International Wood Magazine

From the Forest

Nature's Palette

By Caroline McIlvain
Smiling woman with dark hair in black top standing in front of a stacked wood-block wall, alongside IWPA president's letter and species list.
IWPA President Caroline McIlvain introduces the 15th edition of International Wood Magazine with a 'From the Forest' letter and a palette of globally sourced species.

Welcome to the 15th edition of the International Wood Products Association's (IWPA) award-winning International Wood Magazine & Buyers Guide. As our team assembled this year's magazine we kept returning to one simple theme: Wood Inspires! In these pages you learn more about how this amazing material inspires innovation, craftsmanship, reverence, and creativity in beautiful, cutting-edge projects. You will also learn more about the remarkable palette of wood materials that global sourcing allows as well as business practices that industry leaders use to supply amazing wood products to their customers in a responsible way.

International Wood is designed to serve as a helpful resource for readers. This year we have added a Ten Globally-Sourced Species to Know feature that designers can refer to in order to learn more about which species is best suited for their project. Readers can then turn to our Buyers Guide, which directly connects specifiers with suppliers that can help them source the most beautiful and highest performance wood products from around the world.

This beautiful magazine is one of many tools that we at IWPA use to advance our mission, which is to build acceptance and demand in North America for globally-sourced wood products from sustainably managed forests. IWPA's efforts to advance its mission help the wood products industry in North America serve its customers while also supporting the economic health of communities that rely on forestry for their livelihoods around the globe.

As you learn more about the value that IWPA provides, I am hopeful that you will consider joining us next spring for the 63rd World of Wood Annual Convention from April 3-5 at the Loews Ventana Canyon in Tucson, Arizona. We look forward to hosting a full schedule of world-class speakers, panel discussions, and networking events that will provide attendees with critical insight and intelligence for the year to come.

I would also like to thank IWPA's members, Board of Directors, and staff for everything they do for our industry and the U.S. designers, builders, and manufacturers who utilize the beautiful products our members provide. If you have any questions about globally-sourced wood products or how our association and its members can help you select the materials that can make your dream project a reality, please don't hesitate to reach out!

Sincerely,

Caroline McIlvain • IWPA President 2018-2019 J. Gibson McIlvain 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.)
  • Ayous (Triplochiton scleroxylon)
  • Balau, Red (Shorea spp.)
  • Beech, European (Fagus sylvatica)
  • Birch, Baltic (Betula spp.)
  • Birch, Karlian (Betula spp.)
  • Bloodwood (Brosimum paraense)
  • Bocote (Cordia spp.)
  • 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 (Lophira alata)
  • Elm, Carpathian (Ulmus spp.)
  • European White Oak (Quercus robur)
  • Garapa (Apuleia leiocarpa)
  • Greenheart (Chlorocardium rodiei)
  • Guajuvira, Brazilian Hickory, Guajayvi Wood (Patagonula americana)
  • Guanacaste (Enterolobium cyclocarpum)
  • Ipé (Tabebuia spp.)
  • Iroko (Chlorophora excelsa)
  • Jatoba, Brazilian Cherry (Hymenaea courbaril)
  • Katalox (Swartzia spp.)
  • Kempas (Koompassia malaccensis)
  • Keruing (Dipterocarpus spp.)
  • Khaya/African mahogany (Khaya spp.)
  • Limba, White (Terminalia superba)
  • Macassar ebony (Diospyros spp.)
  • Maccaranduba (Platymiscium spp.)
  • Mahogany, Genuine (Swietenia macrophylla)
  • Makore (Tieghemella heckelii)
  • Mango (Mangifera indica)
  • Maple (Acer spp.)
  • Massaranduba/Brazilian redwood (Manilkara spp.)
  • Meranti/lauan (Shorea spp.)
  • Merbau (Intsia spp.)
  • Morado (Machaerium scleroxylon)
  • Obeche (Triplochiton scleroxylon)
  • 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)
  • Shibidan (Aspidosperma album)
  • Spruce, Sitka (Picea sitchensis)
  • Tatabu (Diplotropis purpurea)
  • 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

When and where is the IWPA's 63rd World of Wood Annual Convention being held?+

The 63rd World of Wood Annual Convention will take place April 3-5 at the Loews Ventana Canyon in Tucson, Arizona. It will feature world-class speakers, panel discussions, and networking events.

What new feature did the 15th edition of International Wood Magazine add for designers?+

The 15th edition added a 'Ten Globally-Sourced Species to Know' feature that helps designers learn which species is best suited for their project. Readers can then use the Buyers Guide to connect directly with suppliers.

Who authored the IWPA president's letter in the 15th edition of International Wood Magazine?+

The letter was written by Caroline McIlvain, IWPA President 2018-2019, of the J. Gibson McIlvain Company.

What theme guided the 15th edition of IWPA's International Wood Magazine?+

The editorial team kept returning to the theme 'Wood Inspires!' The issue highlights how wood inspires innovation, craftsmanship, reverence, and creativity in cutting-edge projects.

What references does International Wood Magazine recommend for identifying wood species?+

The magazine points readers to the USDA Forest Products Lab (www.fpl.fs.fed.us/search/commonname_request.php) and The Wood Database (www.wood-database.com) as resources for species identification.

How does IWPA recommend specifiers locate the right imported species for a project?+

IWPA advises clearly communicating project needs with a U.S. importer, manufacturer, or supplier, who can help locate the most appropriate species. Both common and scientific names are provided in the magazine to aid accurate identification.