TROPICAL RAINFORESTS: Imperiled Riches—Threatened Rainforests
Commonly Harvested Tropical Timber Hardwoods
Africa: Iroko (African teak), Afara (Korina), Sapelli, Utile, Ayan, Ebony, Sipo, Okoumè (Gaboon), Moabi, Ayous, African mahogany (Khaya), Wengwe, Ozingo
Asia: Ironwood, Amboyna, Kapur, Sepetir, White seraya, Jelutong, Ramin, Meranti varieties, Teak
Latin America: Mahogany, Virola, Balsa, Greenheart, Crabwood, Mora, Ekki, Brazil Nut
Tree species to generally avoid when make sustainably-minded purchases. FSC-certifited is OK.
| Common Name | Other names | Scientific Name | Distribution | |||
| Africa | ||||||
| African ash | Koto, Kyereye, Oporoporo | Pterygota macrocarpa | West Africa | |||
| African mahogany | Khaya grandifoliola, K. senegalensis | Central Africa | ||||
| African Teak | Chlorophora excelsa | Central and Western Africa | ||||
| Afzelia | Aja, Doussie, Odo Niyan | Afzelia bipindensis | Western and Central Africa | |||
| Utile | African Mahogany, Sipo, Sapele, Sapelli | Entandrophragma utile, E. cylindricum | Central and Western Africa | |||
| Afrormosia | Assembla, Ayin, Egba | Pericopsis elata | West Africa | |||
| African Cherry | Prunus africana | Central Africa, Madagascar | ||||
| Asia | ||||||
| Almaciga | Agathis philippinensis | Philippines | ||||
| Beach calophyllum | Damanu, Bintangor | Calophyllum insularum | Indonesia | |||
| Kauri | Agathis borneensis | Southeast Asia | ||||
| Lauan | Shorea spp., Dipterocarpus spp. | Southeast Asia | ||||
| Meranti | Shorea spp., Parshorea spp. | Southeast Asia | ||||
| Vitex | Molave | Vitex parviflora | Southeast Asia | |||
| New Guinea Walnut | Paldao, Dao | Dracontomelum dao, spp. | Southeast Asia | |||
| Nyatoh | Palaquium spp., Payena spp. | Southeast Asia | ||||
| Pencil cedar | Palaquium spp. | Southeast Asia | ||||
| Merang | Ramin | Gonystylus bancanus | Southeast Asia | |||
| Red sandalwood | Almug | Pterocarpus santalinus | India | |||
| Teak | Camphorwood | Dryobalonops spp., Tectona spp. | South East Asia | |||
| Agarwood | Aquilaria malaccensis | Asia | ||||
| Ceylon Satinwood | Chrysophyllum perpulchrum | South Asia | ||||
| Latin America | ||||||
| Brazilian Cherry | Jatoba | Hymenaea courbaril | Brazil | |||
| Honduran mahogany | Swientenia spp. | Central and South America | ||||
| Brazilian Walnut | Ipe, Lapacho | Coriniana estrellenis | South America | |||
| Parana pine | Brazilian Pine, Pino Blanco | Araucaria angustifolia | South America | |||
| Parlatorei | Podocarpus vitiensis, Decussocarpus vitiensis | South America | ||||
| Pau rosa | Aniba Rosewood | Aniba duckei | Brazil | |||
| Rosewood | Tulipwood, Bahia Rosewood. Brazilian Rosewood, Rio Rosewood | Dalbergia nigra | Brazil | |||
| Sajo | Campnosperma panamensis | Central and South America | ||||
| Guatemalan fir | Abies guatemalensis | Central America | ||||
| Ajo | Garlic Tree | Caryocar costaricense | Central America | |||
| West Indian Satinwood | Zanthoxylum flavum | Caribbean | ||||
| Spanish Cedar | Cedrela odorata | Central and South America |
Sources: RAN (the Rainforest Action Network, FAO, CIRAD
Continued: Economic Restructuring