Mahogany Hardwood

 All Mahogany from South America is illegal to purchase or sell as lumber as of November 15, 2003 by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).  

African Mahogany is not on the endangered species list, and is still legal to purchase and sell.  

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Details Below:

The United States began restricting Mahogany from Central & South America on November 15, 2003 when the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) listed the wood on Appendix II

This included:
Big-leaf mahogany wood (Swietenia macrophylla)
Cuban mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni)
Honduras mahogany (Swietenia humilis)
Peruvian mahogany is also in violation of CITES
This includes Mahogany comes from El Salvador, Costa Rica, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru (all South America)

Populations of big-leaf mahogany have declined by over 70% in Central America since 1950. The species is already reported to be commercially extinct in El Salvador, Costa Rica and parts of South America. The other two species of Latin American mahogany – the Cuban mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni) and Honduras mahogany (Swietenia humilis) – are also now commercially extinct.

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Good News: Plantations have been established in Fiji and other countries. CITES listing will not apply to them.

News as of 02-11-2025:

The incoming Trump administration and its emboldened congressional allies could soon reshape the Endangered Species Act without really touching the 1973 law.

The GOP-controlled Congress could rescind last-minute ESA-related actions. Appropriations bill riders and targeted legislation could block Biden-era moves.

Office budgets could be cut, if Congress goes along. By themselves, the Interior Department’s new political appointees could rewrite Biden administration regulations.