Last Updated July 2002
Common Names | Threats & Uses | Distribution | Listings |
African ash: | Major international trade * Used in joinery, furniture | West Africa |
|
African mahogany | Major international trade * Mature trees are overexploited. Illegal logging. | Central and Northern Africa | On CITES (convention on trade in endangered species) |
African Teak | Commercial use, clear-felling habitat * "Endangered" — FAO. Used in joinery, furniture, boat-building. | Central and Western Africa |
|
Afzelia: Aja, doussie, odo niyan | Major international timber trade *heavy commercial exploitation; few remaining seed trees | Western and Central Africa |
|
Alcerce | Clear-felling of habitat, increased human settlement * Alcerce forests have been reduced to 15% of their original size, and many of the remaining populations are smalls fragments. Illegal logging still occurs. Traded internationally as furniture, cladding, and joinery. | Argentina, Chile | CITES Appendix I |
Almaciga (Philippines) | Clear-felling habitat, rare. Used in cabinet work, joinery, boat masts, mouldings. | Philippines |
|
Bintangor; damanu, beach calophyllum | Major international trade, human settlement, agriculture * Seriously endangered small population. Used for construction, flooring, and furntiure. | Indonesia |
|
Brazilian Cherry aka JATOBA | Used for cabinetry, flooring, joinery. Threatened due to growing demand and over harvesting in certain regions. Ask supplier where wood cam from as some companies provide non- endangered and FSC certified wood. Avoid if possible. | South America, Brazil |
|
Bleedwood tree, Mukwa | Commercial use, disease, local use * Major international trade. Small populations are heavily exploited by local people. Mature individuals suffering from a fungal disease. Some large protected populations. | East and Southern Africa |
|
Honduras mahogany | International trade Seriously endangered. Possible extinction in the next 15 years. Often used as an alternative to other mahogany's but is becoming highly threatened itself. | Central and South America | Forest World Vulnerable Species Listing |
Ipe -- a Brazilian rainforest hardwood, also called Brazilian Walnut or Diamond Walnut or Lapacho | Some FSC wood is available, but best to avoid. Used for hardwood flooring, | South America |
|
Kauri | Clear-felling habitat | Malayasia, Philippines, Borneo, Brunei, PNG, Fiji | Forest World Vulnerable Species Listing |
Lauan | Clear-felling habitat * FAO "Requires conservation action." Illegal logging. | South East Asia, Philippines |
|
Meranti, Batu | Clear-felling habitat. * Major international trade for varieties of yellow, white, light and dark red meranti. Illegal logging. | Indonesia, Malaysia, India, China, Thailand, Singapore |
|
Molave, Vitex | Clear-felling * Overexploitation. Minor international trade. Illegal logging. | Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia |
|
New Guinea Walnut, paldao, dao | Clear-felling habitat * FAO "Requires conservation action." Used in construction furniture, decking. | South East Asia |
|
Nyatoh | Clear-felling habitat, extensive agriculture. * Minor international trade in plywood, furniture, and mouldings. Illegal logging. | Indonesia, Philippines | Forest World Vulnerable Species Listing |
Parana pine; Brazilian pine, pino blanco | Major international timber trade * Logging has decreased Araucaria forests to less than 20% of their original range, and much of the remaining forest is small and fragmented. Few seed trees remain, but fruit and seeds are still collected for human consumption. | Argentina, Brazil, Peru | IBAMA list of threatened plants |
Parlatorei, red podocarp | Clear-felling habitat, commercial use * Scare cloud forest species. Traded as furniture. | Argentina, Bolivia, Peru | CITES Appendix I |
Pau rosa, aniba rosewood | Commercial use, alternative medicine, harvested for oils and perfume | Brazil |
|
Pencil cedar | Clear-felling habitat * International trade in plywood, joinery. Illegal logging. | Indonesia, Philippines Africa | Forest World Vulnerable Species Listing |
Ramin, Merang | Commercial use, clear-felling habitat. * Regeneration may decline due to over-harvesting. Major international trade in furniture, mouldings, picture frames, joinery. Illegal logging. | Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei |
|
Red sandalwood, Almug | Commercial use, local use, clear-felling habitat * Valuable as timber, dye, medicine, cosmetics extracts. Plantations are being established. | India | CITES Appendix II |
Rosewood, Tulipwood, Bahia/Brazilian/rio rosewood | Commercial use, clear-felling habitat, seed predation * Valuable timber traded internationally for cabinetmaking, furniture, and musical instruments. Forests are clear-felled to expose fertile soil. | Brazil | CITES Appendix I. IBAMA official list of threatened plants. |
Sajo | Clear-felling habitat, harvested for pulp which has a variety of uses including food | Central America, Colombia |
|
Teak Camphorwood | Clear-felling habitat * FAO "Requires conservation action." Used inconstruction, furniture, decking. Illegal logging. | South East Asia |
|
Utile, African mahogany, sipo, sapele | Over-harvesting, pests * Heavy exploitations, particularly of older trees. Major international trade as paneling and furniture. Slow growth rates. Insect predation. Some populations protected. | Central and Western Africa |
|
Guatemalan fir | Extensive logging, timber | Central America | CITES Appendix I |
Agarwood | Type of core wood found in Aquilaria tree species used in the production of incense and perfume; threatened by extensive logging and growing demand | S. Asia - S.E. Asia | CITES Appendix II |
Ajo, Garlic Tree | Logged and harvested for herbal and medicinal uses | Costa Rica, Panama | CITES Appendix II |
King William Pine | Vulnerable #'s due to extensive logging. Used for joinery, musical instruments and building boats | Australia | Forest Lights Endangered Tree Listing |
Afrormosia, Assembla, Ayin, Egba | Heavily logged and supplies will become exhausted within 10 years of current exploitation. Used for flooring and furniture | West Africa | CITES Appendix II |
West Indian Satinwood | Highly sought for cabinetry, and veneer's. | Florida, West Indies | Forest Lights Endangered Tree Listing |
African Cherry | Heavily exploited for medicinal uses (for Prostate Cancer), and cabinetry | Central Africa, Madagascar | CITES Appendix II |
Ceylon Satinwood | Furniture, decorative veneer's, interior joinery | India, Ceylon |
|
Central American Cedar, Spanish Cedar | Threatened by heavy logging and felling before trees reach maturity. Used in boat building and cabinetry | Most of Central and South America, and parts of Mexico |
|
Walnut | Decreased habitat, commercial use, food, construction | South America |
|
