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%).

Directory and Ref Database regional workshops

September 23, 2020

Governmental organisation, Network, Research institute, University

Join us for the upcoming Global Timber Tracking Network (GTTN) workshops and learn how to take advantage of the Service Provider Directory and Reference Database. The Service Provider Directory helps those in need of wood identification services to find the right expertise. The Reference Database allows an overview of existing […]

CNN reports on Global Timber Ref Project

December 9, 2019

Network, Timber tracking

WRI, Agroisolab (GTTN member organisations), Kew Gardens and FSC’s Global Timber Reference Project gained some high-profile recognition recently and appeared in both the BBC and CNN. Jenny Marc (CNN) reports with a video and an article called A library of trees could protect the forest, visiting Gabon, Agrisolab in Germany […]

TIMTRACE: new forensic timber tracing service

January 18, 2019

Network, Research institute, Timber tracking, University

Professor Pieter Zuidema, from the Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group at Wageningen University recently talked to Gesche Schifferdecker, GTTN Secretariat, about a new forensic timber tracing service Wageningen is currently developing, and the different partners involved. G.S.: What are the advantages of genetic wood identification? Why is this method used […]

June 5, 2018

Network, Testimonials, Timber tracking

In preparation for the upcoming GTTN Regional workshop in Cameroon, GTTN member and forest engineer for GERSYN Services, Germain Yene Yene, shares with us some of his thoughts on GTTN’s challenges and priorities. To have the timber industry on board is important, sure, but in order for the network to […]

Tali timber tracking using genetic markers

April 27, 2018

Network, Timber tracking, University

A University of Wageningen and Research article recently published in the scientific journal Biological Conservation concluded that tali timber can be successfully tracked to the concession of origin by using genetic markers, but not by using isotopic composition. It also suggested that isotopic differentiation may be possible at larger spatial scales or with […]

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 […]

With DNA And Tree Rings: Nature Fights Back

November 21, 2017

Timber tracking, University, Working groups

Illegal logging is a major global concern not only when it comes to climate change. It severely disturbs people’s livelihoods and food security, natural habitats and accounts for a serious loss of annual revenue in the logging industry. One of the major reasons for the continuous illegal logging is identification […]

GTTN Timber Tracking Workshops

October 19, 2017

The Global Timber Tracking Network kindly invites to join the GTTN Working Groups meetings on 19-20 October 2017, which are organized back-to-back with the Forest Legality Week in Washington, D.C.. GTTN Working Groups will address key issues related to the successful development of timber tracking tools and policies and promote […]

GTTN Working Group Meetings starting soon

October 10, 2017

Network, Timber tracking, Working groups

The GTTN Working Groups meetings, which are organized back-to-back with the Forest Legality Week in Washington, D.C., will take place on 19-20 October 2017. The Forest Legality Week already includes a more general introduction to GTTN, to inform a broader audience. GTTN Working Groups will then address key issues related […]