Editing Alebrije (section)

=== Copal wood ===
[[File:Alebrije Carving in Arrazola.jpg|thumb|right|An alebrije being carved from Copal wood in Arrazola.]]
Almost all alebrije carvers in Oaxaca use the wood of trees from the genus ''[[Bursera]]'' (Family [[Burseraceae]]), with a preference for the species ''[[Bursera glabrifolia|B. glabrifolia]]'', which is locally called copalle{{which lang|date=December 2023}} or copalillo{{which lang|date=December 2023}}. This tree is typically found in dry tropical forests in Oaxaca and neighboring states.<ref name="cunningham147" /> The exceptions are Isidro Cruz of Tilcajete, who uses "zompantle" (''[[Erythrina coralloides]]'') and the Manuel Jimenez family, which carves in tropical cedar (''[[Cedrela odorata]]'') imported from [[Guatemala]].<ref name="chibnik" /><ref name="mniches" />

Originally, carvers obtained wood from the local forests on their own. Copal trees are short and squat and do not yield much wood; every piece is used. Despite this, the success of woodcarving caused an unsustainable drain on local wild copal, and nearly all of the trees near Tilcajete and Arrazola have disappeared.<ref name="ohernandez" /><ref name="cunningham147" /> This localized depletion soon gave rise to a copal wood market in Oaxaca, even though many of the copal trees in other parts are of a different subspecies, which has more knots.<ref name="chibnik" /><ref name="cunningham147" /> Obtaining wood is a complex exercise because negotiating with other municipalities requires navigating complex social, legal and economic norms, and in many cases, state and federal environmental authorities have stepped in to try to preserve wild copal trees in a number of areas. Some communities have simply refused to sell their wood.<ref name="chibnik" /><ref name="cunningham154" /> These difficulties has led to a black market in copal wood, with carvers purchasing most of their supplies from vendors called "copaleros"{{which lang|date=December 2023}}. Harvesting copalillo is not a complex task; trees are relatively small and the wood is soft. Trees are felled using an axe or chainsaw. Branches are cut with machetes.<ref name="chibnik" /> Most harvesting occurs on [[ejido|ejidal]] (communal) lands. Legal or not, the purchase of copal wood from other parts of Oaxaca is putting unsustainable pressure on wild populations in a wider area, forcing copaleros to go further to obtain wood and often to deal with angry locals and police who alternately seek bribes and enforce the law.<ref name="cunningham147" /> Eventually, this led to about only six copaleros which control most of the wood being sold, and these supplies' being unreliable.<ref name="chibnik" /><ref name="cunningham154" /> The federal government states that most of the figures are made with illegally obtained wood.<ref name="salvador">{{cite news |title= Usan artesanos madera ilegal |first=Virgilio |last=Sanchez |newspaper=Palabra |location=Saltillo, Coahuila |date=October 25, 2009 |page= 16}}</ref>

Securing supplies of copal wood is a major concern for woodcarvers. Despite the fact that the cost of the wood is not particularly high, despite the effort,<ref name="chibnik" /> the main issue is reliability.<ref name="chibnik" /><ref name="jacobo" /> Another issue for carvers is quality. Artisans will pay more for their wood only if they are sure they can pass the added cost onto their customers.<ref name="chibnik" />  A number of attempts to grow the trees for woodcarving purpose have been undertaken.<ref name="chibnik" /><ref name="ohernandez" /><ref name="jacobo" /> Copal is a native tree species to the area, so it grows readily without much care. It takes anywhere from five to ten years for a tree to grow big enough to be harvested (branches or entire tree).<ref name="chibnik" /><ref name="ohernandez" /> Some of the efforts include reforestation efforts sponsored by groups such as the Rodolfo Morales Foundation in [[Ocotlán de Morelos|Ocotlan]], and a number of families spend time planting trees during the rainy season.<ref name="jacobo" /> Some have begun copal plantations. Various artisans have also joined the reforestation efforts through associations of their own, creating alebrijes while attempting to restore what they take from nature.<ref>{{Citation |title=Alebrijes of Oaxaca {{!}} A Short Documentary | date=6 October 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QCXmh4zOOQ |access-date=2023-05-01 |language=en}}</ref> Current needs for the wood far outweigh what these efforts have been able to produce.<ref name="chibnik" />

Another effort involves a program designed to manage wild copal supplies in a municipality called [[San Juan Bautista Jayacatlán]].<ref name="MTW-2018" /> This arrangement has economic advantages for both the alebrije-makers and the owners of the forests where the wood is produced.<ref name="chibnik" /> It has not been developed sufficiently yet to affect the illegal harvest of wood, but its organizers hope that in time, it will become the more economical and preferred method.<ref name="cunningham158" /> The difference between this program and others is that this works within the broader [[Ethnobotany|ethnobotanical]] context by promoting the management of the species within its native habitat. Jayacatlán is located next to the recently established biosphere reserve of [[Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve|Tehuacán-Cuicatlán]]. The benefit to Jayacatlán is to give the municipality a way to exploit its copal supplies and preserve its biodiversity at the same time. The benefit to carvers is to promote a reliable source of wood, as well as a trademark called "ecoalebrijes" to help them sell more alebrijes at a higher price.  The wood from Jayacatlan is only sold to Arrazola and not to the other major center of Tilcajete. The enthusiasm of Arrazola's woodcarvers stems more from having a supply of good wood than from notions of ecology.<ref name="chibnik" />