Imagine planning your dream deck with a gorgeous hardwood, only to find out that wood is suddenly on the endangered species list. That’s exactly what’s happening in the world of architecture and construction. Two of the most popular decking woods – Ipe (pronounced “ee-pay”) and Cumaru – have been added to the CITES endangered species list. In other words, the international community has said, “Whoa, we need to protect these trees!” This development is shaking up the industry, enter Black Locust lumber – a homegrown North American hardwood that’s poised to get attention.
In this post, we’ll break down what the CITES listing means for Ipe and Cumaru, why it happened, and how it actually benefits everyone by making room for a more sustainable alternative like Black Locust. Grab a cup of coffee (or put on your work boots) and let’s dive into this fascinating turn of events in the lumber world.
Ipe and Cumaru on the Endangered Species List? What’s Going On?
You heard that right. At a major international wildlife conference in 2022, nations agreed to list Ipe and Cumaru under CITES Appendix II – essentially putting these rainforest giants on an endangered species watchlist ohc.net
This is a big deal for anyone who loves these woods for their durability and beauty. CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) regulates trade in species that are at risk. Listing Ipe and Cumaru means their international trade will now be strictly monitored and controlled to prevent over-exploitation abswood.com
Why Protect These Woods Now?
So why did Ipe and Cumaru get this protected status? In short: over-harvesting and slow growth. These tropical hardwoods have been so popular for decking and outdoor projects that logging companies have been cutting them faster than the forests can regenerate. To make matters worse, an Ipe tree doesn’t grow overnight – it takes centuries to reach the massive size needed for wide lumber. In fact, Ipe and Cumaru grow incredibly slowly; a tree might be only 1–2 feet wide after 100 years. When such an ancient tree is felled, an entire mini-ecosystem in the rainforest is disrupted, and regrowth on that spot is painfully slow.
Illegal logging has also been an issue. Even though Ipe and Cumaru aren’t technically extinct or endangered yet, authorities saw the writing on the wall. The new CITES listing is a proactive move to ensure these beloved woods don’t get logged into oblivion. By regulating trade, it becomes much harder for illegally sourced wood to flood the market and it gives the species a fighting chance to recover. As one forestry expert put it, Ipe and Cumaru are now “guilty until proven innocent” at the border – meaning every shipment must have paperwork proving it was harvested sustainably and legally.
If you’re an architect, builder, or homeowner eyeing Ipe or Cumaru for a project, you might be wondering how this affects you. The immediate change is availability and logistics. Starting November 25, 2024, all imports of Ipe and Cumaru will require CITES permits and documentation
That adds an extra layer of paperwork and delay to every shipment. Suppliers will need to work with governments to prove their wood was sourced responsibly. Practically speaking, this could lead to:
- Longer lead times: Getting the proper CITES certificates can take weeks or even months in some cases, depending on the country of origin ohc.net
. If a supplier runs out of stock, new stock won’t arrive as quickly as it used to. - Higher costs: Extra bureaucracy and limited supply often mean prices go up. There might also be fewer exporters willing to go through the hassle, which reduces competition.
- Tighter supply: Because trade is capped to sustainable levels, you won’t see mountains of Ipe at the lumber yard like before. What does come in is being carefully tracked. In fact, there’s even a possibility that if these woods continue to decline, the next step could be an Appendix I listing – an outright trade ban.
For anyone who cares about the environment, these changes are a good thing in the big picture. They mean the world is serious about saving tropical forests. But in the short term, it also means we need to rethink our material choices. And that’s where the spotlight turns to an alternative that’s been here all along, waiting in the wings: Black Locust.
Black Locust: The Sustainable Alternative Steps Up
Picture a hardwood that’s just as tough as Ipe, shrugs off rot and insects, and can last for decades outdoors without chemical treatment. Now imagine it’s not from a far-off rainforest, but from our very own backyard. That’s Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) in a nutshell. As Ipe and Cumaru face new restrictions, Black Locust is stepping up as a hero we didn’t know we needed. And trust me, this is one underdog story worth paying attention to.
Black Locust lumber has a lot going for it: it’s hard, strong, and famously long-lasting even in harsh weather. In fact, Black Locust has been used for ages in America for things like fence posts and barn timbers precisely because it can withstand rot – some say you’ll get tired of looking at your Black Locust deck before it ever gives out! This wood’s durability comes from its natural properties (it has organic compounds that repel decay and pests), so unlike pine, it doesn’t need toxic chemicals or pressure treatment to survive outdoors. It’s tough by nature. One source calls Black Locust’s rot resistance “remarkable,” noting that it makes a superior alternative to chemically treated or tropical hardwoods
Beyond toughness, Black Locust is surprisingly sustainable. It grows fast – really fast compared to Ipe. Black Locust trees can reach maturity in a few decades, not centuries, which means we can harvest and replant them responsibly without running out. They’re even considered invasive in some regions because they grow so readily. For forestry purposes, that’s actually good news: it means we have an abundant, renewable supply of this wood waiting to be used
A Black Locust tree also doesn’t tower as tall as a rainforest tree, which means when you cut one down, you’re not leaving a gaping hole in the forest canopy that upsets the whole ecosystem. We can cultivate Black Locust on farms or reclaimed land, harvest it, and watch new trees sprout up quickly – a much greener cycle.
To put it simply, here’s why Black Locust is emerging as the all-star alternative to Ipe and Cumaru:
- Fast-Growing & Renewable: Black Locust matures in a fraction of the time it takes tropical hardwoods to grow. New trees regenerate quickly, making it an inherently renewable resource
- Durable & Rot-Resistant: It’s one of the hardest woods in North America and extremely resistant to rot and pests. You get comparable longevity to Ipe without any chemical treatments
- Locally Sourced (Native to North America): Black Locust is native to the U.S. and grows across North America, meaning we can source it close to home. No need to ship wood from the Amazon when an equally great wood might be coming from Appalachia or the Midwest. Using local wood cuts down on the carbon footprint of transportation and supports local economies blacklocustlumber.com
- Environmentally Friendly: Harvesting Black Locust doesn’t destroy fragile rainforest ecosystems. In fact, planting and using Black Locust can help the environment – the trees capture carbon quickly as they grow, and they can even improve soil health. It’s a feel-good choice for green building.
Homegrown and Responsible: A Tree in Your Backyard (Literally)
One of the coolest things about Black Locust is that it’s a homegrown solution. Unlike Ipe and Cumaru, which come from the Amazon Basin and other tropical regions, Black Locust grows in many parts of North America naturally. This means when you choose Black Locust, you’re choosing a material that’s literally from our own soil. It’s a bit like farm-to-table, but for wood.
Why does being native matter? For one, it means the wood is adapted to our climate and conditions, which partly explains why it’s so tough. It also means that we have more direct control over how it’s harvested. Forestry operations in the U.S. and Canada can be closely managed and certified for sustainability. There’s transparency – you can often trace Black Locust lumber back to a specific region or even a specific family-owned grove. With tropical hardwoods, supply chains get murkier, and the risk of illegal logging or poor forestry practices is higher. By using a native species, you’re taking a stand for responsible sourcing.
Plus, consider the transportation angle: every load of Black Locust decking ships a much shorter distance to reach your project than a load of Ipe coming from Brazil. Less travel means less fuel burned and fewer emissions. According to experts, locally sourced Black Locust dramatically cuts down the carbon emissions associated with shipping lumber long-distance blacklocustlumber.com
In an era where we’re all trying to reduce our carbon footprint, that’s a huge win. And as a bonus, you’re investing in local jobs and forestry initiatives rather than sending money overseas. It’s a scenario where everyone (and the planet) comes out ahead.
An Overnight Success, Decades in the Making: The Black Locust Revolution
It might seem like Black Locust is suddenly everywhere in conversations about sustainable building, but the truth is, this “overnight success” has been decades in the making. Over 30 years ago, our founder, Stubby Warmbold, saw a major problem: the heavy reliance on endangered tropical hardwoods was unsustainable. With a background in urban forestry, Stubby recognized that builders and architects needed a better option—one that was just as durable as Ipe and Teak but didn’t contribute to deforestation. That option was Black Locust.
Back then, no one was selling Black Locust as a high-performance architectural product. Stubby and Maria spearheaded the market, working on some of the earliest LEED-certified projects in the New York City metropolitan area and tirelessly advocating for Black Locust as a game-changer in sustainable design. For decades, we’ve been on a mission: talking to anyone who would listen—architects, builders, city planners, homeowners—about how this unassuming native tree could transform the way we build.
We shared research, supplied samples, and showcased successful projects. Little by little, those efforts paid off. Forward-thinking architects began specifying Black Locust for trail bridges, decks, and park benches. As demand grew, so did the supply chain. Sawmills improved their techniques for milling Black Locust
Now, with new restrictions on Ipe and Cumaru, all that groundwork is coming to fruition. The market we worked so hard to build is ready to scale. Architects who once defaulted to tropical hardwoods are giving Black Locust a fresh look—and they like what they see. Homeowners are hearing that their neighbor’s Black Locust deck has weathered 10+ winters without a hitch, and they’re intrigued.
It’s incredibly gratifying to see Black Locust finally get the recognition it deserves. It feels like we’ve been tending a small campfire for years, and now others are bringing kindling to make the flame roar. But the real victory? A more sustainable future—one where stunning, long-lasting wood products don’t come at the cost of our planet’s forests.
Conclusion: A Greener Path Forward
The addition of Ipe and Cumaru to the endangered species list is a wake-up call, but it’s also an opportunity. It’s a chance for the building industry – and all of us – to pivot toward more sustainable practices. Yes, it might be a bummer if you loved the idea of an Ipe deck, but when you consider the bigger picture, it’s hard not to feel good about this change. By choosing alternatives like Black Locust, we’re not just doing what’s right for the planet; we’re also investing in materials that can stand the test of time and support local communities.
Black Locust lumber, with its remarkable strength and sustainability, is stepping out of the shadows at just the right moment. What was once a niche choice is fast becoming a mainstream option for eco-conscious builders. And the best part? You don’t have to sacrifice quality or beauty to do the right thing. You can have your gorgeous deck or stunning outdoor furniture and know that the wood came from a responsible source – one that will be replenished for future generations to enjoy.
In the end, the story of Ipe, Cumaru, and Black Locust isn’t just about wood – it’s about wisdom. It’s about learning to use what’s abundant and sustainable, rather than clinging to what’s rare and irreplaceable. As we move forward, our hope is that Black Locust and woods like it will become the new normal, and our precious tropical forests can breathe a little easier.
After all, the strongest solutions can sometimes be growing quietly in our own backyard, just waiting for us to notice. 🌳✨
Why Choose Us? The Original Black Locust Lumber Founders
At Black Locust Lumber, we are the original founders and pioneers of the Black Locust industry. Unlike others who offer it as a side product, we specialize exclusively in Black Locust, ensuring unmatched expertise, superior sourcing, and masterful craftsmanship.
Our unwavering commitment to this extraordinary hardwood makes us the leading supplier for architects, builders, and homeowners seeking the most sustainable, durable, and naturally resilient wood decking available.
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