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MU and Partners Release New Guide for Musicians With Pernambuco Bows

The guide provides tips and important information for owners in relation to the Control of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) permits.

Published: 02 June 2023 | 12:09 PM Updated: 05 June 2023 | 4:13 PM
Close up of hand on bow playing violin.
"It's important that we all do what we can to take an active part in the conservation of this important wood". Image credit: Shutterstock.

Music Industry bodies have joined forces to provide a guide for musicians to understand the outcome of the recent CITES Conference of the Parties (CoP) 19, held in Panama in November 2022.

It was decided at the CoP that Brazil’s proposal - to move its indigenous tree that produces the only wood in the world used for string instrument bow manufacture, from a CITES Appendix II listing to Appendix I - should not be agreed, however certain safeguarding provisions were put in place to ensure Pernambuco is protected in the future. What was agreed however, was that any Pernambuco or finished bows as a finished product leaving Brazil for the first time will require an export permit.

The International Federation of Musicians (FIM) and the League of American Orchestras in association with the MU and other organisations, have now produced this useful guide for musicians as to how they can protect themselves and their bows when moving and working around the globe.

A really useful guide for members with Pernambuco bows

Dave Webster MU Head of International says:

“This is a really useful guide for members with Pernambuco bows. Following our successful campaign to keep Pernambuco on CITES Appendix II, it's important that we all do what we can to ensure that it stays that way, and that we take an active part in the conservation of this important wood. Our thanks to FIM and the League of American Orchestras in producing this guide”.

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