FORENSIC INVESTIGATING OF SAWN SOFTWOOD

Abstract

Nowadays, one of the most important activity areas of state institution “Scientific and Practical Centre of The State Forensic Examination Committee of The Republic of Belarus” is plant objects research using dendrochronological analysis. Based on the most significant results were developed methodological recommendations on timber research using tree-ring method in forensic and botanical investigation, and automated workplace “DendroExp” to measure tree ring width. It is known that a dendroanalysis is of a great importance in investigation of offences connected with illegal forestry activity (thefts of wood, illegal forest cutting, frauds with timber, etc.) and also with negative human impact on plant origin objects. This method is based on the following principles: – the annual formation of a clearly visible annual layer in trees growing within the temperate and cold climate zones; – the strict individuality of the radial increment of each specific tree; – synchronous spatial and temporal variations in the width of annual layers in trees growing within a homogeneous according to climatic factors region. Using this method it is possible to determine the age of a tree, establish the time of its death or felling, find out life conditions, the belonging of individual elements of wood to a single tree, the sequence of damages inflicted to the tree, identify environmental conditions of growth, as well as to specify the territory where the investigated timber stand was growing. For the quality execution of dendrochronological expert investigations, special attention shall be given to the inspection of the locus of the accident, since there are the specific nuances in the inspection procedure in this case that require strict adherence when gathering the physical evidences. The article describes approaches to the execution of investigations of objects of plant origin requiring the use of dendroanalysis. It is substantiated that the range of problems solved with the help of this method is very diverse and extremely relevant. The authors believe that in view of the insufficient illumination of this problem in specialized forensic literature the article has practical significance and is of interest to expert biologists. Key words: forensic research, coniferous timber, algorithm for solving expert problems.