Illegally Logged Hardwood in DRC

Lumberjacks peel off the bark of a bloodwood log with axes. African bloodwood or Mukula (Pterocarpus tinctorius) is a type of sandalwood unique to a small area close to the Congo Basin and is currently the only type of wood from the area traded with China, where it is used for the production of high-end rosewood furniture.

Unique identifier: GP0STQRO8

Type: Image

Shoot date: 19/08/2016

Locations: Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Katanga Province

Credit line: © Lu Guang / Greenpeace

Ranking: ★★★★ (E)

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Illegal Logging of Hardwood in DRC and Its Trading in China

Pterocarpus tinctorius, or Mukula tree, is a rare and slow-growing hardwood unique to southern and central Africa. Mukula has been illegally logged and traded from Zambia and DRC to China for the last decade, feeding the increasing demand of "rosewood" in the Chinese market.
Chinese photographer Lu Guang traveled to Katanga province in the DR Congo as well as eastern China documenting the expanding Mukula industry. The project, commissioned by Greenpeace, follows its supply chain from the DRC, where it’s used for traditional medicine, dye, and a source of pollen for bees used in honey production—to processing centers in China and upscale furniture showrooms.

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Illegal Logging of Hardwood in DRC and Its Trading in China (Photos & Video)

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