Tracing the world’s timber: the status of scientific verification technologies for species and origin identification

Tracing the world’s timber: the status of scientific verification technologies for species and origin identification

August 11, 2022

Results of this newly published study show that for species identification, reference data exist for 100% of taxa using wood anatomy, 86% using genetics, 41% for using DART TOFMS, and 6% using NIRS. For origin identification, data exist for 24% of taxa, with most studies applying genetic approaches (23%).

GTTN member Victor Deklerck successfully defended his PhD

December 17, 2019

Network, Research institute, University

Wood collections or xylaria can be considered sleeping beauties in terms of scientific progress. Although there are vast opportunities for advancement, they are currently not in proportion to ongoing research projects, stresses Dr. Deklerck. His dissertation takes a closer look at the potential of xylaria for timber species identification (Chapter […]

Tropical timber forensics: A multi-methods approach to tracing Bolivian “Cedrela”

November 29, 2018

Network, Timber tracking, University

Illegal logging is one of the main drivers of species degradation and contributors to global warming. This practice negatively impacts forest stakeholders at international and local level. Effective control strategies are required to counteract illegal harvesting and trade of tropical timber. Stable isotopes, chemical properties, and DNA are non-manipulative tree characteristics and […]

Timber tracking and trade in South America – a report from GTTN’s Regional Workshop in Peru

November 26, 2018

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

Between November 7 and 9, the GTTN Secretariat organized the Regional Workshop for Latin America in Lima, Perú. Over 70 representatives from academia, law enforcement agencies, customs, international organizations and NGOs actively participated in the different sessions. The workshop brought together stakeholders who do usually not communicate: a nature protection […]

Introduction to DART-TOFMS

September 24, 2018

Network, Research institute

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 […]

GTTN closed workshop: “How to combine timber tracking tools and secure reliable species and origin identification”

June 12, 2018

GTTN supports a pilot study on Sapelli, a tropical tree species from which reference data developed with different timber identification methods are already available (DNA, stable isotopes, DART TOFMS). The meeting in Wageningen will be a closed (invitation only) workshop with those experts who developed reference data on Sapelli and […]