Ipe from the Jungle

The journey from Brazil to the US is a long and hard one for Ipe. 

Ipe stuck on a bridge in Brazil

You can only harvest Ipe trees a few months of the year due to the rain in the forests of Brazil.  Once the rains stop, that does not mean it is easy to move wood.  The back country of Brazil has no paved roads.

Instead, try to imagine the worst dirt road in the US.  If you try hard enough, you will not even come  close to the roads you will see in Brazil.  If you have seen that TV show on the worlds most dangerous roads you will have an idea of the skill and risk involved in getting this precious wood from Brazil to your home.