Some may find this interesting:

http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/n...=gibson_guitar

As well as this:

http://forums.gibson.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=5215

Actually, mahogany can be found in many places around the world and fine individual trees are often harvested just for the mfg of fine guitars, the actual sub type of mahogany not being important but its individual qualities of light weight and density being important as well as its tonal potential.

I imagine that field foresters employed by guitar mfg'rs have specialized methods of tapping the wood and listening by ear for certain resonance, or even specialized technical electronic equipment for determining tonal possibilities. A great forester that has a long history of sourcing woods for guitars might often, but not always, have a very sensitive eye and ear and touch that enables him to very quickly identify incredible tone woods. These employees would be tremendous assets to any major guitar mfg outfit. Way to often "so called" engineers don't even know how to turn a screw driver correctly. Don't believe me? Engineers should be required to take hands on classes in whatever it is that is most common for them to get jobs in so they have an idea what the real world is looking for.

Some of the greatest engineers are also great mechanics; just like some of the greatest mechanics are also engineers. I'm sure some of the greatest Foresters hired by guitar mfg'rs have exceptional abilities to identify great tonewoods by eye, touch, smell, and sound when smacked with another piece of wood or a hammer or such.

There is no substitute for talent and this is true for engineers and foresters as well, especially in these days when quality mahogany and rosewood and ebony, along with other incredible tone woods, is becoming quite a challenge to find. You know quality tone wood is growing all over the place. It is just the challenge of trying to find it that the manufacturers and designers are confronted with.