blackwood

A highly decorated set, with African blackwood pipes, engraved silver adornments, and carved 20,000-year-old mammoth tusk rings, can cost upwards of $8,000.

The villages - the first to get the award in Africa - are focusing on growing sustainable stocks of African blackwood.

"With two excellent full time staff we manufacture bagpipes from African Blackwood.

Mr Hanson said: "The musical instrument industry is one of the largest consumers of Mpingo, the East African Blackwood tree.

They claim mass manufacturing could wipe out the African blackwood tree within 20 years.

Ebony was an especially good choice for woodwind instruments, although African blackwood now competes with ebony in those uses.

Said Alastair: "The musical instrument industry is one of the largest consumers of Mpingo, the East African Blackwood tree.

"That is American poplar, which is sent to Milan, Italy, where it is dyed or 'ebonized' and used as a substitute for African blackwood. It is sold under the trade name tulibier," Matulevich said.

The woodwind instrument - crafted by musician Alastair Hanson and his team in his village workshop - was made from African Blackwood from responsibly managed forests in Tanzania.

Although modern substitutes such as African blackwood or ebony have better defined qualities, the recent revival of early music and the attendant requirement for authentic instruments, such as bombards, hurdy-gurdys, and baroque flutes, has revived demand."