
The Thünen Institute and the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) have launched the CITESwoodID now on Android, iOS and UWP operating systems and is available for free in German, English, French and Spanish in the respective app stores.
The app contains descriptions and an interactive identification system for 46 trade relevant CITES-listed timbers (e.g., ebony, mahogany, rosewood) known for their use as lumber and downstream processing into products. In addition, the database covers 34 traded similar timbers which can be mistaken for CITES taxa.

What has CITESwoodID to offer?
- Interactive identification of the most important CITES-protected timbers (hardwoods and softwoods) based on macroscopic features to be observed with the unaided eye or with a hand lens, high quality colour illustrations of wood characters and timbers featuring transverse (10x) and longitudinal planes (natural size),
- Complete timber descriptions accompanied by high quality colour illustrations depicting characteristic wood features, and
- A textbook with definitions, explanations, procedures, etc. for most features used in the description of the timbers in terms of wood structure.
This innovative tool helps teaching at educational facilities with related curricula and it is also suitable for self-taught.
Find it at
AppStore: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/citeswoodid/id1534768227
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.bfn.CITESwoodID