African blackwood is widely used in the manufacturing of musical instruments. Many current supplies originate from illegal sources and entail significant environmental and social costs for forest communities.
Sound & Fair aims to realise a sustainable trade in African blackwood through a Chain of Custody linking forest-dependent people in Tanzania to musicians throughout the world.
The responsible use of the African blackwood tree can deliver tangible and sustainable benefits to some of the world’s poorest people and good progress is being towards this goal:
The campaign is all about sound: Environmentally sound as in establishing responsible harvesting and sustainable livelihoods for forest-dependent people: and sound as in music – African blackwood is the primary material of choice in making woodwind instruments.
And all about being fair: Creating the conditions in which forest-dependent people receive the full benefits from the use of their natural resources.
Mr Mwinyimkuu Awadhi, Chairman of Kikole village, where the first harvest under Sound & Fair took place in 2009, said:
“We have realized for the first time the benefits from selling our own timber. All the money was paid to the villages unlike in the past where by this money would have gone to the government. We the villagers now have full control of our forest resources and we will benefit even more when we do more harvesting in the near future.”
Welcome
African blackwood is widely used in the manufacturing of musical instruments. Many current supplies originate from illegal sources and entail significant environmental and social costs for forest communities.
Sound & Fair aims to realise a sustainable trade in African blackwood through a Chain of Custody linking forest-dependent people in Tanzania to musicians throughout the world.
The responsible use of the African blackwood tree can deliver tangible and sustainable benefits to some of the world’s poorest people and good progress is being towards this goal:
First harvest of FSC African blackwood increased local incomes 400 times;
Area of FSC community-managed forest in Tanzania increased 700% during 2010;
First FSC woodwind instrument was launched by Hanson Clarinets in Jan 2011.
Martin Doyle launches first Irish flute made FSC-certified African blackwood
Why Sound & Fair?
The campaign is all about sound: Environmentally sound as in establishing responsible harvesting and sustainable livelihoods for forest-dependent people: and sound as in music – African blackwood is the primary material of choice in making woodwind instruments.
And all about being fair: Creating the conditions in which forest-dependent people receive the full benefits from the use of their natural resources.
Mr Mwinyimkuu Awadhi, Chairman of Kikole village, where the first harvest under Sound & Fair took place in 2009, said:
“We have realized for the first time the benefits from selling our own timber. All the money was paid to the villages unlike in the past where by this money would have gone to the government. We the villagers now have full control of our forest resources and we will benefit even more when we do more harvesting in the near future.”