Bogor, July 26, 2025 — Indonesia is advancing the use of wood identification technology to strengthen its timber traceability system. Through the Center for Sustainable Forest Development (P2HB), the Ministry of Forestry is promoting stronger collaboration among research institutions, academia, industry, and law enforcement agencies to improve the accuracy and scientific reliability of timber identification.
The initiative was highlighted during a consultation meeting entitled “The Use of Wood Identification Technology to Support Timber Traceability,” held in Bogor on July 25, 2025. The meeting was led by Gun Gun Hidayat, Head of P2HB, and attended by representatives from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), IPB University, the World Resources Institute (WRI), as well as academics and forestry industry practitioners.
The meeting was held in response to the growing need for a more accurate and scientifically accountable timber traceability system. In his opening remarks, the Head of P2HB emphasized that accurate wood identification plays an important role in strengthening sustainable timber administration and supporting responsible forest governance.
The Xylarium Bogoriense, managed by P2HB, has an extensive collection of authenticated wood specimens that provides an important reference for wood identification. Future training programs are therefore planned to be centered at the Xylarium Bogoriense, making use of its existing facilities and infrastructure. Previous training programs have also been conducted in collaboration with Customs and Excise authorities and industry stakeholders, including Sucofindo.
Dr. Ratih Damayanti, Director of the Directorate of Environmental, Maritime, Natural Resources and Nuclear Energy Policy at BRIN, explained that wood identification training currently remains largely limited to the genus level and has yet to consistently distinguish species with a high degree of accuracy. She cited the genus Shorea as an example, which comprises more than 90 species with highly similar anatomical characteristics. Wood taxonomy is also continuously evolving, with classifications including Rubroshorea for red meranti, Anthoshorea for white meranti, Richetia for yellow meranti, and Shorea for the balau group. This complexity can create challenges for the forestry industry in accurately identifying timber species. Strengthening human resource capacity and knowledge of wood identification is therefore important, not only for law enforcement agencies but also for industry practitioners.
WRI highlighted the importance of strengthening connections between researchers and law enforcement agencies, particularly in legal cases requiring scientific evidence to establish the origin of timber. WRI also expressed its commitment to supporting capacity building and expanding the dissemination of wood identification technology and training to a wider range of stakeholders.
Meanwhile, academics from IPB University presented their work on DNA-based technologies and DART-TOF-MS for wood identification, including field sampling techniques and the development of DNA databases for three major timber species. BRIN also highlighted its contribution through wood anatomical analysis and the application of stable isotope techniques, supported by relevant infrastructure and laboratory facilities.
The consultation marked the beginning of a multi-stakeholder collaboration to strengthen Indonesia’s timber traceability system through an integrated scientific approach. Through P2HB, Indonesia seeks to bring together scientific expertise, reference collections, technological innovation, and stakeholder capacity to establish a timber traceability system that is more transparent and accountable, while supporting sustainable forest management.