Introduction to DART-TOFMS

Introduction to DART-TOFMS

September 24, 2018

Do you want to know how wood chemistry works and how this wood identification method can contribute to the reduction of illegal logging? The international journal Mongabay, a non-profit provider of conservation and environmental science news, published an interesting interview with Kristen Finch, then working as a lab technician at […]

DNA markers for timber tracking of Larixspp.

July 12, 2018

Research institute, Timber tracking

Scientist from the Thünen Institute of Forest Genetics and Bashkirian State University have recently published an article about SNP markers for timber tracking of Larixspp. in Europe and Russia. Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNPs) are variations in a DNA sequence, which are used by forensics scientists to identify the geographical origin […]

Towards a strategic collaboration with timber producing countries

July 9, 2018

Governmental organisation, Network, Research institute, Timber tracking, University

A report from GTTN’s Regional Workshop in Africa To increase awareness amongst African stakeholders from the field of research, government and non-governmental institutions, development partners, and the private sector about the Global Timber Tracking Network (GTTN), and the growing potential of timber tracking techniques to help curb illegal logging in […]

Sustainable sourcing can protect 5 Million ha of tropical forest

July 2, 2018

Research institute, Timber tracking

European Sustainable Tropical Timber Coalition (STTC) recently released a report stating that if seven European leading tropical timber-importing countries committed to 100% sustainable sourcing of primary tropical timber products, it would encourage sound forest stewardship of over 5 million hectares of tropical forest. How Sustainable are Europe’s Tropical Timber Imports? identified trends […]

Legal or not? Domestic timber market in Cameroon

June 24, 2018

Network, Research institute, Timber tracking

The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) discusses that the demand for legal timber is still low in Cameroon, but this might change in the coming years. A recent research conducted by CIFOR shows a growing number of consumers looking for legal and sustainable products in the domestic timber market […]

WRI raising awareness for the potentials of wood DNA testing

June 13, 2018

Network, Research institute, Timber tracking, Uncategorized

GTTN partner World Resources Institute (WRI) recently posted a blog article on how “DNA Testing Can Save Trees from Illegal Logging”. By referring to a scandalous case in 2015, when Washington state sawmill owner Harold Clause Kupers was found guilty for buying logs illegally harvested from Gifford Pinchot National Forest, […]

Adventurers Callout to collect samples to fight illegal logging

April 23, 2018

Governmental organisation, Research institute, Timber tracking, Uncategorized

Are you a hiker, backpacker or sea kayaker? Adventure Scientists and the World Resources Institute need volunteers to collect bigleaf maple samples such as leaves, seeds, or tree cores from select sites in California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia this spring and summer. These samples will be used by DNA4 […]

April 17, 2018

Research institute, Timber tracking

At the lab of Forest Genetics in the Thünen Institute, GTTN Communications recently had the chance to observe how genetic timber tracking and species identification work in practice and produce a video to explain this method of wood analysis. It is a complex technical process, with every step being executed […]

“Nirwood” – new NIR project for the timber market

April 10, 2018

Network, Research institute, Uncategorized

NIRWOOD, created by GEA Forestal, aims at being the first commercial system for on-site identification of quality and origin of wooden products, based on Near-Infrared Technology (NIR). It is a partially EU-financed SME Instrument (Horizon 2020 Program) project dedicated to the development of a NIR (Near-Infrared) Spectrometer. NIR spectrometers are […]

CPTTP and its major set back for the fight against illegal logging

April 2, 2018

NGO, Research institute

Although the US has pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TTP), 11 countries still signed the strongly contested trade agreement in the beginning of March 2018. The now called Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTTP) still contains the most important TTP agreements, however including changes, which are visible in the […]