The mission of the NAFC ad hoc Illegal Logging Working Group is to facilitate exchange of information on matters pertaining to illegal logging and associated trade, to wood identification science and relevant emerging technologies; and to advance trilateral collaboration for the purpose of combating illegal logging and maintaining legal trade of forest products within North America.
Research, guidelines, and tools that advance the legal trade of forest products.
Timber Sample Collection Expedition:USDA-FS, UNAM and INECC collected 87 timber samples across southern Mexico, including Dalbergia spp. A subset of the samples were sent to the USDA Forest Service Wood Identification and Screening Center (WISC) to be included in the reference database there. Another subset of vouchered wood samples was sent to the Canadian Forest Service (CFS) in Quebec City and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) laboratory in North Vancouver for inclusion in their xylarium/reference database.
As part of the global effort to combat illegal logging and associated trade, the Forest Service International Programs Wood Identification & Screening Center (WISC) provides wood identification services to the United States government.
Working group members developed a joint work plan and discussed topics of mutual interest. Held in Mexico City January 2024.
