Use of Peruvian mahogany under fire
By Powell Slaughter -- Furniture Today, April 24, 2005
High Point — Two national environmental groups asked furniture manufacturers at market here to avoid using big-leaf mahogany from Peru, citing what they called the Peruvian government's failure to enforce logging regulations.
In a press release issued the day before market's official opening, the Natural Resources Defense Council and Defenders of Wildlife said almost all Peru's mahogany exports are logged illegally and that 80% ends up in the United States.
The groups said that U.S. manufacturers acknowledging the use of South American mahogany include Broyhill, Drexel Heritage, Hekman, Henkel-Harris, Henredon, Stickley and Thomasville.
Lynn Chipperfield, senior vice president and chief administrative officer of Furniture Brands International, said he had not spoken with anyone from the two groups. FBI is the parent of Broyhill, Drexel Heritage, Henredon and Thomasville.
"I can say that our companies are in general very careful about complying with endangered-species laws," he said. "We've encountered issues like this in the past, and my investigations never revealed any substance to this kind of allegation."
Chipperfield said Lane, another FBI company, has confirmed the mahogany in its new Robert Idol collection is from a legitimate source.
"We use a few mahogany veneers today in our products, but we don't source from anyone but legitimate American lumber distributors," said Hekman President Dan Masters. "We have no knowledge or awareness of the use of any illegally harvested Peruvian mahogany, and if we found out that any of our suppliers are using it we'd go elsewhere. There are enough legitimate suppliers that we don't have to cheat."
Stickley uses no illegal mahogany, said Aminy Audi, executive vice president. "We checked with our suppliers, and they assure us that all the mahogany we use complies," she said.
Thompson Mahogany Co., which has supplied U.S. factories since 1843, serves numerous manufacturers, including Henkel-Harris. President Donald Thompson said all his company's Peruvian mahogany is legally harvested and exported, and certified under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, or CITES.
Brigid Shea, director of government and media relations for trade group International Wood Products Assn., said that Peruvian mahogany imports to the U.S. market are legal and comply with international law. She said those urging a boycott eliminate any economic incentive for managing forests where the wood is found.
Shea said the two environmental groups "are more interested in publicizing their grant-driven values system than in putting effort into helping developing countries such as Peru sustainably manage the forest."
Gerry Cooklin, president of case goods manufacturer South Cone, which has its main plant in Peru, believes the country has lagged behind other South American countries such as Brazil and Bolivia in controlling illegal logging practices.
South Cone phased mahogany out of its line three years ago after investing in moisture-control technology to adapt other woods with mahogany-like finishing and carving characteristics for use in furniture manufacturing.
"There are so many other species that are alike in their properties to mahogany, and we need for manufacturers to know about them," Cooklin said.
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Mahogany under fire from conservationists
Apr 16, 2005 -
Mahogany under fire
May 1, 2005
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