No. 787                                      Geneva, 10 March 1994


CONCERNING:


                     Trade in Timber Species


1.At  its  third  (Chiang  Mai, 26-28  October  1992)  and  fourth
  (Brussels,  6-8  September 1993) meetings, the Plants  Committee
  discussed   in   detail   several  problems   related   to   the
  implementation  of  CITES  for  timber  species  listed  in  the
  appendices.  The  attention  of the  Parties  is  drawn  to  the
  following two issues:

  A. Pre-Convention Stocks of Dalbergia nigra

       The  Plants Committee feels that only a very limited amount
     of  information is available regarding pre-Convention  stocks
     of wood of Dalbergia nigra (Brazilian or Rio rosewood).

       In  order  to be able to establish the extent  of  possible
     illegal trade in timber of this species, the Plants Committee
     strongly urges the Parties to provide to the Secretariat,  as
     soon  as  possible,  all information on pre-Convention  stock
     existing  within their territories and on quantities exported
     since  the inclusion of this species in Appendix I  (11  June
     1992).

     B.   Trade in Timber of Species Listed in Appendix II

       In  the  past  year,  the CITES Secretariat  has  carefully
     examined  the trade in timber of species listed  in  Appendix
     II,  in  particular Pericopsis elata (afrormosia, also called
     kokrodua  or  asamela). Thanks to the  kind  co-operation  of
     several  exporting countries (in particular  Cameroon,  Congo
     and Zaire), which provided copies of their export permits  to
     the Secretariat, it was possible to evaluate this trade.

       An  important  aspect of the timber trade  is  its  special
     structure. Generally the timber is transported by  ship  from
     the  country of origin to the Customs free-zone of a  harbour
     in the country of destination of the ship. Storage facilities
     and equipment to handle the timber logs are only available in
     such  zones. However, the companies that arrange for the sale
     of  these cargoes are often not located in the countries  for
     which the cargoes are destined.

       In many instances the shipment is sold during the period of
     transport  or  shortly  after its  arrival  in  the  port  of
     destination  of the ship. This could mean that  the  importer
     named  on  the export permit is different from  the  one  who
     actually  imports the timber and may even  be  located  in  a
     different country. The CITES Secretariat has several examples
     of  timber shipments, exported from Cameroon or Zaire,  which
     never  entered  the country of destination specified  on  the
     export  permit.  It has not yet been possible  to  trace  the
     actual destinations of the shipments concerned.
       In several countries, Customs is not even aware of the fact
     that  some  timber  species are subject  to  CITES  controls.
     Consequently,  shipments  may have been  cleared  for  import
     without  the CITES documentation having been checked  or  the
     original permits having been cancelled by Customs.

2.The CITES Secretariat therefore urges all Parties:

     +to   inform  Customs  in  all  ports  of  entry  that  CITES
     documentation is required for the import, export or re-export
     of timber of species listed in the CITES appendices;

     +not  to  accept any export permit that does not mention  the
     correct country of destination; and

     +to  inform  traders and national timber trade  organizations
     about the requirements for trade in timber species listed  in
     the CITES appendices.