Tropical Timber Research Articles

MADERA: A standardized Pan-Amazonian dataset for tropical timber species.

We compiled and presented a dataset for all timber species reported in the Amazon region from all nine South American Amazonian countries. This was based on official information from every country, as well as from two substantial scientific references. We verified the standard taxonomic names from each individual source, using the Taxonomic Name Resolution Service (TNRS) and considered all Amazonian tree species with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥10 cm. We also obtained estimates of the current population size for most species from a published approach based on data from 1900 tree inventory plots (1-ha each) distributed across the Amazon region and part from the Amazon Tree Diversity Network (ATDN). We then identified the hyperdominant timber species. In addition, we overlapped our timber species list with data for species that are used for commercial purposes, according to the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) taxa assessment and Red List categories. Finally, we also included IUCN Red List categories based on combined deforestation, and climate change scenarios for these species. Our final Amazonian timber species dataset contains 1112 unique species records, which belong to 337 genera and 72 families from the lowland Amazonian rainforest, with associated information related to population, conservation, and trade status of each species. The authors of this research expect that the information provided will be useful to strengthen the public forestry policies of the Amazon countries, inform ecological studies, as well for forest management purposes. The data are released under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.

Combining the light-demanding Araucaria angustifolia with the shade-tolerant Cabralea canjerana: mixed plantations to produce tropical timber trees outside the Atlantic rainforest

Many trees of high timber value require canopy cover to become established, and at present, they are only harvested from native rainforests. Other species require high radiation to establish and can be planted in monospecific stands. The main question was whether the canopy generated by a light-demanding rainforest species could protect mid-successional timber species from high radiation and extreme temperatures. We evaluated the establishment of Cabralea canjerana under the canopy of Araucaria angustifolia stands. We related growth to the number of neighbors to determine the best positions to plant C. canjerana. In one stand, we measured environmental and physiological traits, and we determined that the seedling did not suffer light or water stress. Cabralea canjerana plant establishment was successful in stands of different basal areas, and trees reached the highest growth with up to two A. angustifolia neighbors within a 5 m radius. Therefore, the number of neighbors is a tool to choose the planting location to convert even-aged to uneven-aged mixed stands. In this way, valuable native timber species that require canopy protection during the first few years can be planted outside the rainforest. This is the first report of an uneven-aged mixed plantation of two Atlantic forest timber species.

Statistical distributions and their influence on the material property values of tropical timber: Case study of Gmelina arborea

Previous studies as well as reference standards report specific statistical distributions to be used for determining the material property values of specific engineering materials. In many cases, data collected from the laboratory do not match these statistical distributions thus, leaving a discrepancy between experimental data and code recommendations. Although previous studies have investigated the characterization of engineering materials, those dealing with this issue are lacking. This study investigates the influence of various statistical distributions on the material properties of timber, using Gmelina wood as a case study. The aim of the study is to discuss from experimental data, the difference / similarities in the material properties of Gmelina wood obtained using different statistical distributions and to discuss a possible unification between the varying statistical distributions reported in the literature for determining the actual material properties of construction timber. To achieve these, experimental data were collected from mechanical tests conducted on Gmelina wood, and the statistical values of the material properties were determined in accordance with the normal, lognormal and the Weibull distributions. For each dataset, the 5th percentile, mean, standard deviation and the coefficient of variation were determined. The results showed that at a coefficient of variation of less than 22%, all the material property values computed from the different statistical distributions were at least 92% in agreement with each other. At a coefficient of variation of 28% however, the lognormal distribution over-estimated the 5th percentile value by an amount equal to 18% and 20% with respect to the normal and the Weibull distributions respectively. The 5th percentile values obtained from the Weibull and normal distributions however, stayed within a 2% difference and the mean values for all cases were uninfluenced. It was determined that below a coefficient of variation of 22%, any of the statistical distributions could be used to determine the material properties of Gmelina wood for structural applications with a 92–100% accuracy.

A new method for the timber tracing toolbox: applying multi-element analysis to determine wood origin

To effectively reduce illegal timber trade, law enforcers need forensic methods to independently verify claims of wood origin. Multi-element analysis of traded plant material has the potential to be used to trace the origin of commodities, but for timber it has not been tested at relevant large scales. Here we put this method to the test, by evaluating its tracing accuracy for three economically important tropical timbers: Azobé and Tali in Central Africa (22 sites) and Red Meranti on Borneo (9 sites). Wood samples from 991 trees were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and element concentrations were analysed to chemically group similar sites (clustering) and assess accuracy of tracing samples to their origin (Random Forest models). For all three timbers, we found distinct spatial differences in chemical composition. In Central Africa, tracing accuracy was 86%–98% for regional clusters of chemically similar sites, with accuracy depending on the tracing question. These clusters were 50–800 km apart and tracing accuracy was highest when combining the two timbers. Tracing accuracy of Red Meranti on Borneo was 88% at the site level. This high accuracy at a small scale may be related to the short distances at which differences in soil type occur on Borneo. A blind sample analysis of 46 African timber samples correctly identified the origin of 70%–72% of the samples, but failed to exclude 70% of the samples obtained from different species or outside the study area. Overall, these results illustrate a high potential for multi-element analysis to be developed into a timber tracing tool which can identify origin for multiple species and can do so at a within-country scale. To reach this potential, reference databases need to cover wider geographic areas and represent more timbers.

Sparing old-growth maximises conservation outcomes within selectively logged Amazonian rainforest

Timber extraction threatens a vast area of tropical ecosystems, making it vital to design productive harvesting operations that limit biodiversity declines. Contrasting management options span a continuum from less-intensive, land-sharing logging applied over a larger area to land-sparing operations that combine intensive harvesting with the preservation of old-growth forest. Combining company-reported extraction rates with dung beetle surveys along an Amazonian logging gradient, we explore how individual species' abundances, geometric mean population sizes, functional diversity, and trait characteristics vary across simulated logging concessions and production targets. We substantially extend previous studies by evaluating 8000 mixed-harvesting scenarios and by assessing the profitability of contrasting practices. Simply maximising old-growth protection delivers the highest species' abundances and population sizes for species negatively affected by logging. Maximising old-growth also supports communities with a functional trait dissimilarity (FDis, RaoQ) and functional structure of nesting guilds, biomass, pronotum volume, front leg area, and front:back leg ratio traits that closely resembles old-growth forest. Functional evenness (FEve), richness (FRic), and divergence (FDiv) did not vary across logging strategies. Some 3 % of mixed approaches outperform extreme sparing (which maximises old-growth retention through intensive logging) but still involve substantial sparing, enabled by intensified logging elsewhere. However more-extensive business-as-usual harvesting is up to 90 % more profitable than extreme sparing, suggesting active policy mechanisms, standards, or regulations would be needed to make spatially-concentrated logging operations (which benefit biodiversity) more commercially attractive. Old-growth sparing appears key to limiting biodiversity declines within tropical timber concessions, but would require payments to compensate for reduced profits.

Economic and environmental upgrading after a policy reform: The case of timber value chain in Myanmar

Commitments to curb illegal logging and deforestation have proliferated in recent years with the increase of global trade in tropical timber and wood products. While they reflect international sustainability demands, the employed mechanisms to assure timber legality verification may not reflect conditions faced by local private sector actors. Facing rapid forest loss and limited foreign market access, government of Myanmar started reforming its forest policy to include a system of timber legality verification. Drawing on policy analysis and mixed-methods field research, we evaluate the feasibility of the policy reform to achieve economic and environmental upgrading in the timber value chain. Our findings question the transformative capacity of this policy reform. Not only that it failed to meet its sustainability goals, it has also created favourable conditions for a race to the bottom and concentration in the timber value chain. Economic and environmental upgrading take place at the expense of private smallholders who are expected to address a range of obstacles, including limited access to inputs, quality downgrading, and increased operational costs, which hamper their performance. To prevent socio-environmental losses, forest-sector regulatory reforms should be particularly mindful of these challenges in the midstream segment of the value chain.

The effect of agroforestry farming on wood quality and timber industry and its supportation by Horizon 2020

One of the goals of the European Union’s agroforestry plans is to alleviate the shortage of timber in Europe caused by the growing demand for hardwoods and the declining import of tropical timber. The study shows which tree species can be considered in agroforestry systems in Europe, and which of them can be used as raw material for the wood industry and what quality of wood can be produced in agroforestry systems. Since 2005, the European Union has been officially encouraging farmers to plant the crops in an agroforestry system and parallel try to produce trunks for high quality timber. By analysing the current economic developments of the European Union, especially Horizon 2020, our study provides an overview of what can be expected by the participants of the agroforestry sector and the related primary wood industry in the European Union now and in the future. In addition to the distribution analysis, indices describing projects have also been created. Rank correlation was used to examine the relationship between them. Possible decision mechanisms were also outlined using a custom-built expert software system.

In vitro evaluation of alkaline lignins as antiparasitic agents and their use as an excipient in the release of benznidazole

The Amazon rainforest is considered the largest tropical timber reserve in the world. The management of native forests in the Amazon is one of the most sensitive geopolitical issues today, given its national and international dimension. In this work, we obtained and characterized physicochemical lignins extracted from branches and leaves of Protium puncticulatum and Scleronema micranthum. In addition, we evaluated in vitro its potential as an antioxidant, cytotoxic agent against animal cells and antiparasitic against promastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis, trypomastigotes of T. cruzi and against Plasmodium falciparum parasites sensitive and resistant to chloroquine. The results showed that the lignins obtained are of the GSH type and have higher levels of guaiacyl units. However, they show structural differences as shown by spectroscopic analysis and radar charts. As for biological activities, they showed antioxidant potential and low cytotoxicity against animal cells. Antileishmanial/trypanocidal assays have shown that lignins can inhibit the growth of promastigotes and trypomastigotes in vitro. The lignins in this study showed low anti-Plasmodium falciparum activity against susceptible strains of Plasmodium falciparum and were able to inhibit the growth of the chloroquine-resistant strain. And were not able to inhibit the growth of Schistosoma mansoni parasites. Finally, lignins proved to be promising excipients in the release of benznidazole. These findings show the potential of these lignins not yet studied to promote different biological activities.

Bamboo and value addition: a boon for industrial development

Bamboo has been increasingly used as a substitute for tropical timber in the International market. Value-added bamboo products are becoming popular due to their characteristics of durability and strength, which resemble the qualities of tropical wood while providing an equally sustainable alternative. Bamboo is considered a grass with rapid growth. As it is a colony plant, it produces new canes (culms) every year from the root system. After 3 to 5 years, culms are ready for harvest, depending on the species. Every year, 5–6 culms can be harvested (from the species that are growing in clumps). Due to this feature, bamboos are mostly used in the rural and semi-urban areas to make houses and so is known as 'poor man's timber. Bamboo shows a very significant part in day-to-day survives (lodging, service, revenue, gasoline, etc.). Lately, bamboo has also found more uses in the manufacturing areas as well as in transitory assemblies. Moreover, being a vital section of cottage and rural business, it is also utilized in some dedicated different usages such bamboo wood, bamboo based-laminates, floor tiling, strengthening in cement material etc. Pulp and paper, Gasoline (charcoal), Fixtures and Handcrafts (picnic basket, jewellery, ball-points, cycles etc.), Building (houses, channels framework, armoured, barriers, concrete, boats), Harmonious Gadgets, Customary drugs, Food (shoots, wine) and silage. Separately from the varied usages of bamboo, the tender sprouts, being little in fat, rich in dietary fibre and mineral content, decent source of potassium, calcium, manganese, zinc, chromium, copper, iron and lesser quantity of phosphorus and selenium. The sprouts are eaten due to their unusual palate, flavour, medicinal and nourishing importance. Diverse value added foodstuffs such as nuggets, pickle and biscuit can be prepared from new bamboo sprouts. Anti-carcinogenic ingredients existing in sprouts marks them a regular portion of regime. It is assumed that bamboo extract offer anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, this paper discusses about the bamboo and its value addition via bamboo-based products industry's future.

Teak population structure and genetic diversity in Gujarat, India

The teak (Tectona grandis L.) is forest tree, has a diploid chromosome number 2 n = 2x= 36. Farmers grow teak wood for commercial purposes since it is one of the most valuable tropical timbers. Therefore, modern approaches for studying the diversity of outstanding teak have shifted their emphasis to enhancements and conservation. In this instance, 134 teak samples from 14 populations were collected from various locations in Gujarat state of India. A total of 65 SSR primers were tested for diversity; 23 primers with distinct and clear bands were chosen for further investigation. All populations were grouped into three main clades based on SSR data with some admixture. The mean value of the observed alleles was 18, ranging from 11 to 29. The PIC values for SSRs 16 and 2 were respectively 0.95 and 0.82, with an average of 0.89. SSR 62 had the highest expected heterozygosity of 0.88, while SSR 16 had the lowest expected heterozygosity of 0.97, with a mean value of 0.94. SSR 22 had the largest gene flow, 0.73 and SSR 62 had the lowest gene flow, 0.13, with a mean value of 0.35. Nei's genetic diversity averaged 0.90, with SSR 16 having the highest value (0.95) and SSR 2 having the lowest (0.84). Dendrogram based on Nei's genetic diversity classified all 14 populations into three major clusters. The cluster I consisted of eight populations: Ranipura, Shivrajpur, Jambughoda, Ukai, Vansda, Sabarkantha, Junagadh and Girnar. Cluster II contained only one Achhala population, which was the most diverse of all the populations. Cluster III was composed of the five populations of Anand, Rajpipla, Valsad, Bharuch and Godhara. The data led to the conclusion that SSR maker would be the best alternative for population structure and marker-assisted selection as compared to RAPD and ISSR because it showed 100 % polymorphism and a high PIC value, indicating its capacity to differentiate between distinct populations. Based on these findings the diverse populations may be preserved by in situ conservation, and genetic advancement will be supported by population variety.

Water consumption during a leafless period in a dry season in three deciduous tropical timber species

Besides mechanical protection and sugar transport through phloem, barks also transpire some amount of water. Bark transpiration may be a driving force to keep water flux during the leafless period among tropical deciduous trees, but has been hardly investigated. In the current investigation we used the sap flow data to assess the water consumption during leaf loss initiation, total leaf loss period, and leaf flush period in three economically important tropical deciduous timber species i.e, Anogeissus acuminata, Dipterocarpus tuberculatus and Tectona grandis. Eight trees of each species were measured using Granier’s heat dissipation sensors, with the circumference ranging from 59 cm to 172 cm (mean 59.84 cm) across the three species. The phenological observation for canopy leaves was also carried out on weekly basis. During the completely leafless period, a significant amount of water flux was detected in all three species, which was correlated with vapor pressure deficit (VPD), and light intensity. The whole tree daily mean water consumption during this leaf-less, flower-less and fruit-less period, mainly due to bark transpiration was around 8–14 kg across the three species. It was about 7 to 18 % of the mean whole-tree daily transpiration in the fully foliated canopies during a typical wet-season period. This water flux was supported by sufficient soil moisture as indicated by the pre-dawn leaf water potential higher than –0.4 MPa in the three species. Further, a significant and positive relationship (R2 = 0.32, P < 0.005) was found between tree circumference and whole-tree water consumption during the leaf-less period. The total stand-level water consumption during the leaf-less period ranged from 13 mm to 26.8 mm on a 30 days basis across the three species. Such water flux mainly driven by bark transpiration could have a significant role in maintaining the hydraulic integrity of trees in the dry season, although it could reduce xylem water potential to a risky level of hydraulic dysfunction during a prolonged drought or on dry sites. The study is the first report on bark transpiration in intact trees, scaled to the stand-level, which should be included in the modeling of hydraulic function of plant and ecosystem hydrology.

Comparative wood anatomy of 16 Malagasy Dalbergia species (Fabaceae) using multivariate techniques

Summary Rosewood and palisander (Dalbergia L.f., Fabaceae) are sources of highly valuable tropical timber and include species threatened by habitat degradation and selective logging for national and international trade. Law enforcement depends on reliable and cost-effective species-level identification of timber along the supply chain. The potential of wood anatomy to distinguish between species has not yet been systematically investigated for Dalbergia species from Madagascar. We assessed 36 qualitative and eight quantitative wood anatomical features in 16 Malagasy Dalbergia species that form medium-sized to large trees, representing each species by at least five individuals. We integrated and contrasted the newly collected data with existing data from InsideWood and two previous studies. Principal component analysis of 93 individuals and 29 variables resulted in non-overlapping hulls for eight species with respect to the first two dimensions. Four quantitative features (number of ray tiers per millimetre, number of rays per millimetre, vessel density, and vessel element length) and two qualitative features (scanty paratracheal axial parenchyma and irregular to absent storied structure) were found to be potentially diagnostic to distinguish three single species and three pairs of closely related species. Following our analyses, we provide a provisional microscopic wood anatomical identification key for the 16 Dalbergia species, which can be applied to both logs and sawn wood.

Survival and Growth of Olive Tree (Olea africana) Seedlings Under Open Field Conditions is Enhanced in Hydrogel Amended Soils Media, Teso Subcounty, Kenya

The rapid decline of timber from natural forests against increasing domestic demand for wood products has caused a steady increase in timber prices in Kenya. Recently, research and development institutions have recognized the ecological and economic value of indigenous tree species and therefore have emphasized the importance of their future production on private smallholder farms rather than in large plantations. This situation has been worsened by climate changes such as the frequent high intensity of prolonged droughts and the nature of soils with poor water retention capacity. As a result, unplanted forest regeneration sites have increased hence a need for re-afforestation of these sites to meet the target for the plantation industry. Therefore, there is a need for mass production of Olea africana seedlings for reforestation programs. One such approach is the application of hydrogels or synthetic polymer organic combinations capable of improving the water and nutrient retention of the soil that can support seedling growth. This study sought to investigate the effects of hydrogel application on selected growth characteristics of O. africana. Seeds were germinated and transferred into two sets of tubes of the same size arranged in a complete randomized block design (CRBD) experiment. The sets were subjected to different levels of hydrogel concentration. Under (0gm as control) and 7gm, 14gm, and 21gm) concentration levels of hydrogel mixed with soil in open field conditions. The height and shoot collar diameter of germinated seedlings were measured every two weeks for two months. The survival of O. africana seedlings decreased with time for all treatments irrespective of the addition of hydrogels with the highest (85%) survival of seedlings on soils mixed with 21gm of hydrogel compared to 0gm hydrogel that recorded (15% survival) eight weeks after transplanting. Application of different levels of hydrogel on soils had a significant influence on the survival of transplanted O. africana seedlings (p˂0.05). Generally, the height of O. africana seedlings increased with time for all types of treatments (0, 7, 14 and 21gm of hydrogel); however, the rate of growth of seedlings was highest (0.667cm /week) on soils treated with 21gm of hydrogel and least (0.33cm/week) on 0gm hydrogel. The shoot collar diameter of O. africana seedlings increased with time for all types of treatments (0, 7, 14 and 21gm of hydrogel); however, the average shoot collar diameter of O. africana seedlings was highest (0.088mm/week) on soils inoculated with 21gm hydrogel and least (0.066mm/week) on soils not inoculated with hydrogel. These results imply that a higher dose of hydrogel significantly enhances the survival and growth characteristics (height and shoot collar diameter) of transplanted seedlings by improving the water-holding capacity of soil and making it available for plant uptake during dry conditions. Hydrogels can therefore be used to amend soils for a sustainable mass regeneration of tropical timber species for reforestation programs, increased forest cover and restoration of biodiversity in Kenya

Plant Growth and Microbiota Structural Effects of Rhizobacteria Inoculation on Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King [Meliaceae]) under Nursery Conditions

Swietenia macrophylla is a tropical timber species of ecological and economic importance. However, its slow vegetative growth and root development in nurseries strongly limit its production. This study evaluated the effect of 10 rhizobacteria strains during the early stages of production of S. macrophylla. Superficially disinfected seeds were inoculated with rhizobacteria under commercial nursery conditions. Inoculation was complemented by initial fertilization without growth regulators, fungicides, or bactericides. The results indicate that the rhizobacteria strains induce different responses in plants. Significant differences in plant biomass and root architecture were found. Treatments inoculated with Bacillus sp., Bacillus polyfermenticus, and Bacillus siamensis strains; showed an increase of up to 41% (dry weight). Plants increased root biomass by 30% when inoculated with S. siamensis. All inoculated strains were identified as members of the genus Bacillus spp., and their presence three months after inoculation was assessed by 16S rRNA gene-based amplicon massive sequencing. We found that Bacillus sp. genus was only present in inoculated treatments, suggesting that inoculated bacteria could establish themselves successfully as part of the microbiota. These results support the advantages of using PGPRs in commercial tropical tree production.

Mechanical performance and failure characteristics of cross laminated timber (CLT) manufactured from tropical hardwoods species

Abstract The study on the mechanical properties of cross laminated timber (CLT) panels made from tropical hardwood species is essential in order to promote the use of CLT as buildings material in Malaysia. The objective of this study were to evaluate the mechanical performance and failure characteristics of CLT fabricated from tropical timbers species, namely, batai (Paraserianthes falcataria), sesendok (Endospermum malacensis), rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) and kedondong (family Burceraceae). The modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), and compressive strength were determined. The failure characteristics of each samples were visually examined and recorded. The results indicated that CLT made from kedondong (KKK) had the highest value of MOR (82.63 N/mm2) and MOE (11,371.33 N/mm2) compared to other species. For compressive strength, CLT made from kedondong (KKK) and rubberwood (RRR) were not significantly different. The failure characteristics observed from bending test were tension, rolling shear and glue line failure while the crushing, shearing and splitting failure were found during compression test. Based on the results obtained, it showed that, the tropical hardwood is suitable to be used as raw material to produce CLT. However, more study should be conducted to observe the performance of CLT on durability and outdoor weathering.

Tracing the geographic origin of planted tropical timber Neobalanocarpus heimii (chengal) with DNA approach

Tracing the geographic origin of planted tropical timber Neobalanocarpus heimii (chengal) with DNA approach

Isotopic Characterization of Cedrela to Verify Species and Regional Provenance of Bolivian Timber

With increasing concerns about sustainable exploitation of tropical timber, there is a need for developing independent tools to check their origin. We evaluated the potential of tree-ring stable isotopes for identifying four Cedrela species (C. balansae, C. fissilis, C. odorata, and C. saltensis) and for identifying geographic origin of C. fissilis and C. odorata, two of the most intensively exploited species. We studied differences in δ13C and δ18O of wood among 11 forest sites (163 trees). We quantified isotope composition of 10-year bulk samples, and for a subset we also evaluated isotopic annual fluctuations for the last 10 years. Although annual isotopic variability was not correlated to precipitation or elevation, we found a significant relationship between the 10-year bulk stable-isotope composition and average precipitation and elevation. However these relationships were not consistent across all sites. We also explored isotopic site and species differentiation using Kernel Discriminant Analyses. Site discrimination was low: 30% accuracy for C. odorata, and 40% for C. fissilis sites. However, species discrimination was 57.5% for C. odorata and 95.3% for C. fissilis. These results suggest that although δ13C and δ18O isotopic analyses hold potential to verify species identification, discrimination of geographical origin within a country may still be challenging.

Investigation of green-glued laminated timber from the Congo Basin: durability, mechanical strength and variability trends of the bondlines

The development of glulam may give complementary, added-value to an important part of the timber production in the Congo Basin. Nevertheless, the high humidity in which these timbers operate may cause problems such as cracks and severe deformations if they are not suitably bonded. Moreover, there is a lack of knowledge concerning the refined design of the bondlines of glulam assembling from the Congo Basin hardwoods. We investigated the durability, mechanical strength, and variability features of the bondlines, manufactured under higher moisture conditions. Eight hardwood species with very different properties were selected. A one-component polyurethane adhesive was used. Industrial gluing parameters were kept constant. Delamination, shear tests and analysis of bondlines thickness were carried out. Multivariate analysis and a goodness-of-fit test of the strength variability of the bondlines were performed. Optimum bondlines thicknesses were obtained. Their durability exhibited satisfactory trends up to a density of 750 kg/m3. The behaviour of the bondlines can operate in three homogeneous groups. In each of them, the variability of the shear strength can be properly modelled using a 3-parameter Weibull probability. Wood failure trends were in accordance with several international requirements. The density value of 750 kg/m3 appeared as critical for the compatibility between the shear strength, the durability and the bondlines thickness. The overall results showed the ability of several tropical timber species to be valorised in green-glulam applications. Moreover, the findings unlock new trends concerning a reliable and safe design of tropical glulam as a structural wood-based product.

Conservation responsibility for bird species in tropical logged forests

AbstractUnprotected lands can help prevent the extinctions of species if managed carefully. Over half of the tropical forest is leased by logging companies, whereas only 6%–18% is protected. This makes the timber industry, institutions that regulate it, and consumers of its products important actors in conservation. We assessed the conservation responsibility, the proportion of a species’ range that tropical timber industry concessions overlap with, for bird species that decline after selective logging. Up to 32% of the global range and up to 100% of the national range of sensitive species within our study countries are leased by logging companies. Individual concessions overlap with the ranges of up to 25 sensitive and more than 500 total bird species, with a particularly high density in Borneo. Our results can inform governments, forest managers, sustainability certifiers, and consumers so that they can turn this responsibility into a conservation opportunity through interventions at multiple scales.

DNA databases of an important tropical timber tree species Shorealeprosula (Dipterocarpaceae) for forensic timber identification

International timber trade communities are increasingly demanding that timber in the wood supply chain be sourced from sustainably harvested forests and certified plantations. This is to combat illegal logging activities to prevent further depletion of our precious forests worldwide. Hence, timber tracking tools are important to support law enforcement officials in ensuring only sustainably harvested timbers are traded in the market. In this study, we developed chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) databases as tracking tools for an important tropical timber tree species, Shorealeprosula from Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 1410 individual trees were sampled from 44 natural populations throughout Peninsular Malaysia. Four cpDNA regions were used to generate a cpDNA haplotype database, resulting in a haplotype map comprising 22 unique haplotypes derived from 28 informative intraspecific variable sites. This cpDNA database can be used to trace the origin of an unknown log at the regional level. Ten SSR loci were used to develop the SSR allele frequency database. Bayesian cluster analysis divided the 44 populations into two genetic clusters corresponding to Region A and Region B. Based on conservativeness evaluation of the SSR databases for individual identification, the coancestry coefficients (θ) were adjusted to 0.1900 and 0.1500 for Region A and B, respectively. These databases are useful tools to complement existing timber tracking systems in ensuring only legally sourced timbers are allowed to enter the wood supply chain.