Episode Details

A single tree species now sits at the center of a global cultural and environmental standoff. Brazilwood—also known as pernambuco—has long been prized for making the world’s finest violin bows, yet rampant logging and habitat loss have pushed it to the brink of extinction in Brazil’s Atlantic forest. In this episode, we explore why proposals to tighten international protections have alarmed musicians and bow makers, who fear onerous rules could make it nearly impossible to travel with historic instruments, and why conservationists insist such measures are essential to stop illegal trade. As record-setting bows collide with vanishing forests, the story asks whether music and nature must compete—or whether a sustainable future can preserve both the sound and the tree that makes it possible.

https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/11/19/the-use-of-a-rare-wood-pits-violinists-against-environmentalists