A technique originally used to piece together the DNA of extinct animals lies at the heart of a powerful new technology for tackling the $23 billion trade in illegal timber.

A lot of timber sold with the famous sustainability logo breaks the FSC’s rules, warns the , based in Bogor, Indonesia. DNA might offer a better way to establish the source of wood.

“Tree DNA is still present in tables, chairs, floors, decking and even guitars – but as the wood has been kiln-dried and treated with chemicals, the DNA is like a messed-up jigsaw puzzle,” says Andrew Lowe, chief scientific officer of in Singapore. Like fragmented DNA from mammoths and other animals trapped in permafrost, however, wood DNA can now be reconstructed. “Companies can prove the origin of their finished wood products, helping eliminate fraud,” he says.

Calling DNA “nature’s barcode”, DoubleHelix aims to set up genetic checkpoints where timber source paperwork can be verified throughout the supply chain. DNA databases will allow the timber’s true origin to be pinpointed with ever-greater accuracy.

Timber traces

At an in Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo, this week, the company – together with the International Timber Trade Organization (ITTO) – will unveil a genetic map of commercially logged tree species from the Congo river basin. The map will allow the DNA of timber traded from the region to be cross-checked against customs declarations.

The technique could be used to stop illegal wood products entering western markets. was amended in 2008 to impose stringent penalties for illegally trading timber, and similar legislation is due to come into force in Europe in 2013.

DoubleHelix’s DNA fingerprinting has already successfully matched genetic samples from felled tree stumps with processed wood leaving a sawmill. For degraded or fragmented DNA, a technique called polymerase chain reaction allows multiple copies to be made, which a computer can then match against a template of the sequenced genome for the tree species.

Checking corruption

Some forestry campaigners are enthusiastic. “DNA technology has the potential to play an important role in curbing illegal logging and the illicit trade in stolen timber,” says Julian Newman, campaigns director of the in London.

Others are more cautious. “This sounds like a positive development,” says Fiona Napier, associate director of London-based environmental and human rights campaigning body Global Witness, which has worked against illegal logging. “But it is worth remembering that any tracking system is only as good as the people running it. You need to tackle corruption and bad governance to prevent forest destruction rather than simply relying on technical solutions.”

It’s not all bad news in the world’s woodlands. The area of tropical forests that is sustainably managed is on the rise, according to a by the ITTO.