BRAZILIAN ROSEWOOD

Common Name:             Brazilian Rosewood, Bahia Rosewood, Rio Rosewood, Jacarandá da Bahia, Jacarandá De Brazil, Piano wood, Caviuna, or Obuina.
Scientific Name:             Dalbergia nigra        

Introduction

Dalbergia nigra is currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and on Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). In 1992 it was the first tree species to ever be listed on CITES and remains the only Dalbergia species (of which there are around 300 worldwide) to be on this list. Several other Dalbergia species have also been classified as Endangered, Vulnerable etc by the IUCN, although none have been given the full protection by CITES. The addition of D. nigra to the CITES list prohibits any international trade in the timber or other products from this species.

All Dalbergia species are members of the Legume family (Fabaceae). They form associations with nitrogen fixing rhibozial bacteria that reside in root nodules, and also have mutualistic interactions arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) which helps them to survive in soils that may be poor or limiting in nutrients (Santiago et al 2002). Dalbergia nigra is a semi-deciduous species that can grow up to 40 m high, and a maximum diameter at breast height of 1-1.5 m. It has a short flowering period between November and December and the flowers are pollinated by insects, mainly bees (ARKIVE website). The fruiting period of this tree is very long, lasting from January until September. It produces flat seed pods, which are wind dispersed (Ribeiro et al 2005).

The branches are dark and grow in a distinct zigzag pattern. The leaves are small, bearing 12-18 leaflets and this combined with the zigzag branches gives the tree distinctive wispy or feathery appearance. The tree grows best in undulating clay and loam soils which are well drained (Carvalho 1997) and it is also known that the tree can regenerate from stumps by producing sprouts. The tree is able to withstand a broad range of climatic conditions as it can be found from tropical lowland forest to sub-montane forest (Arkive website and Cavalho 1997).

Like all rosewoods, Dalbergia nigra has a strong sweet smell that is reminiscent of the fragrance of roses. The oil content of the wood is also very high and this oil has made it desirable for use as an essential oil to fragrance cosmetics and for its use in medicines.

Why is this species important?

The IUCN website classes Brazilian rosewood as ‘one of the most highly prized woods in Brazil’. It is the properties of the wood that make it so important. Its timber is very heavy and strong, making it highly resistant to insect attack and decay. It also has a high resonance which is ideal for the production of musical instruments. The appearance of the timber is also appealing. The wood can vary in colour from brick red to dark brown, and the grain of the wood is black. The restrictions on trade in Dalbergia nigra timber have increased the value of boards that are still available for use. The price for one board foot of D. nigra timbre was calculated at around $100 (www.drumsolo.cc). Trade in timber cut before the 1960s is still permitted, as long as it is certified by CITES.

Where is it found?

Dalbergia nigra is endemic to the coastal Brazilian Atlantic Forest, which is also known as the ‘Mata Atlantica’ in Portuguese. This forest covers an area of more than 1,000,000 km2 and is made containing both evergreen and semi-deciduous trees. The Brazilian Atlantic Forest has been classed as one of the most diverse biomes in the world (Ribeiro et al 2010) as it has a high plant species richness and about 8000 endemic plants. Dalbergia nigra can be found in fragmented populations in the Brazilian states of Bahia, Minas Gerais, Espırito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo

How do people use it?

The timber from Dalbergia nigra is much sought after in local markets as building material for use in flooring, structural beams and wall panelling/lining. Worldwide, its timber has been highly valued for use in making musical instruments (particularly guitars) and furniture. The oil produced from the timber is also used as a fragrance in cosmetics and for medicinal purposes.

Why is it threatened?

Despite its inclusion on Appendix 1 of CITES Dalbergia nigra continues to be illegally logged and traded internationally. For example, in 2009, 249 sheets of Brazilian rosewood timber were seized by TRAFFIC police in Rotterdam. This species is also threatened by the escalating deforestation that has taken place in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest to make space for an increasing human population and agricultural conversion. Over 70% of the total population of Brazil live in this region and, as a consequence, much of the converted land is used for ‘roads, power lines and the expansion of urban areas’ (www.wwf.org.uk). Forest conversion to crops of soya bean, sugar cane and coffee also contributes to high deforestation rates. Eucalyptus plantations for charcoal and cellulose are also becoming increasing in this area (Santiago et al 2002). These drivers of deforestation have led to the reduction of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest to just 7% of its original cover.

The remaining populations of Dalbergia nigra occur only in very fragmented, small populations with low genetic variability. Studies of this species have shown that small fragmented populations, close to human settlements, are very low in their genetic diversity relative to larger populations found in protected conservation areas (Ribeiro et al 2005). The degree of genetic variation amongst the separate populations studied also depends on the extent of human disturbance. The regeneration of this species may also be limited in some circumstances. It is not understood why this is, but it is possibly a result of high seed predation rates by rodents (Varty 1998).

What conservation action is needed?

This species needs conservation action to stop it from progressing any further towards extinction. It has been said that ‘the main factors which threaten its survival are uncontrolled exploitation and inadequate reforestation’ (Santiago et al 2002). The conservation of small populations of this species is already taking place in protected areas of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest such as in the Serra do Mar State Park. This is a protected area covering over 315,000 ha and it also acts as a green corridor as it connects smaller fragmented areas of forest. It is also important that the remaining populations which have a higher genetic diversity are preserved.

An organisation in Brazil known as Dalbergia Preservation is currently creating small plantations of Dalbergia nigra to preserve the species by reforestation. They also aim to protect remaining trees to assure that the seed stocks needed for future plantations are genetically diverse. Their longer term aim is to create sustainable plantations of this species to meet future demand because they recognise that demand for this wood is not going to decrease. To address this aim they offer seeds or seedlings to small communities to grow on their own land, which both enhances the representation of Dalbergia nigra trees in the agricultural landscape and also provides communities with some extra income. Up to 2009, Dalbergia Preservation organisation had distributed 300 trees.

The need for protection of the remaining 7% of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest has been recognised, and 35.9% of the remaining forest has some form of protected status. Despite the high rate of deforestation in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, it is still considered one of the world’s top five biodiversity hotspots. This status justifies sustained efforts to conserve both the forest community and its iconic species such as Dalbergia nigra.

Selected References

Arkive last accessed 14/3/2011

Biodiversity Hotspots Website last accessed 14/3/2011

Dalbergia Preservation last accessed 14/3/2011

Drumsolo Website last accessed 18/05/2011

TRAFFIC Website last accessed 14/3/2011

The Wood Database last accessed 14/3/2011

Woodfinder Website last accessed 18/05/11

WWF Forests We Work In Website last accessed 14/3/2011

Carvalho A.M.d. (1997) A synopsis of the genus Dalbergia (Fabaceae: Dalbergieae) in Brazil. Brittonia, 49, 87-109

Ribeiro R.A., Ramos, A.C.S., Filho, J.P.D.L., and, Lovato, M.B (2005) Genetic variation in remnant populations of Dalbergia nigra (Papilionoideae), an endangered tree from the Brazilian Atlantic forest. Annals of Botany, 95, 1171-1177

Ribeiro R.A., Ramos, A.C.S., Filho, J.P.D.L., and, Lovato, M.B (2011) Phylogeography of the endangered rosewood Dalbergia nigra (Fabaceae): insights into the evolutionary history and conservation of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Heredity, 106, 46-57

Santiago G.M., Garcia, Q., and Scotti, M.R (2002) Effect of post planting inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp and mycorrhizal fungi on the growth of Brazilian rosewood, Dalbergia nigra Allem. ex Benth., in two tropical soils. New Forests, 24, 15-25

Varty, N. 1998. Dalbergia nigra. In: IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.2.

Acknowledgements

This tree profile was researched and written by Bianca Bergamino and edited by Dr David Burslem, University of Aberdeen.

Photos: Dalbergia Preservation (used with permission.)

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CONSERVATION STATUS:
Vulnerable