Context:
Recently, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has issued guidelines for its members involved in the sustainable harvest and trade of rosewood specimens.
Relevance:
GS III: Species in News
Dimensions of the Article:
- About Rosewood Tree
- Key Facts about CITES
About Rosewood Tree:
Rosewood is a commercial term that encompasses various tropical hardwoods within the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family. Here are some key details about rosewood:
- Distribution: Rosewood species are native to Southeast Asia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Sabah, Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
- Indian Rosewood:
- Dalbergia sissoo (North Indian Rosewood):
- Native to the foothills of the Himalayas, ranging from Afghanistan to Bihar, India.
- It is a fast-growing, deciduous tree known for its hardiness and crooked growth.
- Features long, leathery leaves and whitish or pink flowers.
- Typically found along river banks at elevations ranging from 200 m to 1,400 m.
- Dalbergia latifolia (East Indian Rosewood):
- Also known as East Indian Rosewood, Black Rosewood, Bombay Blackwood, Indonesian Rosewood, or Malabar Rosewood.
- Habitat includes tropical dry deciduous forests and tropical moist deciduous forests, as well as plains.
- Found in India, Nepal, Andaman Islands (India), Malay Peninsula, Indonesia, Himalayas, China, and Malaysia.
- Dalbergia sissoo (North Indian Rosewood):
- Uses: Rosewood is valued for its use in furniture, musical instruments, decorative items, and veneers due to its attractive grain and durability.
- Conservation Status: Many rosewood species, including Dalbergia sissoo and Dalbergia latifolia, are listed under Appendix II of the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) list. This listing means that international trade in these species is regulated to ensure their survival in the wild.
Key Facts about CITES:
- Purpose: CITES is an international agreement among governments aimed at preventing international trade from threatening the survival of wild animals and plants.
- Adoption: CITES was adopted in 1973 and entered into force in 1975.
- Membership: It has 184 member parties (countries), and trade regulations apply to over 38,000 species.
- Legality: While CITES is legally binding on its parties, it complements national laws rather than replacing them.
- Administration: The CITES Secretariat is administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
-Source: Down To Earth
