Pilot project investigates DNA tree identification
2 August 2006A project to help monitor the international trade in timber has received a £15,000 cash boost from the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
The financial support was announced by UK biodiversity minister Barry Gardiner who has been in Kuching, Malaysia to discuss sustainable forestry and illegal logging.
The pilot project will look at developing a DNA-based method for the forensic identification of tree species that can be easily applied by enforcement bodies in all countries.
Mr Gardiner said effective enforcement of the decisions and resolutions made under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) relied on the identification of individual tree species, which can prove very difficult.
At present, according to Defra, accurate identification requires a high level of botanical expertise and extensive wood anatomy collections, which can limit the enforcement agencies’ ability to investigate and counter illegal trade.
If the project is successful it will pave the way for the development of a generic DNA-based method of identification, which could revolutionise the application of CITES to timber and enable enforcement bodies around to world to tackle illegal trade effectively.
The 12-month pilot study is being conducted by the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and Wildlife DNA Services Ltd.
- While in Kuching Mr Gardiner also pledged more than £100,000 of UK support for projects to protect great apes.
