tenggara, under Phase I of the ITTO-CITES Program, from South Sulawesi with the other five West Nusa Tenggara, East Kalimantan, West including its wider application. This work is participants from Jakarta. Kalimantan South Kalimantan and South expected to commence in September 2014. Sulawesi, including through interviews In early August 2014, the Activity had and discussion wth relevant stakeholders. Managing agarwood plantation in Indonesia recruited two national experts to conduct a A report on the taxonomical status and review on trade and market of agarwood, Implementing agency: Directorate of population of Aquilaria and Gyrinops species as well as to draft a proposed policy on Biodiversity Conservation, DG Forest in Indonesia was prepared and presented at agarwood plantation, production and trade Protection and Nature Conservation, a technical workshop held in Bogor on 26 in Indonesia. Both the national experts Status: Operational May 2014. Start date: February 2014 are expected to commence their work in Planned duration: 12 months September 2014. The review on the current status of in situ and ex situ conservation of Aquilaria Actual duration: 7 months Promoting conservation of genetic and Gyrinops species in Indonesia was resources of Aquilaria and Gyrinops species The Activity has revised its effective conducted through literature review and in Indonesia implementation period and is now expected field survey in selected sites in South to be completed in December 2014. It aims Implementing agency: Centre for Sumatra, Bangka Belitung, Jambi, Bengkulu, to contribute to the sound management of Rehabilitation and Conservation, Forestry Riau Archipelago (Batam and Bintan),

6 of ramin using wildlings and rooted cuttings in Sumatra and Kalimantan through genetic analyses and infusion of genetic materials to ramin cuttings. The expected outputs are (i) early detection of genetic variation of ramin in the conservation gardens at Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI) District, South Sumatra and Tumbangnusa, Central Kalimantan; (ii) genetic infusion to ramin cuttings in the conservation gardens at OKI and Tumbangnusa; and (iii) exploration and ex situ conservation of non-Gonystylus bancanus species in Sumatra and Kalimantan. The primary beneficiaries of the Activity are the Ministry of Forestry, Indonesia (MoF), the CITES Management and Scientific Authorities, research institutions, universities, and forest concession companies. The project agreement is now with the government of Indonesia and is expected to be signed soon. Establishment of an integrated agarwood Agarwood plantation with diameter > 20 cm, ready to be inoculated in Bohorok, North cluster in Bintan Island, Indonesia Sumatra, Indonesia. Photo: Directorate of Biodiversity Conservation, Ministry of Forestry, Implementing agency: Centre for Indonesia Rehabilitation and Conservation, Forestry Research and Development Agency South Kalimantan ad West Nusa Tenggara. been initiated. The aim of the Activity is (FORDA) Interviews and discussion with involved to develop a ramin conservation concept Status: Pending agreement stakeholders were also conducted. A report (Gonystylus spp.) in the operation of Planned duration: 12 months on “In situ and ex situ conservation of plantation forest concessions. The outputs Aquilaria and Gyrinops: A Review” has been expected from the Activity are, namely, (i) a The Activity aims to ensure (i) the sustainable prepared. formulated ramin conservation concept for production of agarwood from both natural plantation forest concessions; (ii) a ramin and planted forests; and (ii) the sustainable Collection of wildings and seeds was also conservation guideline for plantation forest production and conservation of genetic undertaken and currently 12,437 seeds and concessions operation; and (iii) a review of resources, as well as to improve market 5,906 wildlings have been collected, mainly the Minister of Forestry Decree No. 127/ transparancy of agarwood products, of , A beccariana, A. KPTS-V/2002 on Temporary Moratorium of including the development of inoculation microcarpa, A cumingiana and Gyrinops Logging Activities and Ramin Trade. technology, processing and handling. versteegii. From the collection, a total of The primary objective of the Activity is 4,395 seedlings has been raised in the At the completion of the Activity, it is to accelerate the establishment of an nursery comprising 1,041 from seeds envisged that the outputs will enable a integrated agarwood cluster in Bintan Island, and the balance of 3,354 from wildings. ramin conservation concept (strategy) Indonesia. The expected outputs are (i) the In this regard, initial establishment of A. within the operation area of plantation development of a design for an integrated malaccensis planted at a spacing of 3m x forest concessions be produced. A review agarwood cluster for Indonesia; and (ii) the 3m was carried out in June 2014 on a 0.3 document on the Minister of Forestry development of a market information system ha plot in Dramaga Research Forest; while Decree No. 127/KPTS-V/2002 on Temporary for added transparency. G. versteegii was planted in July 2014 at a Moratorium of Logging Activities and Ramin spacing of 2m x 3m on a 0.25 ha plot, also Trade will also be produced which will The envisaged benefit of the Activity is at the Dramaga Research Forest. provide inputs to the government for its the availability of an integrated agarwood further work on the Decree. cluster as a model for developing sustainable Development of a ramin conservation management and conservation practices, concept (Gonystylus spp.) for plantation The beneficiaries of the Activity will be including a market information system which forest concessions plantation forest concession holders, will enable all stakeholders to interact. the Ministry of Forestry (MoF) and Implementing agency: Directorate of The project agreement is now with the non-governmental organiztions that are Biodiversity Conservation and Association of government of Indonesia and is expected to concerned with ramin sustainability. Indonesian Forest Concessionaires (APHI) be signed soon. Status: Operational Ensuring genetic diversity of ramin seed Malaysia Start date: July 2014 sources and ramin population from rooted Planned duration: 12 months cuttings In vitro propagation of Gonystylus bancanus Actual duration: 2 months (ramin) in Sarawak Implementing agency: Centre for The Agreement to implement the Activity Biotechnology and Tree Improvement Implementing agency: Sarawak Forestry was signed between ITTO and the Status: Pending agreement Corporation and Forest Department Sarawak Government of Indonesia in July 2014. Planned duration: 12 months Status: Completed Actions to enable the transfer of funds from Start date: October 2012 The main objective of the Activity is to ITTO and the recruitment of national experts Planned duration: 12 months contribute to the conservation and plantation to lead the various planned activities have Actual duration: 19 months

7 The Activity was completed in April 2014. Institute Malaysia (FRIM) Population survey and sample collections of The objectives of the Activity were to (i) Status: Operational A. malaccensis were conducted throughout establish effective protocols for the axenic Start date: June 2013 Peninsular Malaysia. From the 31 forest (contamination-free) culture establishment Planned duration: 24 months reserves/forested areas surveyed, a total of G. bancanus using field-grown planting Actual duration: 15 months of 595 samples was collected comprising materials; and (ii) establish protocols for in 152 from Kedah, 65 from Perak, 75 from The Activity which is expected to be vitro regeneration of G. bancanus via direct Selangor, 101 from Johor, 69 from Pahang, completed in May 2015 will complement organogenesis using axenic explants. 31 from Terengganu and 102 from Kelantan. the work carried out between 2007 These together with the 369 samples At the conclusion of the Activity, a total and 2008 under the project on “In vitro collected under the Malaysian Government of three technical reports were prepared Technology for Mass Propagation and funded projects now total 964 samples based on the work done under the Activity, Phytochemical Analysis of Aquilaria representing 35 populations and are namely, (i) “Induction of Organogenesis malaccensis and (Endangered currently being used for genetic studies. and Somatic Embryogenesis of Gonystylus Gaharu Producing Species)”, and the bancanus (Miq.) Kurz (Ramin) in Sarawak”; “Conservation Studies and the Development In this regard, DNA sequencing analysis (ii) “Shoot Induction of Gonystylus bancanus of DNA Microsatellite Markers on Aquilaria has been completed for 933 samples from (Miq.) Kurz (Ramin) in Sarawak”; and (iii) malaccensis in Peninsular Malaysia” that was the 35 populations, while in-depth DNA “Axenic Culture Establishment of Gonystylus undertaken between 2011 and 2012, both sequencing of eight chloroplast regions bancanus (Miq.) Kurz (Ramin) in Sarawak”. projects being funded by the Government of is still ongoing using samples throughout A Completion Report of the Activity has also Malaysia. Peninsular Malaysia. Microsatellite been prepared. These documents are being genotyping of 964 samples from the 35 The Activity aims to (i) document the uploaded on the Program website as they are populations has also been completed, while flowering phenology and reproductive published. allele scoring for 10 loci was completed in behavior of A. malaccensis; (ii) develop July 2014. Nevertheless, allele scoring for Use of DNA for Identification ofGonystylus DNA profiling databases ofA. malaccensis generation of genotype data for two more species and Timber Geographical Origin in in Peninsular Malaysia; and (iii) develop loci is still ongoing. Sarawak a conservation action plan to reduce harvesting pressures on wild populations Development of an information database Implementing agency: Sarawak Forestry for the agarwood resin. Its expected for the conservation and sustainable use of Corporation and Forest Department Sarawak outputs are (i) reproductive information Gonystylus bancanus (ramin) and Aquilaria Status: Completed of A. malaccensis; (ii) ecological genetic malaccensis (karas) in Malaysia Start date: October 2012 information for the preparation of a Planned duration: 12 months Implementing agency: Forest Research conservation action plan for A. malaccensis Actual duration: 19 months Institute Malaysia (FRIM) in Peninsular Malaysia; (iii) DNA profiling Status: Operational The Activity was completed in April 2014. databases of A. malaccensis in Peninsular Start date: June 2013 The objectives of the Activity were to (i) Malaysia for timber tracking and forensic Planned duration: 22 months construct a molecular database of ramin applications; and (iv) a conservation action Actual duration: 15 months for the identification of species and the plan to reduce harvesting pressures on wild geographical origin in Sarawak; and (ii) populations for the agarwood resin. The Activity is expected to be completed develop a protocol for extracting DNA from in March 2015. The main objective of To collect information on the reproductive ramin timber. the Activity is to develop a web-based ecology of A. malaccensis, two study sites information system of ramin and karas in Currently in addition to the Completion have been identified in Perak and in the Malaysia for management and conservation Report, four technical reports have island of Penang where two mother trees purposes (MyCITES). The expected outputs of been prepared based on the work done were selected for detail study of flowering the Activity are information on (i) ramin and under the Activity, namely, (i) “Standard phenology, flower maturity, anthesis/ karas distributions in Malaysia; (ii) research DNA Extraction Protocol for Gonystylus receptivity and fruit development. Aborted and development of ramin and karas in Species”; (ii) “DNA Extraction from Wood flowers were also collected from seed traps Malaysia; (iii) timber trade and production of of Gonystylus Species”; (iii) “Geographic and analyzed. Pattern of Genotypic Variation of Ramin in Sarawak: Towards the Identification of the Timber Origin of Timber”; and (iv) “Development of DNA Sequence Database of Ramin for DNA-based Species Identification”. The results from the Activity will complement those achieved under the Activity on Development of DNA Database for Gonystylus bancanus in Sarawak, implemented in 2008 during Phase I of the ITTO-CITES Program, which used DNA that were extracted from leaf and bark samples. These documents are being uploaded on the Program website as they are published. Reproductive and genetic studies towards the conservation and management of Aquilaria malaccensis in Peninsular Malaysia

Implementing agency: Forest Research Field verification of ramin distribution involving local people.Photo : Mohd Azahari Faidi

8 ramin and karas in Malaysia; (iv) Malaysia’s policy and management practices of ramin and karas; and (v) a comprehensive web-based information system of ramin and karas in Malaysia that contains all the outputs from (i) to (iv). Collection of non-spatial information of ramin and karas including ecology, phenology and habitat, from books, relevant journals and publications has been completed. Based on FRIM herbarium information and other published records on ramin and karas distribution, several sites throughout Malaysia have been identified for field verification. Visits to these sites have started in August 2014. The collection of information on research and development related to ramin and kraras species in Malaysia from 125 and 145 publications on karas and ramin respectively, among others, journals, review papers, bulletins and theses, has also been completed. A M.Sc. student measuring a permanent sample plot at the Fazenda Seringal Novo Macapá, In developing the MyCITES, meetings with Acre state, Brazil, August 2014. Photo: José Natalino Silva four website developers were conducted and all four companies have now submitted their quotations and specifications. The Aquilaria to species level and in the grading September 2014 when six more plots will development of the interactive web-based of agarwood. also be re-established and re-assessed. information system over a four-month period At the completion of the Activity, it is Five PSPs were re-measured during the is expected to commence in September envisaged that through enhancing the two-week field season. Measurement of bole 2014. skill and expertise of FDPM personnel it height was introduced for the first time in Capacity building of Forestry Department would ensure the attainment of sustainable the set of variables collected in the PSPs. Peninsular Malaysia’s staff in identifying management and conservation of Aquilaria The reason to include this variable is the Aquilaria to species level and in the grading species. The project agreement is now with availability of an instrument called Vertex of agarwood the government of Malaysia and is expected that makes it possible to measure bole to be signed soon. height with high accuracy. The instrument Implementing agency: Forestry Department uses ultrasound and laser technology that Peninsular Malaysia (FDPM) Latin America overcomes the problem of ‘impeders’, such Status: Pending agreement Brazil as leaves when pointing the instrument to Planned duration: 12 months measure tree height. Ecology and silviculture of mahogany The Activity aims to strengthen the (Swietenia macrophylla King) in the western A team from Agrocortex Company was competency and capacity of the Forestry Brazilian Amazon (Phase II) trained in measuring felled trees for Department Peninsular Malaysia (FDPM) developing volume equations. This activity Implementing agency: Universidade Federal staff, especially in the identification of will be continued during the entire felling Rural da Amazonia (UFRA) Aquilaria to species level and the grading period. of agarwood or gaharu as locally known. Status: Operational At such, the objectives of the Activity are Start date: February 2014 Big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) to (i) develop training materials, including Planned duration: 24 months in the Brazilian Amazon: Long-term studies practical field manual to enable staff Actual duration: 7 months of population dynamics and regeneration ecology towards sustainable forest of FDPM to undertake identification of Field activities started in August 2014 management Aquilaria to species level; (ii) develop a although they were planned to occur in manual for the grading of agarwood to be June. The rainy season has extended until Implementing agency: IFT/J. Grogan used by the staff of FDPM; and (iii) provide August making it difficult to carry out timber Status: Operational training to a core team of trainers, which harvesting. The Activity was suspended until Start date: September 2012 consists of 30 persons from FDPM, in order the dry reason to allow for heavy machinery Planned duration: 22 months to provide continuous training to all the operations. Actual duration: 24 months other staff of FDPM when required. Two M.Sc. students were trained on Project activities continue to focus on The expected outputs are to produce (i) measuring regeneration plots and permanent data management, analysis, and synthesis 200 copies of field-tested manual for the sample plots (PSPs) for monitoring growth for publication. A list of all publications identification ofAquilaria to species level in and yield. Thirty six regeneration plots were resulting from the support of the ITTO-CITES Peninsular Malaysia; (ii) 200 copies of field- cleaned and re-established to facilitate Program is available at http://www.swietking. tested manual for the grading of agarwood assessors’ access to tally mahogany org/our-research.html. All publications are to be used by the staff of FDPM; and (iii) 30 natural regeneration which was previously also available on request in PDF format persons from FDPM trained as trainers and enumerated in the 2012 assessment. ([email protected]). who are proficient in the identification of Actual measurement of the plots is due in

9 The article titled “Management implications Implementing agency: Laboratory of Forest The collection of Swietenia macrophylla of long-term tree growth and mortality rates: Products / Brazilian Forest Service (LPF/SFB) samples from the state of Rondônia, Brazil, a case study of big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia Status: Operational as well as samples from other countries in macrophylla) in the Brazilian Amazon”, Start date: February 2014 South America was successfully conducted. prepared by the Activity team, was published Planned duration: 24 months All the samples will form part of a spectral in the scientific journalForest Ecology and Actual duration: 7 months database of the species which will allow Management (vol. 330, pp. 46–54). the differentiation of visually similar wood The portable Near Infrared Spectroscopy and also, possibly, to identify its origin or A manuscript titled “Predation and herbivory (NIR) instrument was acquired by the Forest provenance. drive distance- and density-dependent Products Laboratory of the Brazilian Forest seedling recruitment of a Neotropical Service (LPF/SFB) in early July. The next step The first technical meeting of the Activity emergent tree: the evidence from spatial will be to conduct a training course on the was held on 16 April 2014 in Brasilia, models” is under peer review at the scientific use of the instrument for the Activity team with the participation of Dr. Steven journal Ecology. This manuscript uses the of the implementing agency. This activity is Johnson from ITTO, Dr. Ivan Tomaselli, the big-leaf mahogany growth and yield model scheduled for 19 August 2014. Five experts Regional Coordinator for Latin America, to simulate outcomes from different seedling were selected for the training comprising representatives from FUNTEC, the head of predation scenarios. two experts in wood chemistry; one expert LPF, and the Activity team from the LPF and in chemometrics; one specialist in wood University of Brasília. On 16 May 2014, Dr. A manuscript titled “Management anatomy; and one post-graduate student in Emmanuel Ze Meka, the ITTO Executive implications of population structure: a chemistry. Director visited LPF/SFB and held discussion modeling study of big-leaf mahogany on the various aspects related to the (Swietenia macrophylla) in the Brazilian implementation of the Activity. Amazon” is also being prepared by the Activity team for submission to Forest Ecology and Management. Preparations are underway for the 2014 field season at the Activity’s two long-term field sites in southeast Pará, Brazil (see http://www.swietking.org/interactive-maps. html). Field activities will begin in the first week of September at Marajoara and Corral Redondo. During September and October more than 400 mahogany trees with diameter > 20 cm in a combined area of 2,750 ha will be re-enumerated and re-measured for diameter growth and observed for fruit production. This year’s field work marks the 19th consecutive annual census since the Activity began in 1995 with the support of the ITTO Fellowship Program. These are the most comprehensive and longest-term data available describing mahogany adult survival, growth, and reproductive behavior under natural forest conditions. Without consistent annual effort Dr. Ze Meka, ITTO Executive Director, visiting the wood anatomy division of the Forest to obtain these data, many of this Activity’s Products Laboratory, Brasília, Brazil, 16 May 2014. Photo: Floriano Pastore Jr. main outputs, including the Big-Leaf Mahogany Growth & Yield Model (http:// www.swietking.org/model-applet.html), would not have been possible. Field work will also include re-enumeration of several thousand naturally occurring and experimental seedlings out-planted from 1995 to 1997 for their survival rate and growth. Several other key Amazonian timber species have also been under study at Marajoara since 1997, including jatobá (Hymenaea courbaril), fava de bolota (Parkia pendula), and copaiba (Copaifera duckei). In addition, new research initiatives investigating site and mahogany population histories through the use of dendro- chronological techniques are planned. Using the Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) technique on a pilot scale, as The first NIRS Activity meeting held on April 16, 2014, in Brasília, Brazil. Ivan Tomaselli a potential tool for the monitoring of (second left), RC for LA and Steven Johnson (third left), ITTO-CITES Program Coordinator. mahogany trade Photo: Floriano Pastore Jr.

10 Guatemala species, which grow naturally in Guatemala; and (iii) generate macroscopic, microscopic, Inventory of population and species histochemical and physical data for such tree abundance of Dalbergia retusa and D. species. stevensonii in areas of natural occurrence in Guatemala The Dean of the College of Agriculture (FAUSAC) has assigned a room for the Implementing agency: Fundación Naturaleza installation of the laboratory in a new para la Vida (FNPV) building. Although the laboratory is ready Status: Operational for use, the development of histological Start date: April 2014 procedures for the woods of the species is Planned duration: 24 months being conducted at the Microscopy Centre Actual duration: 5 months of the College. The Activity is expected to generate scientific The Activity team has started its field information on the abundance, natural work, e.g. identifying locations of natural distribution, current distribution, natural populations, collecting and collating dynamics and behavior of the species herbarium specimens, as well as Dalbergia retusa and D. stenvensonii to phenological studies. The technical staff determine the current population status Measurement of a Dalbergia tree, Guatemala. Photo: FNPV is involved in both desk and field work. of the genus Dalbergia, in areas of natural To date, the team has identified natural occurrence. populations of S. macrophylla, S. humilis, G. Jatropha curcas, Guettarda combsii, The Activity began with an analysis of the sanctum and Dalbergia spp. (D. stevensonii, Aspidosperma cruentum, Swietenia basic information collected in scientific D. retusa, D. tucurensis and D. calycina). macrophylla, etc; and with forest having on publications and national geographic average 12 trees ≥ 25 cm dbh/ha, average information systems in Guatemala (CITES height of 13 m, and with little natural species inventory stratification Phase I and II, regeneration. In addition, the species does physical, climatic and anthropogenic general not exhibit any phenological patterns in aspects); which allowed specific GIS strata terms of flowering frequency. to be defined for subsequent field work. In this regard, seedlings, saplings, small trees According to research and field observation, and trees will be evaluated at the 4 cardinal the main factors of Dalbergia population points in a 1 ha plot, divided into 4 sub-plots reduction are due to land use change, illegal of 20 m x 50 m. As part of the research on trade, forest fires, traditional agriculture, the genus Dalbergia, the Activity team has lack of knowledge about the use and value evaluated 25 check-points in the Department of the species, etc. The results of the Activity of Petén, and based on the mapping systems will enable the development of a strategy created, 3 plots have been established. that defines and guides the short-, medium- and long-term actions required to control According to initial indicators of the genus anthropogenic activities which are putting Dalbergia, the species has been found in the ecosystems at risk where Dalbergia areas with specific characteristics, such species occur. as totally flat areas, areas with possibility of flooding during the rainy season, forest Establishment of a forensic laboratory for Dalbergia stevensonii flowers and a with an average height of 15 m, and forest wood identification and description for the pollinator visiting the flowers (a); penta- with 60% light incidence in its understory. application of legal processes and systems foliate pinnate leaves (b); Dalbergia Dalbergia species are associated with other of traceability of products included in CITES calycina flowers (c); 9-foliate pinnate tree species such as Lucida gymnanthes, leaves (d). Photo: Myrna Herrera simaruba, Metopium brownei, Implementing agency: Nature for Life Sebastiana longicuspis, copal, Foundation (FNPV) Status: Operational Non-detriment findings - Practical guidance Start date: April 2014 for CITES-listed tree species Planned duration: 24 months Actual duration: 5 months Implementing agency: CONAP and BALAM Association (Guatemala) and Universidad de The Activity was developed as an initiative Córdoba (Spain) of the National Council for Protected Areas Status: Pending agreement (CONAP), the National Forestry Institute Planned duration: 15 months (INAB), the Public Ministry (MP), the College of Agriculture at the National University of The Activity aims to provide guidance to San Carlos de Guatemala (FAUSAC) and CITES Authorities regarding the procedures, the Nature for Life Foundation (FNPV). Its methodologies and information required objectives are to: (i) develop capabilities to develop non-detriment findings for to legally identify woods of tree species timber and other tree species so as to included in CITES Appendix II; (ii) generate facilitate the adequate implementation phenological and botanical information of export provisions for CITES-listed species and ensure that their international Wood characteristics of the genus regarding Swietenia macrophylla King, S. trade is consistent with their sustainable Dalbergia. Photo: FNPV humilis Zucc., Guaiacum sanctum L., G. officinale L., Dalbergia stevensonii Standl., management and conservation. This will D. retusa Helms, and other Dalbergia be achieved through the implementation

11 of 18 activities during a 15-month period. Peru section “Article from Program Activity” for The project agreement is now with the more details on this analysis prepared by the government of Guatemala and is expected to Confirmatory evaluation of forest Activity team. be signed soon. inventories of cedar and mahogany species As part of the monitoring and dissemination Guyana Implementing agency: Universidad Nacional of the Activity, the second and third Agraria La Molina (UNALM) meetings of Consultative Committee were Enhancing the sustainable management and Status: Operational held in May and July 2014, respectively commercial utilization of the CITES-listed Start date: November 2013 with the participation of the Ministry of species Cedrela odorata (red cedar) in Planned duration: 10 months the Environment (MINAM), the Ministry of Guyana Actual duration: 10 months Agriculture and Irrigation (MINAGRI), the Implementing agency: Guyana Forestry The Activity aims to design a technically Agency for Supervision of Forest Resources Commission (GFC) and statistically supported method for and Wildlife (OSINFOR) and the USAID Status: Operational confirmation of forest census results and Project Technical Assistance (PAT/USAID). Start date: August 2014 the occurrence of mahogany (Swietenia In addition, the third meeting included the Planned duration: 18 months macrophylla King.) and cedar (Cedrela spp.) participation of Ms. Sofia Hirakuri, a staff of Actual duration: 1 month species. the Regional Coordinator for Latin America for the ITTO-CITES Program, as part of her Historically, the focus of Guyana’s wood The Activity team has completed the first monitoring mission. In both meetings the products sector has been on a few key two planned field studies, which were progress of measurement of trees and the primary species, principally Greenheart conducted in forest concessions and native sampling design were presented. (Chlorocardium rodiei) and Pupleheart communities of the Department of Madre (Peltogyne venosa). The Activity will focus on de Dios. The field work aimed to examine The final field study will be conducted to the assessment, development, marketing and location and conduct measurement of test and finalize the methodology, while promotion of Cedrela odorata (red cedar) mahogany and cedar trees, so as to use the fourth meeting of the Consultative which is listed on CITES Appendix III for them as “standard trees”, and as input in Committee is planned at the end of the the countries of Brazil, Bolivia, Columbia, the calculation of tolerance for acceptance Activity so as to provide information on its Guatemala, and Peru. The Activity will of the variables of measurement in forest final outputs to all stakeholders. censuses as part of the process of designing build on Guyana’s efforts to develop and Management of mahogany (Swietenia an inventory confirmation system. promote its lesser used species as part of macrophylla King.) and cedar (Cedrela a multi-pronged strategy for managing In the first field study, the Activity team spp.) seed stands in a forest concession the country’s commercial forest estate collected information from 58 mahogany for the conservation of the Tahuamanu sustainably. This Activity is implemented and 163 cedar trees, comprising seed trees Seed Stand in the province of under ITTO’s thematic programme for Trade and commercial trees, whereas in the second Tahuamanu, Madre de Dios, Peru and Market Transparency utilizing funding field study the team collected information made available for this purpose under the Implementing agency: Universidad Nacional on 129 mahogany and 87 cedar trees. In ITTO-CITES Program. Agraria La Molina (UNALM) total, 437 mahogany and cedar trees were Status: Operational The Activity will enable Guyana to undertake evaluated. The information was used to Start date: August 2014 make the necessary adjustments to the tree an assessment of its commercial forests so Planned duration: 18 months sampling design for the evaluation of forest as to determine the status of the species. The Actual duration: 1 month outputs from the resource assessment will census and to have preliminary information be used to develop a management plan for to determine the acceptable ranges for From 2012, UNALM and the General the sustainable harvesting of red cedar, as evaluation of quantitative variables. See the Directorate of Biological Diversity of well as to build capacity in the industry to the Ministry of Environment have been enable it to harvest and market the species conducting studies on the evaluation of domestically and internationally. Plans to populations of natural regeneration of conduct the resource assessment on the mahogany and cedar species in Peru. The status of red cedar have been initiated where aim is to generate inputs that contribute a combination of aerial photography and to understanding the natural regeneration ground assessment will be used. of these two species. In these studies, the Activity team has assessed seed trees and The objective of the Activity is to “enhance the natural regeneration of both species. sustainable forest management of the forest sector of Guyana through improved market To complement the study on seed trees, intelligence and trade of CITES-listed the current Activity aims to improve the timber species”. The specific objective is to condition of the seed stands and ensure “strengthen forest planning and marketing their establishment in natural forests, of CITES-listed, current and potential timber and control mahogany and cedar seed species from Guyana”. Among the main production in the seed stands conservation expected outcomes of the Activity are areas in Tahuamanu, Madre de Dios. completion of a resource assessment of red Having a controlled germplasm will allow cedar in Guyana’s commercial forest estate improvement in seed production in terms so as to establish the status of the species of quality and quantity for both the species, and formulate a strategy for developing and as well as for the benefit of the institutions commercializing the CITES-listed species dedicated to reforestation work, and hence, in Guyana, including the development of a Measurement of mahogany tree diameter ensuring the species’ survival in the wild. statistical database. at breast height (dbh) at Maderyja Forest Concession, Tahuamanu, Madre de Dios, Peru. Photo: Project UNALM – ITTO/CITES

12 Global CITES Timber Trade Study including forestry engineers, technicians and non-governmental organizations. Preparation of the publication “Atlas Implementing agency: ITTO of tropical timber species - 1st Edition: Status: Operational The Regional Coordinator for Africa Technological characteristics and uses Start date: April 2014 participated at several meetings and of 273 tropical timber species (and 17 Planned duration: 8 months training workshops in Cameroon, Congo temperate species)” Actual duration: 5 months Brazzaville and Democratic Republic of Congo in the second quarter of 2014 The study was requested by CITES Parties Implementing agency: CIRAD, France as noted in the Activity progress reports in Decision 15.35 to review trade in Status: Operational above. Start date: October 2013 timber products from listed tree species Planned duration: 24 months that fall outside the listing annotations. Its Actual duration: 11 months outputs will be used to inform an ongoing review of listing annotations, including The project aims to make reliable and timely annotations for tree species. In July 2014, Article from Program information available on the technological progress in the study was described to characteristics and uses of tropical timber the 65th CITES Standing Committee (SC); Activity species by producing, publishing and the SC formed an Inter-sessional Working “Assessment of regeneration of natural disseminating an Atlas of tropical timber Group on Annotations and suggested that big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla species covering the information contained the study focus on four species for which King) and cedar (Cedrela odorata Linnaeus) in the latest TROPIX software (version the listing annotation limits CITES trade species in Peru”. Lombardi, I; Garnica, C; 7 - 2011). This new edition of the Atlas of controls to primary (minimally processed) Carranza, J; Ortiz, H; Ponce, B; Gamarra, J; tropical timber species (including CITES- wood products: Pericopsis elata, Dalbergia Barrena, V. In press. listed species) will facilitate and enhance cochinchinensis, Cedrela odorata and access to information on these timber Swietenia macrophylla. The trade study will Abstract species for all operators in the sector assist in the annotation review by examining The objective of the study was to assess concerned, both for producers (forest range country trade in processed wood regeneration of mahogany (Swietenia managers, logging companies, policy products that are not subject to CITES trade macrophylla King) and cedar (Cedrela makers) and consumers (importers, traders, controls. Although the trade study cannot spp.) species in permanent production timber industrialists, users). (and is not intended to) provide definitive areas located in the Madre de Dios region The project is funded under a grant evidence of trade in listed species outside in Peru. The study was divided into three from the EU to the ITTO-CITES program the scope of the annotation, initial results stages: the first stage consisted in the which provides for part of the funds display the scale and complexity of wood compilation of information originating from pledged to be used for Trade and Market products trade and show that many range the area under forest management, through Transparency (TMT) activities of ITTO countries export processed wood products POA permits, control and supervision Thematic Programme (TP) with objectives that might include products manufactured authorities, in addition to design an relevant to both programs. The project from CITES-listed tree species. The study, evaluation methodology for seed trees and agreement was signed in September 2013 funded as part of the TMT component of natural regeneration; the second stage and implementation commenced in October the EU funds provided to the ITTO-CITES corresponds to the methodological and field 2013 by the Executing Agency, CIRAD of program, is expected to be completed by the work validation, evaluating the selected France. end of 2014. seed trees and compiling information on natural regeneration in 20 m x 100 m As of July of 2014, the project plots towards the four cardinal direction, implementation was basically on track considering seed trees as the central axis; and the following achievements had been Relevant events/ and finally, the third stage consisted in the realized: initiatives field data processing and analysis. • Documentary research and A total of 58 mahogany seed trees were The technical team of the Activity complementary literature reviewed. The evaluated, which presented an average “Assessment of regeneration of natural 290 species originally planned to be DBH and total height of 0.86 m and 28 m big-leaf mahogany and cedar populations described in the Atlas was increased to respectively, with characteristics noted such in Peru” presented the methodology for 328 species; as species being of high dominance and the evaluation of recovery of mahogany vigor, with a cup-shaped canopy of irregular • Additional testing technology and and cedar populations, and the results circle, a circular-shaped basal area, straight digitization of wood samples developed; of the application of the methodology and healthy stem as to plant phytosanitary by the Department of Ucayali through • Collection of photos, books or wood evaluation; similarly, 65 cedar seed trees a study carried out by MINAM with the products carried out. 150 more pictures were evaluated, which presented an assistance of the UNALM technical have been collected and the collection is average DBH and total height of 0.69 m team during 2013 at the meetings on the continuing; and 27.7 m, respectively. They are mostly “Research progress on CITES Peruvian individuals of high dominance, high vigor, wild flora species”, that was organized by • Writing technical descriptions for species with circular-shaped basal area, a straight the Ministry of the Environment (MINAM) to be added in Tropix and Atlas has been and twisted stem, with a cup-shaped and the USAID Technical Assistance finalized. About two-thirds of the species canopy of irregular circle, and a healthy Program (PAT-USAID). The meetings descriptions to be added to the Tropix phytosanitary condition. software have already been drafted; were carried out in Pucallpa, Lima, Tarapoto and Iquitos on 11, 14, 16 and 22 Natural regeneration of mahogany has • The manuscript of the Atlas is well under July 2014, respectively. The participants been observed; however, it is limited to development. were representatives from MINAM and saplings and seedlings found towards PAT-USAID/MINAM, UNALM and other mainly the south and west of the sample representatives of regional governments, area, which can reach a distance up to

13 210 m away from seed trees. Nevertheless, test the possibility of using tracker dogs for wood method implemented in the European regulation on this regeneration fails to establish or identification. the verification of wine (Commission Regulation [EC No 2729/2000]). successfully grow in forest plots where It is suspected that particularly valuable wood species intervention occurred more than four years are imported together with unprotected but similar- Initiated by WWF Germany, several projects supported looking wood species. They may be transported in the by the DBU (Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt - ago. same containers, for example. For this reason, the pilot German Environmental Foundation) were launched in study involved two tracker dogs being trained to detect 2004 to start usage of the method for wood as well. It The cedar case is a little more encouraging, big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla). The dogs is now used routinely for wood and is even used for finding a considerable stock of seedlings that were able to distinguish big-leaf mahogany from other ivory too. In 2013, the American EIA (Environmental wood species, some of which looked very similar. In Investigation Agency) used the isotope method to have diminishes as you move on to the next stage the opinion of the WWF, this ability could close a gap the results of their investigation into illegal timber from of growth, mainly tall and short saplings. in current practices, because there has to be an initial Russia, which had been obtained using analytical This species did not present any trend in suspicion before officials can seize wood and send it methods, confirmed independently. to a laboratory for further examination. Customs or the regeneration direction and they were police officers are given a very specific task when it The following links provide more information on the found up to 160 m of distance from seed comes to indentifying wood species, but it can often isotope method: be a big challenge, such as when they are confronted trees; however, in parcels with intervention • http://www.agroisolab.de/e-index.html with woods that look similar and the wood species conducted more than six years, there is no declared in the accompanying documents seems • http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/how_we_work/ regeneration evidence, probably caused by plausible - based on the outward appearance anyway. conservation/forests/news/successes/?199198/unc overing-forests-tell-tale-fingerprints high competition for light and space. The following links provide more information: • http://eia-global.org/campaigns/forests-campaign/ • www.traffic.org/non-traffic/non-traffic_pub23.pdf Finally, the existence of trees with diameter liquidating-the-forests/ ranging from 50 cm to 70 cm for mahogany, (Chapter 4 “Timber Detector Dogs”) • http://www.wwf.de/fileadmin/fm-wwf/ • WCO News N°73; 2/2014; http://www.wcoomd. and 30 cm to 50 cm for cedar has been Publikationen-PPDF/2013_WWF_Report_Illegal_ org/en/media/wco-news-magazine/latest.aspx observed. Caviar_Trade_in_Bulgaria_and_Romania.pdf (p. 19) Microscopic wood species DNA analysis (species and origin of identification wood) Microscopic wood species identification is an Other Articles of Interest Genetics can be used in several ways to support the established method used routinely to identify wood fight against illegal timber trade. As with the isotope The following material is reproduced types, such as those among solid woods, veneers, method, the results of a genetic origin analysis are plywoods, etc. from a recent pamphlet on forensic wood able to verify a declared origin. They are derived identification released by WWF (World It consists of a macroscopic and microscopic through the identification of gene sequences, which Wide Fund for Nature). It is reproduced examination during which the genus (according to differ for each species according to region. A number the names/groups in EN 13556) and in many cases of projects have demonstrated the potential of this here with acknowledgement to WWF due the species of wood samples can be determined method. Furthermore, once a wood’s species-specific to its relevance to work being carried out unequivocally based on their anatomical structure. markers have been identified, the genetics can be used to determine its species unequivocally. under the ITTO-CITES Program using many There are experts who are experienced in this area at various institutes in Germany, the UK, the USA, If genetic tree-specific mapping has been carried out, of the techniques covered and the interest of Brazil ... Devices and databases that will be able to the genetic fingerprint can also be used to verify the be used to identify wood species on the spot in future Program stakeholders in this type of work. details of the origin of an individual tree down to the are currently being developed. The WWF expects the For more information on the pamphlet or place where it was logged. The procedure can, for number of options available to increase considerably, example, be used for very valuable woods, for which WWF, contact Johannes Zahnen (WWF which will help customs officers to substantiate every logging location is recorded. Germany; [email protected]). an initial suspicion, for example. The WWF has discovered falsely declared wood species in products The following links provide more information: Forensic methods used to verify the and at the premises of companies a number of times in the past using this method • http://www.ti.bund.de/en/startseite/home/thuenen- declared species and origin of wood kompetenzzentrum/serviceleistungen.html The following links provide more information on Illegal logging and related trade are huge international microscopic wood species identification: • http://www.wwf.de/fileadmin/fm-wwf/ problems that are contributing significantly to forest Publikationen-PDF/Fingerprinting_conf_rep_EN.pdf destruction all over the world and as a result also • http://www.ti.bund.de/en/startseite/home/thuenen- to climate change and the decline in biodiversity. kompetenzzentrum/serviceleistungen-m.html • http://www.wwf.de/fileadmin/user_upload/ Illegal timber trade is often a form of organized Bilder/Final_Report_project_DBU_WWF_wood_ crime, and illegal logging is estimated to account • http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/research/centers/ fingerprinti ng_11_2011.pdf for up to 40% of global timber production. One woodanatomy/ • http://www.doublehelixtracking.com/ consequence of this crime is a drop in the price of • http://www.africamuseum.be/collections/ timber caused by illegal timber, which in turn makes browsecollections/naturalsciences/earth/xylarium • http://www.adelaide.edu.au/adelaidean/ trade with sustainably produced timber more difficult. issues/46461/news46561.html Technical developments such as electronic tags • https://science.naturalis.nl/en/collection/naturalis- that are attached to tree trunks after they have been collections/botany/ felled and independent certificates have brought NIR - Near infrared (species and origin improvements and more transparency to the timber • http://www.kew.org/collections/anatslid.html of wood) trade. However, these developments all lead to the information being passed along the value chain Stable isotopes (origin of wood) NIR is an analytical method involving short-wave together with the raw material, which gives rise to the infrared light in which molecules are made to vibrate potential for manipulation. All the methods described absorb the unevenly distributed isotopes (H, by electromagnetic radiation and reflect specific below, some of which are well established and some O, N, S, C, etc.) in nature and incorporate them into spectra as a result. NIR is a very versatile method of which are new, involve properties of the wood that their structure. The stable isotope method has been that basically reflects the chemical composition of are firmly ingrained in the wood and thus impossible the standard method used to verify the declared products. It is a well-established way of determining to manipulate. These methods are therefore excellent origin of products in the food sector for many years. the water content in substances. According to not as replacements, but as additions to current Accordingly, the technique is used by six examination publications on the usage of NIR for wood, NIR is now information systems. They enable the accuracy of authorities as well as numerous private laboratories able to produce concrete evidence of the content, existing documents to be verified, which makes the in Germany to verify the origin of wine, peppers, species and origin of wood now as well. Unlike the timber trade more transparent. It is also possible, potatoes, olive oil and beef. genetic and isotope methods, however, NIR has not yet however, to monitor new legal requirements. The undergone extensive testing as a standalone method WWF believes the development and usage of these There are already extensive stable isotope databases for wood. methods offer great opportunities for the fight against available in Europe. Examples include the hen’s egg illegal timber trade and is therefore actively involved database created by KAT, the most important egg There is one case (a WWF project on tropical woods) in their usage and development. inspection body in Germany and neighbouring EU in which NIR was used as an additional parameter to countries, the pig meat database developed by BPEX improve spatial resolution. The stable isotope method in the UK and the German customs’ caviar database. (physical fingerprint) and the NIR method (chemical Species protection tracker dogs In 2013, the German customs’ caviar database was fingerprint) in particular are expected to complement Having found the use of species protection tracker successfully recognized as an instrument that could each other synergistically in future. This is currently dogs to be very successful in the area of wild animal be used to confirm cases of caviar fraud (see below). being tested in various projects. and plant trade, the WWF initiated a pilot study to The stable isotope method is currently the only origin

14 The following links provide more information: The following links provide more information: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has already said it is prepared to develop some wood • http://www.wwf.de/fileadmin/user_upload/ • http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/search_ standards so that isotope measurements can be Bilder/Final_Report_project_DBU_WWF_wood_ wwf_news/?176641/tropical-forests-are-dying-for- calibrated. This means that isotope laboratories in fingerprinti ng_11_2011.pdf (chapter 5.4.5) german-childrens-books every country will be able to take part in carrying out wood measurements and comparing the results. • http://www.obaltimbertrackingnetwork.org/fileadmin/ • http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/press_ templates/globaltimbertrackingnetwork.org/upload/ releases/?207141/tropical-pulp-still-a-long-way-from- Global Timber Tracking Network (GTTN), an Regional_Workshop_for_Asia__Pacific___Oceania/ fiction-in-german-childrens-books international network headquartered in Malaysia, is a YaNa_Liu.pdf dialogue platform for wood identification and tracking • http://www.wri.org/blog/qa-fiber-testing-paper-and- methods. The WWF is a partner of the GTTN network • http://www.globaltimbertrackingnetwork.org/ lacey-act and is a member of the advisory board involved in the fileadmin/templates/globaltimbertrackingnetwork. creation of the international database. org/upload/Regional_Workshop_Americas/Near_ • http://ran.org/sites/default/files/turning_the_page_ on_rainforest_destruction.pdf Infrared_Spectroscopy__alternative_method_for_the_ The following links provide more information: accurate_botanical_identification_of_similar_wood_ General information on the methods species.pdf • http://www.globaltimbertrackingnetwork.org/home/ The advantage of the genetic fingerprint and the • http://ffp.up.poznan.pl/pdf/40/Folia%20 • http://www.bioversityinternational.org/ stable isotope method is the fact that the parameters Forestalia%20Pol%2040-4%20Sandak%20et%20al. examined are firmly anchored in the wood and pdf therefore unchangeable. This is the main and most significant difference between these two methods Remote sensing and classic information systems, where information is hammered into the tree trunk, and electronic chips Upcoming events Employing genetics, isotopes or NIR to determine an (RFID) that are attached to the tree trunk. The wood’s origin will reach its limits when it comes to small-scale ITTO and CITES: collaboration to sustain origin is one of the pieces of information requested in infringements, which could be logging more than the the past, but it is has not been possible to check it until tropical tree species - Side event at IUFRO permitted amount or logging outside of a concession now. Falsely declared information regarding a wood’s area’s boundaries, for example. The analysis of World Congress, Salt Lake City, USA, 9 species and origin does not actually prove that the satellite images can provide helpful information October 2014. wood is illegal, but it is a strong indication that this is here, however: As soon as access roads or routes the case. If a wood’s species and origin are not known are spotted to parts of a concession area in which, or have been falsely declared, it is not possible draw a ITTO and CITES: collaboration to sustain according to management plans, logging is prohibited, concrete conclusion regarding the wood’s legality! tropical tree species - Side event at CBD CoP or small amounts of logging are detected outside of a concession area’s boundaries, on-site checks can be The further development of methods and the 12, Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea, 16 carried out to help substantiate the initial suspicion. combination of different methods are expected to October 2014. There are known cases in which remote sensing lead to even more accurate results when it comes to has been able to reveal illegal land appropriation identifying a wood’s species and origin in future. 10th Meeting of the ITTO-CITES Program or suspected logging outside a concession area (see below). Advisory Committee. Yokohama, Japan Traffic (during the 50th ITTC Session), 4 November Conversely, the increasing use of this technology Interpol has estimated the global value of illegally means much more targeted patrols will be able to take 2014 (tbc). traded wild species to be approximately 19 billion place in locations where there are current indications US dollars per year (excluding wood and fish). The of infringements. Recency is becoming more and More details on both of the above events are/ economic damage caused by illegal timber trade is more important as far as remote sensing is concerned, estimated to be about 15 billion US dollars per year. will be available on the ITTO website. because pictures are becoming cheaper and cheaper (free in some cases) and are available at frequent To monitor international trade with threatened intervals. species and develop solutions, the WWF founded the international species conservation programme Remote sensing can also be used for a variety TRAFFIC in conjunction with the International Editorial (cont’d from page 1) of processes, such as identifying the degree of Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 1976. degradation in forest areas and measuring CO2 TRAFFIC’s purpose is to ensure that international trade producing agarwood, such as A. malaccensis storage. The different possibilities offered by the use involving living wild animal and plant species and of remote sensing are an area WWF Germany focuses and G. versteegii. Activities currently their products only occurs in a sustainable manner, heavily on. being implemented include an assessment is conducted in compliance with national and The following links provide more information: international agreements and laws, and does not lead of the population status of Aquilaria and to the extinction of species. TRAFFIC has 25 offices on Gyrinops species and the establishment • http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/ five continents and is the globally recognized expert of genepools of some of these species in greatermekong/our_solutions/landscape_ organization in this area. conservation_in_the_greater_mekong_region/ Indonesia; a detailed study on the flowering responsible_forest_management_trade/?207264/ Examples of TRAFFIC’s duties include the critical phenology and reproductive behavior of A. learning-session-7-satellite-data-for-redd-mrv monitoring or trade involving protected species and developing innovative solutions that enable Malaccensis; DNA profiling databases to • http://news.mongabay.com/2011/1004-hance_ sustainable, legal and transparent trade. With regard enable the tracking of the species and for dole_satellite.html to international timber trade, TRAFFIC has worked on drawing up legality guidelines, examined trade forensic applications; and an action plan to • http://www.globalforestwatch.org/ flows and supported, among others, governments and conserve wild populations of agarwood in international trade associations with the enforcement Peninsular Malaysia. Paper fibre analyses of legal regulations for many years. “Tropical rainforest trees are felled to produce German The following links provide more information: As all these activities are embedded children’s books” is the conclusion two WWF studies within government agencies and came to in 2009 and 2012. Laboratories found mixed • http://www.traffic.org/timber-trade/ scientific institutions, their ownership and tropical hardwood (MTH) in the paper. MTH is a group of wood fibres used in paper and reconstituted wood International reference database / sustainability is assured. In addition, it is products like chipboard. The fibres traditionally used Global Timber Tracking Network envisaged that the results of the activities to make paper include woods from temperate and will be adapted within the context of the boreal regions, plantation woods (usually eucalyptus Genetics and isotopes need references that suspicious national policy frameworks of Indonesia and or acacia for paper), cotton, straw and sugar cane. samples can be compared to or measured against. These established and well-known fibres, including One important task of the future will therefore be to Malaysia to complement other ongoing work the tropical plantation fibres, can be identified by create an international reference database that is freely to achieve sustainable forest management laboratories as a matter of routine. Experience shows accessible but protected from unauthorized access. that tropical woods from natural forests occur as a Another important task will be to collect reference and to ensure that the trade in timber mixture of many different species, the genera of which samples in partner countries and putting the analysis and timber products are from legal and can sometimes be identified by certified laboratories results together, so that suspicious cases can be dealt sustainable sources. using reference-based microscopy. The presence of such with more quickly. An international database like a mixture of different genera and species (collectively the one mentioned above is currently being created Thang Hooi Chiew MTH), some of which are unknown, indicates that it with the help of financial support from Germany. The probably consists of woods from tropical natural forests. international organization Bioversity International, Regional Coordinator for Asia The identification of an unknown wood species found which is headquartered in Rome, will be responsible in the paper in large amounts points to cultivated areas for launching it when it is ready. like plantations (not MTH).

15 Program Monitoring To ensure the transparency of the ITTO-CITES Program, procedure for technical analysis; (iii) acceptable level of regular monitoring of field implementation is conducted in measurement error of the diameter (dbh) and tree height; Africa, Asia and Latin America by the respective Regional and (iv) evaluation of measurement precision and accuracy Coordinators. Mid-term and ex-post monitoring will also be by evaluators. All the activities as proposed in the work plan conducted as per the terms of the grant agreement with the have been duly implemented in the field. EC and ITTO’s rules and procedures. The Regional Coordinator for Asia, Thang Hooi Chiew, In this context, a staff of the Regional Coordinator for Latin also undertook a monitoring mission to Jakarta and Bogor, America, Ms. Sofia Hirakuri, carried out a field monitoring Indonesia from 11-14 August 2014 to evaluate the progress mission to Lima, Pucallpa and Puerto Maldonado in Peru of the three Activities that are currently being implemented to assess the implementation of the Activity “Confirmatory in Indonesia, namely, “Promoting Conservation of Plant evaluation of forest inventories of cedar and mahogany Genetic Resources of Aquilaria and Gyrinops species in species” which is being executed by the National Agrarian Indonesia”, “Capacity Building on Seedling Propagation University La Molina (UNALM) from 10-16 July 2014. Techniques and Awareness Raising on CITES Implementation and Ramin Roadmap”, and “Managing Agarwood Plantation The monitoring mission included visits to UNALM, Iberia, in Indonesia”. Discussion on the progress in signing the and to a concessionaire in Puerto Maldonado, as well as Agreement with ITTO for implementing the two Activities by discussions with the Peru CITES Management Authority the Forestry Research and Development Agency (FORDA), (MINAGRI) and the Scientific Authority (MINAM). In addition, namely, “Ensuring Genetic Diversity of Ramin Seed she also participated at the joint workshop organized by Sources and Ramin Population from Rooted Cuttings”, and MINAM and UNALM in collaboration with the Regional “Establishment of an Integrated Agarwood Cluster in Bintan Government of Ucayali in Pucallpa on 11 July 2014. The Island, Indonesia” was also held. He also visited the initial methodology for evaluation of seed trees and regeneration establishment of A. malaccensis on a 0.3 ha plot which of mahogany and cedar has been disseminated to the was planted at a spacing of 3m x 3m in June 2014; and G. regional government of Ucayali, as well as other regional versteegii which was planted in July 2014 at a spacing of 2m governments, such as Lima, Tarapoto and Iquitos on 14, 16 x 3m on a 0.25 ha plot, both at the Dramaga Research Forest and 22 July 2014, respectively. in Bogor. The main objective of the field visit was to monitorin The Regional Coordinator for Africa plans to undertake a situ the field work on information gathering carried out monitoring mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo under the Activity. In the forest, Ms. Hirakuri observed the in September 2014 to evaluate and explore the feasibility to application of the methodological criteria by an evaluator re-orientate the remaining work to be carried out under the on a mahogany and a cedar tree. Major issues covered/ activity “Elaboration of non-detriment findings forPericopsis observed during the field visit included: (i) data survey about elata in the Democratic Republic of Congo”. He will also location and dasometric data on various mahogany and work to ensure that the long-delayed DRC Activity on Prunus cedar trees that will be used as “standard trees” and serve as africana reaches a successful conclusion during his visit. inputs to calculate indices of tolerance or acceptable level of measurement error in forest census; (ii) methodological

Contacts ITTO - Steven Johnson, ITTO Coordinator – [email protected] Kanako Ishii, Program Assistant – [email protected] CITES - Milena Sosa Schmidt, CITES Coordinator – [email protected] Regional Coordinator for Africa – Jean Lagarde Betti – [email protected] Regional Coordinator for Asia – Thang Hooi Chiew – [email protected] Regional Coordinator for Latin America – Ivan Tomaselli – [email protected]; Sofia Hirakuri – [email protected]

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