International Wood Magazine

From the Forest

Nature's Palette

By Craig Forester
Page 10 of International Wood magazine featuring the From the Forest president's letter by Craig Forester with his portrait and a Nature's Palette species list.
The opening 'From the Forest' letter from IWPA President Craig Forester in the 12th edition of International Wood, alongside the Nature's Palette reference list of imported wood species.

Welcome to the 12th edition of IWPA's award-winning International Wood magazine. Each year we are excited to bring our readers stories about the most innovative projects and exciting applications that showcase the capabilities of wood products sourced from around the world.

This edition of International Wood details the use of exotic wood species in projects ranging from the most luxurious tropical resort to a lovingly handmade boat and the most detailed woodworking in toys and art. This year's edition also includes an updated Source Box to allow woodworkers and specifiers to immediately learn more about the species highlighted in our articles. Readers can then turn to IWPA's Buyers Guide, which directly connects specifiers with the suppliers that can help them source the most beautiful and highest performance wood products from around the world.

Beyond producing International Wood magazine each year, many of our readers might not know much about the role IWPA fills for the imported wood industry. Our stated mission is "To build acceptance and demand in North America for globally sourced wood products from sustainably managed forests." This effort supports jobs and industry in North America while also ensuring the economic health of foreign communities that rely on forests for their livelihoods. Without the long-term economic value created by demand from foreign markets, forests could be lost forever to conversion to agriculture or other uses.

2015 has been an exciting time to serve as President of IWPA. I am especially excited about the work IWPA is doing to create a Wood Trade Compliance Training Course that will ensure that compliance professionals in the wood products industry have access to the latest resources and best practices so their companies are able to efficiently and effectively meet their responsibilities under laws such as the Lacey Act. This course is in the final stages of development and we look forward to rolling it out in several locations around the country in 2016.

I am hopeful that you will consider joining us next spring for our 60th Annual World of Wood conference from April 6-8 at the JW Marriott in Austin, Texas. We have assembled a list of speakers and panels that will provide you with the most timely and relevant information to help your team capitalize on opportunities that will present themselves in the current business and regulatory environment.

Lastly, I would like to thank IWPA's Members for your continued support of our industry. The time and resources you dedicate to our shared Association help our industry grow. I have enjoyed working with our Executive Director, Cindy Squires, as she and her team have undertaken numerous projects that seek to provide members with the tools they need to excel in a dynamic legal and regulatory environment. Our staff and Board look forward to each new opportunity to help you and your business thrive. If you are not yet a Member, give our team at IWPA a call so they can tell you more about ways in which they can help you succeed.

Sincerely,

Craig Forester • IWPA President 2015-2016 • Rex Lumber Company

Nature's Palette

The forests provide a natural, wondrous and renewable palette of wood species in an amazing multitude of colors and grain patterns. There are literally thousands of species globally that spark the imagination of our readers. Each edition of International Wood provides insight into the wide range of projects that successfully incorporate imported species. We have made every effort to identify the species referenced in this edition by its more common name and scientific names below. Clearly communicate your needs with a U.S. importer, manufacturer or supplier who can best assist you in locating the most appropriate species for your project.

  • African Etimoe (Copaifera spp.)
  • African Pommelé and Figured Sapele (Entandrophragma cylindricum)
  • Anegre (Aningeria spp.)
  • Angelique (Dicorynia guianensis)
  • Anigre (Pouteria spp.)
  • Australian walnut (Juglans regia)
  • Ayous (Triplochiton scleroxylon)
  • Balau, Red (Shorea spp.)
  • Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
  • Birch, Baltic (Betula spp.)
  • Birch, Karlian (Betula spp.)
  • Bloodwood (Brosimum paraense)
  • Bocote (Cordia spp.)
  • Brazilian cherry/jatoba (Hymenaea courbaril)
  • Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra)
  • Bubinga (Guibourtia spp.)
  • Caribbean Heart Pine (Pinus caribaea)
  • Cambara (Erisma uncinatum)
  • Cedar, Spanish (Cedrela odorata)
  • Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa)
  • Cumaru (Dipteryx odorata)
  • Doussie (Afzelia spp.)
  • East Indian Rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia)
  • Ebony (Diospyros spp.)
  • Ekki (Platymiscium spp.)
  • Elm, Carpathian (Ulmus spp.)
  • Eveuss (Klainedoxa gabonensis)
  • European White Oak (Quercus robur)
  • Garapa (Apuleia leiocarpa)
  • Greenheart (Chlorocardium rodiei)
  • Guajuvira, Brazilian Hickory, Guajayvi Wood (Patagonula americana)
  • Heveatech Engineered Wood (Hevea brasiliensis)
  • Ipé (Tabebuia spp.)
  • Iroko (Chlorophora excelsa)
  • Jatoba, Brazilian Cherry (Hymenaea courbaril)
  • Kempas (Koompassia malaccensis)
  • Khaya/African mahogany (Khaya spp.)
  • Limba, Black (Terminalia superba)
  • Lychee (Litchi)
  • Macassar ebony (Diospyros spp.)
  • Maccaranduba (Platymiscium spp.)
  • Mahogany, Honduran (Swietenia macrophylla)
  • Makore (Tieghemella heckelii)
  • Mango (Mangifera Indico)
  • Maple (Acer spp.)
  • Massaranduba/Brazilian redwood (Manilkara spp.)
  • Meranti/lauan (Shorea spp.)
  • Merbau (Intsia spp.)
  • Morado (Machaerium scleroxylon)
  • Obeche (Triplochiton scleroxvlon)
  • Okoume (Aucoumea klaineana)
  • Padauk (Pterocarpus spp.)
  • Paldao (Dracontomelon dao)
  • Pau ferro (Machaerium spp.)
  • Primavera (Cybistax donnell-smithii)
  • Purpleheart (Peltogyne spp.)
  • Red grandis (eucalyptus grandis)
  • Rosewood (Dalbergia spp.)
  • Rosewood, Honduran (Dalbergia stevensonii)
  • Rosewood, Madagascar (Dalbergia baroni)
  • Santos Rosewood/pau ferro (Machaerium spp.)
  • Sapele (Entandrophragma spp.)
  • Shedua (Guibourtia ehie)
  • Spruce, Sitka (Picea sitchensis)
  • Teak (Tectona grandis)
  • Tigerwood (Astronium graveolens)
  • Walnut (Juglans spp.)
  • Wenge (Millettia laurentii)
  • White Poplar, Silver Poplar, Silverleaf Poplar, Abele (Populus alba)
  • Yellowheart (Euxylophora paraensis)
  • Zebrawood (Microberlinia brazzavillensis)
  • Ziricote (Cordia dodecandra)

REFERENCES:

Frequently asked questions

What is the Wood Trade Compliance Training Course being developed by IWPA?+

It is a training course IWPA is creating to ensure compliance professionals in the wood products industry have access to the latest resources and best practices for meeting responsibilities under laws such as the Lacey Act. The course was in the final stages of development in 2015, with plans to roll it out in several U.S. locations in 2016.

When and where is IWPA's 60th Annual World of Wood conference being held?+

The 60th Annual World of Wood conference is scheduled for April 6-8 at the JW Marriott in Austin, Texas. The event features speakers and panels focused on timely information about the current business and regulatory environment.

Why does IWPA argue that demand for imported wood helps protect foreign forests?+

According to IWPA President Craig Forester, without the long-term economic value created by demand from foreign markets, forests could be lost forever to conversion to agriculture or other uses. Sustained demand supports the economic health of foreign communities that rely on forests for their livelihoods.

What is the purpose of the updated Source Box in the 12th edition of International Wood magazine?+

The updated Source Box allows woodworkers and specifiers to immediately learn more about the species highlighted in the articles. Readers can then use IWPA's Buyers Guide to connect directly with suppliers of those wood products.

Who leads IWPA as President and Executive Director as of the 2015-2016 edition?+

Craig Forester of Rex Lumber Company serves as IWPA President for 2015-2016, and Cindy Squires serves as Executive Director. Forester credits Squires and her team with undertaking numerous projects to help members navigate the legal and regulatory environment.

How should specifiers go about sourcing a specific imported species listed in International Wood?+

The magazine advises readers to clearly communicate their needs with a U.S. importer, manufacturer, or supplier who can help locate the most appropriate species for their project. Each species is identified by both its common and scientific names to aid accurate sourcing.