Know Your Bow: Tips for Proactive Documentation

January 30, 2025

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Many professional bows are made of Pernambuco wood from the threatened Pernambuco tree native to the Atlantic forests in Brazil. The AFM, in collaboration with League of American Orchestras and other organizations has created a “Know Your Bow” campaign to help bow owners document basic facts about the wood used in their bows, be informed consumers, and support conservation efforts.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Treaty regulates international trade in animal and plant species. You may be aware that material used in musical instruments such as ivory, lizard skin, and Brazilian rosewood is already under CITES controls. CITES parties meet every two to three years at the Conference of Parties (CoP) to re-evaluate controls species-by-species.

Since 2007, CITES has required that any Pernambuco wood materials exported from Brazil be legally and sustainably harvested and accompanied by CITES permits. As of February 23, 2023, CITES permits are also required for finished bows, musical instruments, and accessories leaving Brazil. If your bow was located outside of Brazil before that date, or made into a finished product outside of Brazil, documentation of these facts is a helpful way to establish that your bow is exempt from new permit rules on finished products. If it was exported as a finished bow from Brazil with a CITES permit after that date, records of the CITES permit should be retained.

If you are outside of Brazil, a CITES permit is not currently required when traveling with a finished Pernambuco bow, instrument, or accessory, unless it contains other materials covered under CITEs controls such as elephant ivory or rosewood. If you do plan to travel to Brazil, it is critically important to gather the evidence detailed below.

To ensure your bow, instrument, or accessory, has the proper documentation, we recommend you take these precautions:

• Make your best effort to document your bow’s materials, birthdate, purchase date, and location, including dated receipts of sale or insurance policy.
• If you do not have any documentation, seek it from your bowmaker, as they are most likely aware of the CITES regulations.
• If unknown and not documented, seek out a bowmaker or luthier to evaluate the type of wood in your bow, and request a written declaration of maker, approximate year made, and materials.
• Take identifying photographs, including any markings or distinguishing characteristics.

Please visit americanorchestras.org/know-your-bow-tips-for-owners-and-users-of-pernambuco-bows for additional resources and details about traveling with bows and how you can support Pernambuco conservation. Voluntary steps taken today may help avert future trade restrictions.

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