EPISODE FOUR: GUITARS ON TRIAL

For plant crimes, we need plant laws. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora regulations are the closest thing to international plant laws in existence. Today, we’re going to learn about who decides whether one gorgeous electric guitar can legally enter the U.K. We’re also going to learn about the groups who are fighting those laws, and why. 

Guests: 

Peter Gasson — plant anatomist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Sonia Dhanda — CITES scientific advisor 

Richard Hoover — original guitar maker and boss at Santa Cruz Guitar Company 

Sandy Ong — independent science journalist based in Singapore

Edward Carver — independent journalist based in London

Source material: 

The Rosewood Trade: An Illicit Trail from Forest to Furniture by Sandy Ong and Edward Carver

Further reading: 

Musical Instruments To Be Exempt From Restrictions On Heavily Trafficked Rosewood by Robert Benincasa

Understanding Rosewood Regulations by Clara Yoon

Plant Crimes is written and produced by me, Ellen Airhart. If you like this episode, please subscribe and tell people about it through a review. If you want to make sure there’s a season two, here’s a link to my Patreon. Plant Crimes art is by Nikki Duong. Intro music by Doxent Zsigmond and theme song and outro music is by APM. If you want me to investigate a plant crime or you would like to advertise on the show, please get in touch via email at plantcrimes [at] gmail [dot] com, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.