Stable Isotope Analysis for Tracing the Geographical Origin of Timber

Illegal logging is a highly profitable natural resource crime, estimated to be worth between US$52 billion and US$157 billion annually. This illicit activity involves the unauthorized harvesting and trade of timber, leading to deforestation and a range of negative consequences, including loss of biodiversity, habitat destruction, and acceleration of climate change. Additionally, illegal logging is associated with violations of ownership rights, tax evasion, corruption, and involvement of organized crime and forced labor.To enhance the enforcement of timber regulations, scientific tools are essential for accurately verifying and determining the origin of harvested timber. Among the available methods, stable isotope ratio analysis stands out as a strong candidate. This approach relies on stable isotope ratios found in plant organic matter, which reflect the geographical location where the plants were cultivated. These ratios are influenced by factors such as isotopic composition of meteoric precipitation, temperature, precipitation levels, air humidity, and altitude.The overarching goal of this project is to create a global database of timber stable isotope ratio data. By integrating existing literature data, this database will serve as the foundation for developing statistical models (such as isoscapes) that can predict timber origins in different regions worldwide. To achieve this, an initial phase focuses on optimizing, validating, and standardizing methods for sample preparation and stable isotope ratio analysis. Once established, this database and model will empower stable isotope laboratories worldwide to verify and determine the harvest locations of commercial timber products. Such verification is crucial for due diligence, surveillance, and enforcement, under for example the newly adopted European Deforestation Regulation.The CRP is not open for submission of proposal to date.