wood identification help  

oops...edited, hubris 🙂

All true, SDR.
I don't mind seeing tropical hardwoods in vintage pieces, but I do mind the use of unsustainable resources in new furniture and I'm glad most manufacturers now adhere to more environmentally sensitive practices. We've come a long way, but perhaps a little late for some species, Indian rosewood, for example.
That said, I purchased a gorgeous piece of ribbon-stripe mahogany today (US$7.50/bd.ft.!) that I'm preparing to render useless by fashioning it into new trim for my BIL's sailboat. I almost hate to cut into it.

The ethics of wood harvesting...
The ethics of wood harvesting are tricky but can also be simple, I try and use reclaimed hardwood and plantation softwoods as much as possible, failing that I only use Australian hardwoods or FSC certified (not that thers much of it here, plus theres there strange practice of importing something when there are viable alternatives locally)...anyway it comes down to if you're going to F up some habitat make it yout own countrys not someone elses.
http://www.repeatnorepeat.com/blog/2011/01/tula-birch-bark-panels.html
some interesting wood things....
http://www.repeatnorepeat.com/blog/2010/08/lessons-in-wood-lyptus.html