ZSL #049 The forest behind your floorboards

Timber Traceability examines how scientists use chemical fingerprints from isotopes to pinpoint where wood comes from, helping to root out illegal logging. The episode highlights how platforms like Spot score transparency in timber supply chains, and how West African field campaigns in Cameroon and the Republic of Congo build reference libraries that enable origin testing through World Forest ID. It also explains regulatory drivers such as the EU Deforestation Regulation and real-world enforcement cases, while showing how companies, retailers, and consumers can push for responsible sourcing and greater forest protection.

Overview and the stakes for timber traceability

Illegal timber remains a major global challenge, with estimates suggesting up to 30% of timber trade being illegal. The episode from ZSL Wild Science explains that weak governance and the complexity of supply chains allow illegally harvested wood to mix with legal timber, making origin verification difficult. The conversation emphasizes that traceability is the first essential step to sustainability: without knowing wood's origins, responsible forest management cannot be enforced, and environmental and wildlife impacts persist.

"Traceability is really the first step towards sustainability, because if you don't know where something's come from, you can't hold the companies that have produced it to account." - ZSL

Science behind origin verification

The podcast introduces scientists who use isotopes and chemical fingerprints to locate a tree's birthplace. World Forest ID collects multi-element chemical data to create a reference library, which, when paired with machine learning, can compare a traded product's fingerprint to known origins. The approach works by capturing stabilised element ratios tied to soils and climates, then filling in geographic gaps with models that predict fingerprints across a landscape.

"We create open protocols so labs can create the same reference data, the same chemical data around the world." - Victor de Klerk, World Forest ID

On‑the‑ground work and partnerships

Annabelle Dodson explains two angles of action: upstream transparency with Spot, a platform rating timber, pulp, rubber, and palm oil companies on environmental commitments; and downstream testing of imports against a georeferenced timber library, focusing on Cameroon and the Republic of Congo. The field campaigns face logistical challenges, but strong local partnerships and collaboration with World Forest ID are advancing the reference library for important species such as African mahogany and roo (iroko). The project is supported by foundations and EU funding, including Ecosolve, and involves industry partners like Timber Development UK and EIFO to raise awareness of origin verification as a practical tool.

"External collaborators, communities on the ground, and strong partnerships make this process possible." - Annabelle Dodson

Regulation, enforcement, and industry impact

The EU Deforestation Regulation requires importers to prove legal sourcing and to provide precise origin data, including GPS points for high-risk commodities. The episode notes that this regulation could bolster traceability efforts, enabling more precise verification of claims and facilitating enforcement actions. World Forest ID and its Alliance for Wood ID Testing, in collaboration with WWF and major retailers, aim to scale testing across large supply chains, supporting credible origin claims and sustainable forest management. The discussion also touches on consumer roles and the value of certifications like FSC in promoting responsible sourcing.

"The Alliance for Wood ID Testing is a group of companies committed to sustainable and accountable supply chains." - Victor de Klerk

Overall, the podcast presents a vision where science, regulation, and industry collaboration converge to improve timber traceability, protect forests, and empower both suppliers and consumers to make informed, responsible choices.