Some Basic Facts About Mpingo

Once covered vast areas of the African savannah from Ethiopia to South Africa.
Now found only in Tanzania and northern Mozambique.
Known locally in Tanzania as the Mpingo tree.
International musical instrument trade brings in $1.5M to local economy.
A thorny member of the rosewood family whose roots support a specialized bacteria which increases soil fertility.
Serves as a barrier to spreading desertification.
After the dry season, its leaves are an important source of food for wildlife.
Known as “The Tree of Music” for its qualities as a material for woodwind instruments.
Premier wood in the world for Ornamental Turning.
Estimated 3 million trees exist today.
One typical mill on the southern coast of Tanzania processes 600 trees per month.
60 years are required to produce commercially viable trees.
Of the current population, only about 20%, or 600,000 trees, are suitable for harvesting.
At the current extraction rate of 20-30,000 trees per year, the harvestable population diminishes at a rate of 5% per year.
Human-caused burning kills younger trees which are not yet resistant to the effects of fire and causes defects in growing trees.
Replanting and controlling fires are the first steps in replenishing the Mpingo.

*Source: 1992 BBC Television Documentary "The Tree of Music" aired on US PBS television stations on the Nature series.