Protecting threatened species and music traditions

Abstract

Musical instruments are indispensable to music traditions worldwide and often made from natural materials derived from species that are increasingly endangered. International trade threatens the survival of some of these species, as addressed by their inclusion in the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). However, CITES regulations can substantially impact music traditions and alone are insufficient to preserve trade-relevant species from extinction, such as the pau-brasil (Paubrasilia echinata), which is used for the bows of stringed instruments. Therefore, new CITES listings of species or species products used in the manufacture of musical instruments, or potential future shifts of CITES-listed species to the strictest category, will require anticipation, preparation, and precautionary actions. In international species trade negotiations, it is crucial to target the protection of species and music traditions beyond trade regulations. We propose novel social–ecological pathways to address these challenges and reconcile conflicting stakeholder interests between species conservation and cultural conservation.