One Tree Planted

The context

Since the CITES exemption for musical instruments in December 2019 and following the official commitment of the profession, represented by the international coalition of musical instruments, to put in place actions for the preservation of endangered species of lutherie woods, these companies and organizations continue to meet on the internet every month to draw up an inventory and an agenda on the subject.

Following the study carried out by Jacques Carbonneaux, head of the APLG wood commission, on the state of health of 123 species used in guitar, the finding is clear (latest data dated October 16, 2019 – see in detail the study) :

• 62%, (76) of the 123 species are tropical;
• 41% (50) of the 123 species have a status of worrying
• (37% (45) tropical, 4% (5) non-tropical);
• 59% (45) of 76 tropical species have a status of worrying;
• only 34% (17) of the 47 species with a status of worrying (tropical or not) are regulated by CITES;
• 66% of species that have a status of worrying therefore continue to be exploited and traded despite their IUCN status equivalent to or higher than “Near threatened”.

In addition, after analysis of the recent IUCN study on the European Red List of Trees which concludes that out of 454 species, 42% (168) of European tree species have been assessed as threatened, it turns out that 3 important species for the instrument making are not mentioned in the study as threatened but nevertheless seem to be the object of very recent threats and very worrying in the short term.

The species concerned are : a species of spruce – picea abies, ash – Fraxinus excelsior, and maple – Acer pseudoplatanus. (Download the summary of the analysis)

In light of this, the APLG wood commission carried out a search for replanting projects that can be seen flourishing around the world in order to select the most relevant.

The general idea is simple: “the donation of € 1 = 1 tree planted – an instrument made and purchased will be used to plant trees”.

You make or buy a musical instrument that requires wood? So take part in the planting of trees used to build musical instruments by donating few euros.

Another of the objectives of this project is to encourage other associations of luthiers but more generally all manufacturers of musical instruments in France and internationally to draw inspiration from the action launched by the APLG. 22,000,000 guitars were sold worldwide in 2016, which represents a minimum potential of 22 million trees planted !!!

The priorities

Find an independent partner without a commercial approach who coordinates replanting projects on a continuous and sustainable basis.

In order for the message to have a powerful impact on the public and manufacturers, it is proposed to focus actions on endangered species used in the manufacture of musical instruments.

• The criteria required by APLG toward this partner:
  • Non-commercial approach;
  • Threatened and / or relevant replanted species as part of another project related to the preservation of biodiversity
  • Monitoring of actions in the field;
  • Periodic report of actions with donation collectors;
  • Involvement and respect for the local population and;
  • Enforcement of national range laws.
  • APLG wishes to support replanting projects in order of priority:

• On endangered species used in guitar
  • On non-threatened species used in guitar

After several weeks of research and meetings with associations and companies involved in tree replanting, the One Tree Planted association was chosen to lead the APLG plantation project.

The association plants in the following continents:

Non-threatened species

How One Tree Planted Works

The principle:

For this first project, the APLG aims to raise a minimum of € 2,500 to replant 2,500 trees of an endangered African mahogany species, Khaya senegalensis. This fundraising is due to end in November 2021 and is scheduled to be announced during the Issoudun festival. The collected donations will then be sent to the One Tree Planted association.

What are the means of collecting donations?

In order to raise awareness among the public and your clients, several collection methods are available depending on whether you are an active luthier, associate member, guitarist member or benefactor member (see below);

A part of the sum collected during the raffle of the Challenge # 2 guitar carried out by Christelle Caillot, Célia Enoc and Gaëlle Roffler will be used to complete the collection of this first planting project.

Who can participate?

ach member of the APLG (luthier, partner, guitarist, benefactor) is invited to participate in the “One Tree Planted / APLG” lutherie wood tree planting project. If you are not a member of the association, contact us to make a donation at infos@aplg.fr.

The approach for the APLG member:

• Send your request for the ticket book and an explanatory document to print to infos@aplg.fr;
• Highlight the document in your workshop as well as the ticket book;
• Briefly present the planting project to each person who enters your workshop or whom you meet at a guitar show or other event;
• If the customer is interested and wishes to make a donation (minimum donation of 1 € for a planted tree), enter the amount of the donation on the ticket and also on the stump corresponding to the ticket;
• Store donations in a pot. We will contact you to inform you of the procedure to follow;
• Donations will be sent to One Tree Planted in November 2021.
• La démarche pour le membre APLG luthier guitare :

Here are some non-exhaustive proposals, any other idea is welcome :

1. You sell an instrument to a customer:
   • Your participation as a manufacturer: you include a certain amount – € 1 for every € 1,000 – in the selling price of the instrument. Example: for an electric guitar sold for € 2,500, the luthier will pay the APLG the sum of € 2. The luthier will note in an excel file or sheet of paper, the amount of the donation of 2 € with the date.
   • The customer’s participation as a buyer: a numbered ticket book (free amount to be entered on the ticket and the stub, minimum amount of € 1 per ticket) will be sent to you by the APLG and you will suggest that the customer make the donation of their choice. ** See visual below.
2. You sell a repair / restoration / maintenance service
   • Suggest to the customer to make a donation **.
3. You exhibit at a trade fair
   • Bring your ticket book and offer the visiting public to make a donation during the show **.

** The luthier will note in an excel file or sheet of paper, the number of tickets sold, with the date and the amount for each ticket. If the client wishes to be contacted to be kept informed of the progress of the project for which he has made a donation, note the client’s name and email address. During October 2021, you will send the fruit of your harvest to the APLG

For the associated APLG member:

A book of numbered tickets will be sent to you by the APLG and you will suggest that the customer make the donation of their choice as part of your activity. It will be necessary to note in an excel file or sheet of paper, the number of tickets sold, with the date and the amount for each ticket. If the client wishes to be contacted to be kept informed of the progress of the project for which he has made a donation, note the client’s name and email address. During October 2021, you will send the fruit of your harvest to the APLG.

For the APLG guitarist and benefactor member or any non-APLG member:

• Do you want to buy one or more tickets? Contact us at infos@aplg.fr.

• Do you want to be an ambassador and collect money from your loved ones? Contact us at infos@aplg.fr. to buy a ticket book.

• Do you want to communicate around you? Use the address of this page which mentions a contact email address for purchasing tickets.