WOOD

IDENTIFICATION
Forest Stewardship Council®
Science based identification of
species.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) and its

partners can use scientific techniques,
including isotope testing and genetic
mapping, to pinpoint where – within a few
kilometers – a specific piece of wood
originates from. In this way, FSC is working to
stop illegal logging and ensure that the wood
used in the supply chains of FSC-certified
products originates from legitimate sources.
The Chemistry of
Wood
Every living organism is made up of a
combination of elements, arranged in
intricate formations to create both form
and function. In different conditions, some
of these elements could be altered slightly
to form isotopes, giving the organism a
chemical signature, shared only by its
closest geographic neighbors of the same
species. Likewise, every living organism has
its own unique genetic makeup. Using both
isotope testing and genetic mapping,
scientists are able to pinpoint – within a
few kilometers – where the wood being
tested came from, as well as the Genus,
family, and sometimes species of the tree.
WorldForestID
Since 2011, FSC has increasingly made use
of wood identification technologies. New
technologies have made it possible to
determine where wood has been
harvested from. FSC, U.S. Forest Service,
World Resources Institute, Agroisolab,
and Kew Gardens have joined forces to
launch the WorldForestID project, which
has set out to build the world’s largest
database of geo-referenced wood samples
from all regions of the world where illegal
logging is an issue. This database will help
in exceptional cases where wood
identification is needed to assess
questionable origins.
How Does That Help
to Stop Illegal Logging?
Trading in timber is big business. Many
companies do it responsibly and according
to the law. However, there are some that
cut down trees indiscriminately – and
often illegally. Being able to trace where a
wood product originates allows buyers,
sellers, and traders to ensure the products
they buy are really what they claim to be.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csz1n8