January, 2025

The future of classical music is in peril, and we have one year to do a LOT of lobbying and outreach!
WHAT is happening:
In November of 2025, the CITES Conference of the Parties (COP20) will convene, and there is a good chance that pernambuco will be resubmitted for approval as a CITES Appendix I species.
WHAT does that mean?
CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species.
CITES Appendix I materials includes species threatened with extinction. This is the most restrictive appendix, and includes an outright prohibition of commercial trade. Commonly known materials in this appendix include ivory, tortoiseshell, and Brazilian rosewood.
WHAT could potentially happen:
If pernambuco is elevated to the status of Appendix I, musicians will not be able to travel with pernambuco bows without documentation, and in some cases musicians will not be able to travel with them at all. The documentation would be subject to border security agents’ interpretations of laws the CITES agreements.
The Crux of it All:
This is a major cultural heritage issue. In order for live music to stay relevant, people need to be able to travel with their instruments and bows. This isn’t just an issue for classical music! This is an issue for anyone traveling with instruments made out of wood including bowed strings, bows, woodwind instruments, guitars, pianos, harps, percussion instruments, and the list goes on.
As Yung Chin has so eloquently stated,
“There is a powerful link between conservation and the arts. Working together for positive and responsible change, we can balance the need to conserve and restore the species with protection of our ability to share music and uplift the human experience around the world for generations to come.”
In order to make headway on this issue, musicians, musical institutions, and audiences need to understand what’s going on with not only pernambuco, but with ebony and all woods used to manufacture instruments.
WHAT you can DO:
Spread the word!
Musicians and folks in management: any documented outreach will very beneficial to the cause for musicians in the future! Alliance-International has started a campaign called “Concerts for Conservation”. If you’d be interested in supporting pernambuco efforts in a performance setting, please use Alliance-International’s QR code (below) in your promotional materials, and discuss this unique and important wood when addressing your audience!

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