Sunday, July 1, 2018

China Rosewood Purchases Providing Little Benefit to Zambia

The Conversation posted on 25 June 2018 a commentary titled "Why Zambia Has Not Benefitted from Its Rosewood Trade with China" by Paolo Omar Cerutti and Davison Gumbo, both with the Centre for International Forestry Research.

There is a huge demand in China for rosewood logs to make antique furniture. Africa, and particularly Zambia, has become a key exporter of rosewood to China. But Zambia's forests are being decimated causing serious environmental degradation. Zambian officials have little incentive to ensure the trade is properly regulated and corruption is rampant.