Reviewing the position of the tropical wood trade in Europe at the turn of the year is a sobering experience. Following the all-time low in EU tropical hardwood imports in 2012, all the signs are that imports in 2013 fell even further. In addition to low demand, an emerging problem has been the progressive erosion of the infra-structure to supply tropical hardwoods into Europe.    Looking ahead, prospects for tropical wood in the European market do not look good. However, an increased focus on marketing and communication offers some grounds for optimism. Some encouraging reports ...