The Road to CITES

November 12, 2025

NAMM and our collaborators at the League of American Orchestras facilitated unprecedented international collaboration since the last meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) between musicians, instrument makers, orchestras and music industry associations spanning North America, Europe, South America, Asia and Australia. The music sector is aligned in its stance that sustainable businesses practices for Brazilian Paubrasilia echinata, or pernambuco wood, is necessary to protect the species, allow musicians to travel internationally with their instruments and to preserve centuries-old craftsmanship. 

Critical to this work are violin and bow makers — represented by the International Alliance of Violin and Bow Makers for Endangered Species, the International Association of Violin and Bow Makers (EILA), and others. These specialized makers join broader industry voices including the American Federation of Musicians, European performance organizations like CSFI, FIM, CAFIM, Pearle*, Japanese and Brazilian music industry associations and major instrument manufacturers united in advocacy and conservation. Together, we spread awareness about the need to trace the origin of the materials used to make bows and launched the Know Your Bow campaign after the 19th CoP in Panama in 2022.

Committed to Conservation and Sustainable Business Practices

The coalition emphasizes that makers remain committed to compliance with necessary CITES permits for raw materials (logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets) while seeking exemptions for finished instruments, bows and accessories. By advocating for simplified procedures, harmonized processes across countries, expanded electronic permitting capabilities and clear exemptions for noncommercial movement, the coalition seeks to enable both the centuries-old craft traditions of instrument makers and the cultural mission of traveling performers — while focusing conservation enforcement where it provides the greatest benefit: at the point where specimens first enter international trade from the range state.

Pernambuco Under Review at CoP 20

The 20th Meeting of the Convention of the Parties will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from Nov. 24-Dec. 5, 2025. Under CITES review is the Appendix listing for Paubrasilia echinata, or pernambuco, most commonly used to make violin bows, as Brazil has proposed listing the species under Appendix I, which would place tight restrictions on trade and cross-border movements.

Pernambuco has been under CITES controls since 2007, when it was listed under Appendix II with Annotation #10, which placed CITES permit requirements on “logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets, including unfinished wood articles used for the fabrication of bows for stringed musical instruments” when the material crossed international borders.  
At its 19th meeting (CoP19; Panama City, 2022), the Conference of the Parties adopted an amendment to Annotation #10 for Paubrasilia echinata that placed permit requirements on all parts, derivatives and finished products made from pernambuco wood, except for finished musical instruments, finished musical instrument accessories and finished musical instrument parts that are being re-exported. In other words, pernambuco wood and products require CITES permits when moving across borders, with one exception: Finished musical instruments and their parts/accessories can cross international borders without permits, once the wood has been exported with permits from Brazil, the only country in which pernambuco trees grow.  

NAMM is sending representatives to Samarkand to advocate on behalf of members that use legally sourced pernambuco. This critical convening will reinforce the recommendations of formal comments submitted in 2024, outlining actions that balance protections for music-related activities, while also advancing conservation goals. 

About CITES

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is a treaty between 184 countries (including the U.S. and EU) to protect endangered animals and plants from international trade practices that could threaten their existence. Companies that import, export or sell products that contain endangered materials listed in one of three Appendices are required to follow certification requirements outlined in each Appendix, with Appendix I being the most restrictive. The overarching goal of CITES is to support sustainable trade. 

For example, guitar manufacturers, bow makers and other vintage retailers that use or sell products containing Brazilian Rosewood or Pernambuco, tortoise shell or ivory must be able to prove legal use of the materials and/or that the product is "preconvention" certified, meaning it was created before the species used was listed as endangered. 

It is important to note that in addition to the international treaty, each participating country has its own sustainability laws that must be followed regarding enforcement of the treaty. It is, therefore, necessary to stay up to date on the addition of new species to the existing 40,000 species of plants and animals currently listed, as well as to regulation and enforcement in the associated countries. NAMM will inform its member companies on our involvement in CITES negotiations and outcomes. 

Gearing Up for the 20th Convention of the Parties in 2025

International decisions about which species will be listed as threatened and subject to trade restrictions take place about every three years at the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The decisions made by the 184 global parties to CITES will impact the capacity to buy, sell and travel with existing and new musical instruments. 

As we prepare for the 20th Conference of the Parties Convention, NAMM and several international music partner organizations participated in the July 8-13, 2024, meeting of the CITES Plants Committee in Geneva, Switzerland. This meeting was a precursor to 2025 treaty negotiations and takes place roughly every three years. The Plants Committee meeting convenes scientists, forest specialists, governmental regulators, enforcement officers and industry stakeholders to consider how implementation of current rules and the status of species should inform next steps in conservation policy.

Left to right: Scott Paul, Taylor Guitars; Arthur Dubroca, International Pernambuco Conservation Initiative;
Jacques Carbonneaux, French Musical Instrument Organization (CSFI); Heather Noonan, League of American Orchestras; Michael Jousserand, Confederation of European Music Industries (CAFIM); John Bennett, International Society of Violin and Bow Makers

Plants Committee 

The Plants Committee agenda included multiple discussions about different tree species used to manufacture musical instruments. Meeting participants considered the results of a rosewood study, prioritizing the conservation of species heavily impacted by trade. The meeting also considered new action to specifically document and manage sustainability in the trade of Dalbergia melanoxylon, commonly used in a range of musical instruments. 

Music stakeholders submitted an information document on Brazilian Pernambuco, used to make professional bows for stringed instruments, describing significant actions underway to help makers, dealers and musicians better document the legality of their bows and take action to support the conservation of the species. 

Standing Committee Meeting

NAMM sent representatives to the Standing Committee Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, in February 2025. The Standing Committee Meeting is a major convening before the Conference of the Parties where government leaders serve as the voting members to the negotiations. 

Stay Informed

In May 2024, NAMM joined U.S. music sector partners in formal comments on actions the U.S. delegation to CITES can take to balance protections for music-related activities, while also advancing conservation goals. Stay up to date and learn more about the current rules and how to help support sustainability in the Know Your Bow campaign and the recent Protected Species and Musical Instruments webinar, produced through NAMM’s partnership with a wide range of musical instrument stakeholders.