In August 2019, shortly after the visit of Dr Gaël to Brazil, the working group ABPMA created for the discussion of the topic related to the reclassification of Khaya ivorensis species to Khaya grandifoliola entered in contact with the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply - MAPA, to clarify the operational procedures necessary to regularize the records of seedlings and seed producers with RENASEM. 

  At the time, we shared the main formal guidelines received from MAPA, as a way of contributing to the faster regularization of the records of seedlings / seeds producers. In summary, the main guidelines passed at the time were as follows:
 
- Adjustments should be made to the RENASEM records to include Khaya grandifoliola (RNC 40.677); - The appropriate rectifications of the species informed in the forms submitted by the seedling and seed producers to RENASEM should be carried out. - Regarding the rectification of the documentation of the past (Conformity Terms that attested to the species sold), the RENASEM’s technician at the time told us not to consider this rectification necessary because botanical reclassifications are extremely common and we had a whole history to justify the change suffered (the ABPMA itself prepared a full report on the topic that was widely disseminated). 

Producers, if they wanted to, could send informative letters to their customers so that they were aware of the new denomination of the species. Something simple and merely managerial. More than a year has passed and we felt the need to make a new TECHNICAL STATEMENT about the impacts of this reclassification, since some new information has emerged since: 

- We discovered that several seed sellers have more than one species planted in their seed collection areas (usually grandifoliola and anthotheca) and, in many cases, the seeds are collected on the ground. 
 - Some seed vendors who collect the seeds at the top of the trees already know that they have more than one species in their plantations, but have not yet made the exsiccata of all their matrices for botanical identification. Some are already providing. 
- The seeds that originated the first plantings in Brazil did not come only from Embrapa or Pará. We are aware of several imports made over the last few years by various seedling and seed producers. In other words, there is no way to guarantee this ballast from the past, since several plantings had their origins in forests that may have more than one species planted. 

Senegalensis are easily distinguished from other Khayas. Ivorensis in their young stage may raise some doubts, but in adulthood they are easily identifiable. The differences between Khayas grandifoliola and anthotheca need the help of a specialist for the correct identification (remembering that we can have several anthotheca scattered in our plantations). 

WHAT IS OUR GUIDANCE AND SUGGESTION? We understand that we have two important premises: Khayas produce wonderful wood and ITTO itself only segregated ivorensis for reasons of rarity rather than quality. Thus, we understand that this should not be a concern for the African Mahogany producer, as he has a quality wood and promising market ahead. If the buyer of the wood will demand in the future (unlikely) this segregation by species (especially grandifoliola and anthotheca) or the producer wishes to make this segregation for identified sale, this correct classification of the species can be done at the time of cutting the trees. In the hope that we have contributed to the strengthening of mahogany and the union of producers, we are at your disposal for any clarifications deemed necessary. 

Sincerely, Patrícia Fonseca
 Executive Director ABPMA