Click here to open feedback window. Contribution to an evaluation of tree species using the new CITES Listing Criteria 152 Aniba rosaeodora  Lauraceae pau rosa, bois de rose femelle, rosewood, pau ferro Distribution Brazil (Amapá, Amazonas, Pará), Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela Habitat A species of tropical, lowland to submontane, non-seasonal, rainforest. It occurs on clay soils, developing well in forest clearings (Varty, 1996). The species is also recorded from areas of mountain savannah forest up to 1280m. Population Status and Trends Populations throughout the species range have seriously declined because of rosewood oil extraction. Substantial wild stands are believed to exist still in areas which are unlikely to be exploited, but where exploitation has occurred the population is devoid of mature trees and significant signs of regeneration are absent (Coppen, 1995). The whole tree and its roots are destroyed in the extraction process, trees of all sizes being harvested indiscriminately (Varty, 1996). The sole producer at present is Brazil, although the species was wiped out through exploitation over large areas in French Guiana between 1910 and 1930. Harvesting incurs high costs and is taking place in more and more remote locations concentrated around Amazon tributaries, principally in Amazonas and Pará states (Coppen, 1995). Mobile distillation factories have moved deep into the forest (Varty, 1996). Levels of exploitation have significantly declined with increased use of synthetic oils (Coppen, 1995). The species is included in lists of threatened plants in Colobia, Brazil and Suriname (Calderon, 1997; IBAMA, 1992; Werkhoven, 1997). Ecology Early pioneer, light demanding (Varty, 1996) Role of species in the Ecosystem The few fruit crops produced are sought by parakeets (Varty, 1996). Threats Commercial overexploitation, poor regeneration, clear-felling/logging of the habitat (Varty, 1996). Utilisation The essential oil is extracted from the wood. The leaves and roots are also fragrant. Rosewood oil contains high concentrations of linalool, which can be transformed into a number of derivatives for the flavour and fragrances industry. Rosewood oil has for a long time been used in the preparation of more expensive perfumes and at one time in fragrant soaps. Synthetic linalool and more cheaply harvested natural sources of linalool are now more commonly used than Rosewood oil. (Coppen, 1995). The timber is also of some commercial value in furniture-making, turnery, boat or canoe building, millwork, flooring, plywood, veneer and the making of agricultural implements and tool handles (Flynn, 1994, Varty, 1996). Trade At the height of international interest in rosewood oil in the 1960s, Brazil alone exported 500 tonnes pa. The world market is now stable at about 100 tonnes (Coppen, 1995). Fluctuations in supplies are caused by changes in rainfall levels, which affect access to harvesting sites. Although Peru, Colombia and the Guianas have all produced rosewood oil for the international market, Brazil is now the only producer. The chief importer is U.S.A. followed by Switzerland, France and other EC countries (Coppen, 1995). Amount in tonnes Destinations of Brazilian Exports 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 USA 28 22 na na 40 na na Switzerland 6 6 na na 11 na na France 10 9 na na 3 na na Former West Germany 1 1 na na 2 na na U.K. 1 1 na na 1 na na Netherlands - - na na 1 na na Spain - 1 na na 1 na na Total 48 39 95 78 60 74 68 Source: Brazilian national statistics in Coppen, J.J.W. 1995 IUCN Conservation category EN A1+2d according to Varty, N. (Varty, 1996). Conservation Measures The species is included in the official list of threatened Brazilian plants compiled by IBAMA. Forest Management and Silviculture The establishment of plantations has not been greatly successful and continues at a small scale (Varty, 1996). Silvicultural studies have been carried out by several Brazilian institutions and are continued by the Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias do Pará (FCAP) with assistance from the U.K. institutions, NRI, OFI and ITE. References Calderon, E. (comp.). 1997. Lista de plantas Colombianas en peligro. July 1997 Version. Instituto de Investigacino de Recursos Biologicas Alexander von Humboldt. (unpublished). 14 pp. Coppen, J.J.W. 1995. Flavours and fragrances of plant origin. Non-Wood Forest Products 1. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome. Erfurth, T. & H. Rusche. 1976. The marketing of tropical wood. Rome: FAO. FAO Forestry Department. 1986. Databook on endangered tree and shrub species and their provenances. Rome: FAO. 524pp. Flynn, J.H. 1994. A guide to useful woods of the world. King Philip Publishing Co., Maine, U.S. 382pp. Harcourt, C.S. & J.A. Sayer (eds.). 1996. The conservation atlas of tropical forests: the Americas. Simon & Schuster. IBAMA. 1992. Lista oficial de espécies da flora Brasileira ameaçadas de extinçao.  (unpublished). 4pp. Kubitzki, K. & S. Renner. 1982. Lauraceae I (Aniba and Aiouea). Flora Neotropica. New York: New York Botanic Gardens. Pires O' Brien. 1997. Additional information on Brazilian tree species. van der Werff, H. 1994. Annotations - List of Threatened plants of South America. 159-165. Varty, Nigel. 1996. Data collection forms for Brazilian Atlantic forest species. WCMC. 1996. Report of the Second Regional Workshop, held at CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica, 18-20 November 1996. Conservation and sustainable management of trees project. (unpublished). Werkhoven, M.C.M. 1997. Threatened trees of Suriname. A list compiled for the WCMC/SSC Conservation and sustainable management of trees project.