Ipê, Cedar and Cumaru under CITES: a new regulatory era for tropical timber

Since November 2024, the international export of timber from the genera Handroanthus/Tabebuia (known commercially as ipê), Cedrela (cedar) and Dipteryx (cumaru) has been subject to new controls under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Their inclusion in Appendix II signals a global shift towards tighter scrutiny of high-value tropical timber — a move that will reverberate across forest-based producers, exporters and environmental service providers.

This article examines what the change entails, how it came about, its implications for the environmental services sector, and the procedures now required for export. It also outlines how Green Forest can support companies and landholders navigating this new regulatory landscape.

What CITES is — and why ipê, cedar and cumaru were added

CITES is an international treaty, signed by more than 180 parties, designed to ensure that global trade in wild fauna and flora does not threaten the survival of species. Species are grouped into Appendices according to the level of control needed. Appendix II lists those that are not necessarily threatened with extinction but “may become so unless trade is closely regulated”.

The listing of ipê, cedar and cumaru was adopted at CITES CoP19 and later implemented by several parties, including Brazil, which now requires a specific export licence for products harvested from 25 November 2024 onwards. Regulators argue that, despite their commercial value and durability, trade in these timbers — particularly in tropical contexts — raises concerns about undocumented extraction, illegal logging and slow natural regeneration.

This does not imply the species are on the brink of extinction. Rather, their international trade now requires heightened oversight, traceability and proof of legal origin to ensure commercial use does not endanger natural populations.

Export requirements for ipê, cedar and cumaru

With the new classification, exporters and importers face a stricter set of regulatory demands. Key requirements include:

• CITES export permits:Every shipment must be accompanied by a CITES Export Permit or equivalent certification issued by the exporting country’s competent authority.

• Species identification and proof of origin:Timber must be accurately identified to the correct genus, with evidence that harvest and management comply with national forest legislation.

• Pre-Convention certificates:Timber harvested prior to the listing date may qualify for a “pre-Convention” certificate — a mechanism Brazil has made available for these genera.

• Chain-of-custody and traceability documentation:Full documentation of transport, custody, management and legality is required. Failure to provide adequate records may lead to refusal at destination or seizure of cargo.

• Practical impacts on costs and logistics:Industry reports highlight delays, increased bureaucratic costs and a higher risk of supply-chain disruption as a result of the new permit requirements.

  
  

For exporters, forest-sector companies and landowners dealing with these species, compliance is no longer optional: it is now the entry ticket to international markets.

What this means for the environmental services sector

For environmental service providers — including consulting firms, forest-management operators, auditors and restoration specialists — the inclusion of ipê, cedar and cumaru in Appendix II brings both challenges and opportunities:

• Growing demand for expertise in traceability and legality:Exporters will require technical guidance on compliance, audits, sustainability reports, chain-of-custody protocols and legal documentation.

• Expanding need for forest management, restoration and monitoring:Demonstrating sustainable harvest practices will require inventories, regeneration monitoring and continuous technical reporting.

• Pressure on logistics and export workflows:Increased documentation demands may create operational bottlenecks. Specialist support in logistics and species classification becomes more valuable.

• Shifts in supply chains and market adaptation:Buyers may seek alternative species or enhanced transparency, driving professionalisation across environmental service markets.

• Integration with ESG reporting and corporate responsibility:Companies trading these timbers will need to account for CITES compliance within sustainability and ESG disclosures.

  
  

For the environmental services market, the new regulation is not merely a hurdle — it is also a driver of new forms of technical, regulatory and sustainability-related demand.

How Green Forest – Environmental Projects and Services can support companies

Green Forest is equipped to assist landholders, exporters and forest-sector companies at every stage of adaptation to the new CITES requirements for ipê, cedar and cumaru. Services include:

• Legal and documentary compliance for export:Species identification, origin verification, chain-of-custody assessments and full support in securing CITES permits — both pre- and post-Convention.

• Forest-management and compliance diagnostics:Forest inventories, monitoring of extraction, verification of management-plan compliance, concession analysis and sustainability reporting.

• Traceability, logistics and export support:Assistance with transport documentation, cargo preparation, customs procedures and compliance with environmental authorities in Brazil and destination countries.

• Training and capacity-building:Workshops on CITES requirements, sustainable management practices and documentation compliance for forest-sector teams and importers.

• Sustainable alternatives and risk-reduction strategies:Evaluation of alternative timbers with lower regulatory risk, integration of voluntary certification schemes and long-term commercial planning.

  
  

With this comprehensive approach, Green Forest positions itself as a strategic partner for companies seeking not only compliance but commercial resilience in a more regulated international marketplace.

In conclusion

The inclusion of these genera in CITES Appendix II marks a turning point for tropical-timber trade: greater transparency, stricter controls and higher operational costs — but also opportunities for companies willing to adapt and differentiate themselves.

For exporters, forest enterprises and businesses integrated into complex timber supply chains, the time to act is now. Green Forest stands ready to support clients from initial diagnosis through to full compliance, reducing regulatory risks and strengthening competitive position.

Contact Green Forest to arrange a consultation and transform the new CITES requirements into an opportunity for responsible, sustainable and legally robust participation in global markets.

References

• Organização da CITES. “CITES-listed Timber and Wood Updates.” U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Nov 25 2024. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

• ATIBT. “CITES implementation for cumaru and ipe in Brazil.” 25 Out 2024. (ATIBT)

• McIlvain Company. “What is CITES Appendix II?” Jan 27 2023. (J Gibson McIlvain Co)

• Thermory. “CITES Regulations on Ipe and Cumaru: What You Need to Know.” (Thermory)

• OHC. “African Mahogany, Cumaru and Ipé are going on the CITES Appendix II List – November 25, 2024.” Nov 6 2024. (OHC)

• Kebony US. “What is happening with CITES and Ipe?” Nov 25 2024. (Kebony USA)