World Forest ID

World Forest ID was created in 2017 by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the World Resources Institute, the United States Forestry Service, Agroisolab and the Forest Stewardship Council, bringing together expertise in science, traceability, and forestry to create a new approach to species and origin verification for forest risk commodities, including timber. Initially a consortium project, World Forest ID became an independent US-based non-profit in 2021, with a continued focus on creating comprehensive reference data and unique origin models to enable traceable and transparent forest-connected supply chains.

World Forest ID is building a unique open-access tool that can be used by a diverse array of actors. It can support enforcement officials in identifying illicitly harvested commodities or those originating from areas of active conflict, thereby aiding the implementation of international environmental and trade regulations, enforcement of sanctions, and prosecution of environmental crimes. Civil society organizations will be able to use it to hold companies accountable. Responsible industry actors can enhance the integrity of their supply chains, comply with established regulation and emerging voluntary measures, increase sustainable, transparent, and ethical practices, and reassure consumers.

Utilizing machine learning to combine data derived from the chemical analysis of geolocated physical reference samples with other environmental datasets and satellite imagery, World Forest ID’s output is a comprehensive spatial reference model against which samples of traded products can be tested to verify or challenge their claimed harvest origin. As of May 2024, 35,000 physical reference samples of 378 plant species have been collected, covering a growing number of forest risk commodities, including timber, soy, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, and rubber.

World Forest ID currently has samples from 48 countries, where they have partnered with local organizations, indigenous groups, and trained local collectors. The organization is supported by a diverse set of donors, including governments, philanthropies, and responsible companies, as well as a large network of global partners including universities, scientific institutions, NGOs, and private companies. 

The role of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is as a central hub for the World Forest ID collection. Samples are shipped from all over the world to Kew, where they go through a quarantine process and are accessioned and curated. At Kew, the samples also undergo anatomical analysis and images are taken to strengthen the Xylotron database. Subsamples are taken and shipped out to the corresponding labs for chemical and biological analysis.

Kew Programme Leader

Paul Wilkin

Kew Team

Cady Lancaster
Caspar Chater
Francesca Ablett
Henry Jennings 
Lauren Phelan
Peter Gasson
Roi Moar
Sarah Wilson
 

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra)

The World Forest ID project has been featured on:

c&en
Forensic researchers use mass spectrometry to identify smuggled wood

International Consortium of Investigative Journalists 
New Justice Department-led task force pledges global crackdown on illegal timber trade

Miami Herald FLORIDA 
After Herald report, feds move to curb trade in timber used by some Florida boat suppliers

National Geographic 
The ‘timber detectives’ on the front lines of illegal wood trade New York Times New Method That Pinpoints Wood’s Origin May Curb Illegal Timber The Times COP26: Kew’s library of trees will help track illegal loggers