Vegetable Ivory - The Eco-Friendly Alternative to Ivory

Prohibition of sale of ivory which came into force in 1989 went a long way for illegal logging and poaching elephants. But with demand for ivory still alive, he was always going to be a challenge to stop the ruthless poachers from slaughtering elephants for their valuable ivory.

But now a hard nut species that has a striking similarity with the ivory is bought quickly a reputation as eco-friendly alternative ivory. And it is really helping to save the elephant.

The African Savannah South American rainforest

Ivory vegetables (or tagu as is known in the rainforests of South America) is a seed that comes from sex Phytelephas of palm trees that grow in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

This ivory vegetable seeds is extremely difficult, it can be carved, it can also be very well polished, and it quickly adsorbs colourants, so can be used in different ways. In fact tagu seeds used now in dice, dominoes, chess pieces and buttons. Vegetable ivory jewelery is also becoming a major fashion trend in Europe and USA.

In fact, so great is the similarity between animal ivory tagu and artisans in South America often leave some brown shell on their products to prove that they are not using elephant ivory, which is certainly a material banned internationally.

So how is harvested?

Palme some tagu increase in rainforest areas. Under palm leaves grow large clusters of fruit. Each fruit contains a number of seeds. As fruit matures in the tree, cut domestic successor to form a striking similarity with ivory. When the fruits fall to the ground, collected seeds and seeds are left to dry, harden further. Having dark skin is removed by polishing seeds, beautiful creamy white interior is revealed.

Tagu seeds can then be cut in different shapes and forms, from buttons to use as beads or pendants in vegetable ivory ornaments. It is also possible to dye the seed that he absorbs and retains color very well.

Eco-Friendly Harvesting

And best of all, no elephants have been killed, and is completely sustainable harvesting and eco-friendly. In fact, the trade in seeds tagu has added benefit of providing local communities with incentives for rainforest value of standing forest and its sustainable riches, not felled trees or cleared land.

This means trade in ivory has gone from destructive elephant populations in Africa to help preserve evidence for fragile rainforest eco-system with natural harvesting seeds tagu.