500 Year Legacy
Mahogany harkens back to the Age of Discovery. A time when the great ships of Europe travelled by sea looking for treasures to increase their fortunes and lifestyle. It was the Spanish who first discovered abundant supplies of “Swietenia Macrophylla” growing in the tropical forests of the West Indies. Today we refer to this species as genuine mahogany. During the Dutch period of colonization, mahogany proved to be exceptional for shipbuilding and wharf construction. It wasn’t long before the French and English took notice. Over the next five centuries, there were numerous new uses and technologies developed because of the unusual attributes of mahogany. Mahogany became the king of wood highly prized and sought after.
Demand Explodes
Due to its exceptional combination of hardness and lightness, mahogany dramatically changed the style and technology of the furniture industry. Furthermore, it proved to be insect and rot resistant, unlike other woods used in Europe at the time.
Potential Extinction
Unfortunately, the appetite for mahogany was so large that the supply couldn’t keep up with demand. The forests of South America, Central America and the West Indies were so aggressively logged that mahogany was driven to the brink of extinction. With no care given to the sustainability of the supply, mahogany became increasingly difficult to find.
Genuine Mahogany
Makes A Comeback
It soon became apparent that action had to be taken to rescue this highly prized wood. Shortly after World War II, the British attempted to re-instate the mahogany supply. They brought seeds of Swietenia Macrophylla to South East Asia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Singapore, and Fiji. It is these Fijian forests, planted by the British, that Green World lumber obtains its mahogany. Today the government of Fiji is involved in strict management and sustainability of these massive forests. From this nurturing approach, Fiji has become a major world supplier of sustainably grown Genuine Mahogany.