Advances in the international conservation of brazilwood - Joint Statement MRE/MMA/MinC

Published on December 5, 2025, at 9:11 a.m. Updated on December 5, 2025, at 9:15 a.m. on the MMA website.

On Brazil's initiative, the 20th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP20) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) today (December 5) adopted a resolution that improves international regulations on the Brazilwood tree (Paubrasilia echinata), Brazil's national tree and a symbol of the country's identity and history.

Critically endangered due to illegal logging, the species has lost 84% of its population in the last 150 years and currently has around 10,000 individuals, many of them isolated and with low regeneration capacity.

The decision approved by CITES member countries updates the regime applicable to international trade in brazilwood, distinguishing more precisely between commercial and non-commercial uses. The text clarifies the conditions for the international movement of musical instruments made from brazilwood for non-commercial purposes, maintains the possibility of movement of pre-Convention items, and reinforces the ban on trade in wild specimens. It also establishes obligations for consumer countries regarding the traceability, marking, and identification of stocks, as well as research into alternative species for the construction of bows and musical instruments. In this way, it strengthens enforcement, reduces loopholes for the laundering of illegal wood, and provides greater legal certainty for both authorities and legitimate users.

The decision represents a significant step forward for the conservation of the species, preserving the balance between environmental protection and cultural expression.

The Brazilian government emphasizes that the resolution was the result of constructive dialogue with partner countries and with the productive and cultural sectors, and reaffirms the country's commitment to biodiversity conservation, strengthening CITES, and promoting culture.

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