Eastman Strings is a proud supporter of IPCI

The beginning of the 21st century is an important time in the history of bowmaking. A revival of historic standards of fine bowmaking has produced bowmakers who rank among the best of all time. Traditional bowmaking is flourishing around the world, and so is innovative work with alternative materials such as fiberglass and carbon fiber. But there is a serious problem clouding this picture: pernambuco wood, of which to date is thought to be the best material for making artist-quality bows, is becoming rare.

Pernambuco trees, Latin name Caesalpina echinata Lam., grow only in a limited area in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, and this habitat has been reduced by use of land for housing and farming, as well as harvesting of trees for their high quality hardwoods. The pernambuco tree has suffered worrisome reduction in numbers as a result.

The worldwide body known as the International Pernambuco Conservation Initiative (IPCI) was founded by concerned bowmakers, musicians, and conservationists around the world who are determined to preserve this botanically and musically important tree. The group plants trees and funds extensive and diverse research to help better understand the habitat and biology of the trees.

Pernambuco trees grow only in a very limited region in Brazil. Though it has been valued for building material and for making dyes and crafting bows for centuries, much about the pernambuco tree is still unknown. In addition to planting trees, IPCI helps fund research so that future conservation efforts will have the benefit of a more thorough understanding of the trees and how they grow and propagate.
Photo used by kind permission of: Josef P. Gabriel

In 2003, Eastman Strings joined the American chapter of this group, known as the ICPI-USA. In 2004, recognizing that a strong commitment from everyone involved in bowmaking is needed, Eastman Strings decided to do more. Eastman Strings now donates a percentage of the proceeds from its bow sales to the group for tree planting and conservation. Because of the central importance of pernambuco wood to the art of bowmaking, these donations include proceeds from ALL bows, including fiberglass and carbon fiber bows. As a first step to symbolize its commitment to the effort, Eastman Strings funded the planting of 1,000 pernambuco trees in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil.

Only the inner portion of the pernambuco tree is useful for making bows. Trees have a sufficient amount of this valuable heart wood after about 30 years of growth
— a relatively short time to wait for such a valuable hardwood. This means that the thousand trees Eastman Strings funded in 2004 will be ready to use at about the time today’s beginning Suzuki students start their own children on an instrument.
Photos used by kind permission of: Josef P. Gabriel

Because of the work of IPCI, the future of the pernambuco tree is growing brighter. We at Eastman Strings believe that we all have a role in protecting the natural resources which have nurtured humanity's artistic endeavors through the ages. The IPCI's conservation and reforestation efforts deserve the support of the entire musical community. We strongly encourage all to donate to the IPCI-USA. They are a 501c3 non-profit corporation.