Abstract
The development of timber tracking methods based on genetic markers can provide scientific evidence to verify the origin of timber products and fulfill the growing requirement for sustainable forestry practices. In this study, the origin of an important Dark Red Meranti wood, Shorea platyclados, was studied by using the combination of seven chloroplast DNA and 15 short tandem repeats (STRs) markers. A total of 27 natural populations of S. platyclados were sampled throughout Malaysia to establish population level and individual level identification databases. A haplotype map was generated from chloroplast DNA sequencing for population identification, resulting in 29 multilocus haplotypes, based on 39 informative intraspecific variable sites. Subsequently, a DNA profiling database was developed from 15 STRs allowing for individual identification in Malaysia. Cluster analysis divided the 27 populations into two genetic clusters, corresponding to the region of Eastern and Western Malaysia. The conservativeness tests showed that the Malaysia database is conservative after removal of bias from population subdivision and sampling effects. Independent self-assignment tests correctly assigned individuals to the database in an overall 60.60−94.95% of cases for identified populations, and in 98.99−99.23% of cases for identified regions. Both the chloroplast DNA database and the STRs appear to be useful for tracking timber originating in Malaysia. Hence, this DNA-based method could serve as an effective addition tool to the existing forensic timber identification system for ensuring the sustainably management of this species into the future.
Highlights
Degradation of forest resources leading to a loss of biodiversity is a global challenge
A number of international efforts have been initiated to combat deforestation and promote sustainable management of global forest resources. One of these is the development of forest certification scheme initiated by Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in the early 1990s to ensure responsible management of the world’s forests and enable consumers to purchase timber that originates from sustainably managed forest [5, 6]
The most common haplotype, H1 was present in 57.5% of the samples, and was confined to Western Malaysia
Summary
Degradation of forest resources leading to a loss of biodiversity is a global challenge. A number of international efforts have been initiated to combat deforestation and promote sustainable management of global forest resources One of these is the development of forest certification scheme initiated by Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in the early 1990s to ensure responsible management of the world’s forests and enable consumers to purchase timber that originates from sustainably managed forest [5, 6]. These efforts have produced encouraging results, for example there has been a 60% growth of forest managed according to FSC standards, from 118 M ha in 2009 to over 191 M ha in 2013[7]
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