Discover the technology that contributes to strength the legal timber route

Posted on 30 March 2023

In the Peruvian Amazon there are more than 4,700 tree species, and approximately 670 are timber-yielding forest species. But only about 5 of those are exploited. That generates overexploitation of commercialized species. This situation is worse, because of the illegality of timber in Peru which reaches 37%, according to the latest study developed by the United States Forest Service. The laundering of highly valued species such as cedar and mahogany, also contribute to that situation.

Although bad forestry practices are penalized, there are still gaps to be resolved. For this reason, it is necessary to prevent and generate traceability tools to improve existing controls. WWF Peru has been supporting programs such as Forest Guides since 2019, which promote the correct land management for local communities. It also sensitizes people about the importance of maintaining control over the use of resources. That knowledge is later disseminated in the localities where they live.

In addition, another challenge is to improve regulations at checkpoints, places where operators check the wood on its way to the market. All of this, in order to ensure its legal origin and to prevent illegal timber trafficking. It is key to contribute to the strengthening of an innovative technological tool that facilitates the correct identification of species, called Xylotron.

The Xylotrón is an electronic device, developed by CITEMadera, which is in promotion stage for its use by the private sector and the authorities. It consists of an electronic artificial vision magnifying glass capable of detecting a wide variety of timber species, just by scanning a sample of wood. “Each tree species has a unique pattern that makes it identifiable, but some patterns to the naked eye can be very similar. With this technology, the identification of each species is easier, which undoubtedly strengthens the wood traceability system in Peru.” remarked Alonso Córdova, Forests and Indigenous Affairs Specialist in WWF-Peru.

Xylotron has software that allows comparing the wood sample with the database of different forest species worldwide, and pointing out species that are misclassified or that may have been illegally deforested, in real time. The device implementation will give the forests a breather and will facilitate the work that the State has been doing.

Inter-institutional cooperation for sustainable wood management

At the beginning of April of last year, WWF Peru and the ITP through CITEmadera Lima, signed an inter-institutional cooperation agreement in order to strengthen and improve capacities, scientific research, collaboration and development of projects in the sector. forest.

Some of the results of the agreement is the updating of the species bank of the Xylotron tool. Thus, together with the CITE Forestal Maynas and the IMASA forestry concession, the collection of samples of the most critical commercialization species, is being developed. That will increase the identification database of the Xylotron.