Illegal logging and the associated deforestation destroy valuable ecosystems and lead to the loss of livelihoods for many people. In addition, the implementation of international trade initiatives is hampered by illegal timber trade, which occurs in the tropics but also in temperate forest areas. To stop deforestation, increasing international efforts have led to new regulations, such as the EU Regulation on deforestation-free supply chains. Proof of timber origin alone is difficult to provide outside of documents.
In the present project, chemical methods of multi-elemental analysis are therefore to be evaluated with regard to their potential for the proof of origin of wood. For this purpose, the element distribution will be measured on different timber species from temperate and tropical regions as well as on selected soil samples. Depending on region and location, different element distributions result, which can then be interpreted like a fingerprint. By means of statistical data analysis, clusters of different origins can be identified and distinguished. Thus, it should be possible to distinguish areas of origin of certain wood species over as small an area as possible.
Project partner:
University of Sao Paulo (Brazil); CITEmadera Lima, CITEforestal Maynas (Peru)
Project duration:
01/01/2025 – 12/31/2027
Funding:
Federal Office for Agriculture and Food
Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture
Funding code: 28I06501
Contact:
Dr. Jörn Appelt
