Assessing the impact of felling/export ban and CITES designation on exploitation of African rosewood (Pterocarpus erinaceus)

African rosewood (Pterocarpus erinaceus), a species estimated to be the most heavily traded tropical hardwood in the world is now considered endangered (IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018). Concerns about its sustainability have resulted in several felling/export bans, listing and up-listing on CITES Appendices. Using export, import and seizure data over a period of 8 years, this study assesses the impact of felling/export ban and CITES designation on the exploitation and trade of African rosewood in Ghana. The results showed that, the felling/export ban, and CITES designation are yet to have a significant impact on reducing exploitation of rosewood in Ghana. While the ban was operative, exploitation has rather increased by 129%, and incidence of illegal trade has shot up by 120% in the CITES-designated period (2016-2018) compared with pre-CITES period (2010-2015). Factors contributing to the limited impact of the felling/export ban and CITES designation include abuse and misapplication of salvage permit, lack of monitoring and transparency, corruption, 'lawful but awful' trade, and non-compliance with key requirements of CITES Appendix II listing such as NDF. The findings of the paper demonstrate the important role of early monitoring and assessment in identifying gaps in forest law enforcement and governance that need to be addressed in order to ensure effective enforcement of CITES and domestic regulatory mechanisms targeted at sustainability of rosewood and other endangered species.