Other indicators for legal timber trade of Ecuador

Bans & quota

Export of round wood is banned since 2005, except in limited quantities for scientific and experimental purposes. According to Article 47 of the Forest Law (2002), the export of semi-finished forest products shall be authorized by the Ministries of Environment and Foreign Trade, Industrialization, Fisheries and Competitiveness, “only when the internal/domestic needs and minimum levels of industrialization are found satisfied”.

Harvesting of Balsa and Pigüe is subjected to quotas (see also Formulario Especial).

Natural forest harvesting of mahogany / caoba (Swietenia macrophylla) and Spanish cedar / cedro (Cedrela spp.) has been banned at the national level according to this Ministerial document.

CITES and protected species

The CITES authority in Ecuador is the Ministry of Environment.

CITES Appendix II-listed species for Ecuador:

• Brazilian rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora) is one of the commercially important sources of rosewood oil, which has led largely to its over-exploitation and to its listing by CITES. The CITES listing for Aniba rosaeodora applies to logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets, plywood and essential oil (excluding finished products packaged and ready for retail trade). Finished products containing such extracts as ingredients, including fragrances, are not considered to be covered by CITES.
• Big-leaf Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla).

Spanish Cedar / Cedro (Cedrela spp.) is listed on CITES Appendix III.

National action on timber legality

Currently, Ecuador is listed in the initial progress category, as ‘preparing to negotiate’ for a VPA. A traceability system is being designed.