NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The top executive of Gibson Guitar Corp. took a leave of absence from the board of an environmental group amid concerns about the source of the harvested wood used for instruments.
Federal agents on Tuesday raided a Gibson guitar manufacturing plant and seized guitars, but no one was arrested.
Officials Seize Wood Materials At Gibson Guitars
A local newspaper reported that the Rainforest Alliance announced on Wednesday that Gibson CEO and chairman Henry Juszkiewicz will not rejoin the board until the investigation has concluded.
Guitars and other musical instruments are often built from tropical hardwoods. Amid rainforest depletion, such woods are increasingly the focus of tight controls.
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