A pernambuco tree in flower. Photo by Juliana Neves. Inset: Bow tip using pernambuco wood. Photo courtesy of L’atelier d’Arthur.
In Friday’s (12/5) Strad (U.K.), an unsigned article states, “Bows for stringed instruments made from pernambuco will be subject to new rules as a result of decisions made at a conference of the UN’s Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The conference, which ran from 24 November to 5 December, brought together representatives of more than 180 nations including the Brazilian government as well as musicians, bow makers and dealers. Among the many items considered was Brazil’s proposal for a complete ban on the international trade of pernambuco wood … Following days of intensive negotiations by a special working group, the talks concluded with a resolution that pernambuco would remain on [the less restrictive] Appendix II, but with several further restrictions designed to curtail the illegal trade of the wood…. Musicians will be able to travel with pernambuco bows without permits when crossing borders for performances, repairs and other activities that do not result in a change of ownership. However, international sales of existing and new bows will require specialized permits, to prove the wood was harvested before the species was first listed by CITES in 2007. These new rules are to come into effect internationally [on] March 4, 2026).” Among the delegates at the conference was Heather Noonan, Vice President for Advocacy for the League of American Orchestras.
