18.140 - 18.143 & 16.58 (Rev. CoP18) Identification of timber and other wood products

The Plants Committee shall, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and building on information on existing initiatives:
a) determine gaps and complementarities in various tools and knowledge sources for timber identification, such as existing field identification guidelines and keys, and on their availability and usefulness;
b) develop standardized information templates and other tools that could be used by Parties to facilitate sharing information on the content and status of wood sample collections, and exchange with research institutions, law enforcement agencies, and other authorities;
c) assist Parties to identify existing laboratory services for the identification of timber and wood products and to strengthen screening and forensic capacity to identify CITES- listed tree species in trade;
d) determine methods to stimulate global, regional and national exchange of best practices in wood identification technologies between Parties; and
e) update the Standing Committee, as appropriate, on progress made on the implementation of Decisions 18.140 to 18.142; and report its findings and recommendations for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its 19th meeting.

Parties are encouraged to collaborate with the Plants Committee, with relevant stakeholders and with existing initiatives in the implementation of Decision 18.140, by:
a) working with institutions having wood identification expertise, in order to share information related to timber identification methods, tools and protocols for enforcement and customs officers;
b) identifying existing laboratory services for the identification of timber and wood products, and strengthening screening and forensic capacity to identify CITES-listed tree species in trade;
c) identifying effective wood identification training methods, tools and protocols for enforcement and customs officers;
d) prioritizing the species of rosewoods and palisanders that would most benefit from the development of timber identification tools, protocols and materials; and
e) reporting information on existing laboratories, effective wood identification training methods, tools and protocols for enforcement and customs officers, and the priority species of rosewoods and palisanders to the Plants Committee.

The Secretariat shall:
a) liaise with organizations having relevant expertise on timber identification, including the Global Timber Tracking Network (GTTN), the International Association of Wood Anatomists (IAWA), the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), Thünen Centre of Competence on the Origin of Timber, the European Forest Institute (EFI), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the World Resources Institute (WRI) to identify shared priorities, in consultation with the Plants Committee, including priority species, emerging techniques, standardized procedures, and collection and sharing of wood samples applicable to timber tracking tools;
b) make the currently available guidance on wood identification accessible to Parties through the CITES website; and
c) report to the Plants Committee on progress with the implementation of this Decision.