Topic summary
Brazilwood
Extracted from the Wikipedia article Paubrasilia.
Use in the music industry and excessive harvesting
Brazilwood is considered to be superior to all other materials for making stringed-instrument bows. Excessive harvesting led to a steep decrease in the number of brazilwood trees in the 18th century, causing the collapse of this economic activity. Presently, the species is nearly extirpated in most of its original range. Brazilwood is listed as an endangered species by the IUCN, and it is cited in the official list of endangered flora of Brazil.