Improving Biodiversity with the Timber Tracking Project

For decades, environmentalists have been concerned with an illegal practice little known to the mainstream; the illegal logging and timber trade is among the most concerning human activities directly contributing to climate change and a progressive loss in biodiversity around the world. As the global population grows, so does the demand for products made from timber, from building materials to paper. With growing demand comes growth in industry, and when not closely monitored and regulated, the flourishing of illegal trade practices can wreak havoc on the industry and our environment.

In a recent article, I shared about my recent accession to the advisory board of Adventure Scientists, an organization that addresses critical human and environmental health challenges by bringing together the outdoor adventure community with global environmental scientists. In 2018, Adventure Scientists developed a pilot program to address the devastating global environmental and human impacts of the illegal trade in timber.

It is estimated that up to 30% of all timber on the international market has been illegally sourced, leaving behind dangerous ecological and social consequences for the global economy. Trees help improve our air and soil quality and enhance growth diversity by providing shelter for many species of plants and animals.

The Timber Tracking Project began in 2018 with a group of volunteer adventurers and scientists tracking, tagging, and collecting samples of the Bigleaf Maple in its natural habitat along the Pacific Northwest coast of the U.S. and Canada. During this pilot mission, volunteers tracked over 2,300 miles in the name of protecting the Bigleaf Maple from being illegally traded.

The Bigleaf Maple is an attractive tree to timber thieves due to its intricate wood-grain patterns. The timber is used to make a variety of luxury goods such as furniture, dashboards, and electric guitars. According to the Timber Tracking Project’s 2018 Report, illegally harvested timber remains incredibly difficult to identify. It may be mixed in with shipments of other timber and presented as an entirely separate species. The data collection process developed to protect the Bigleaf Maple helps to identify specific species via analyzing the harvest locations of these trees. Upon doing so, the project creates reference libraries of sequenced DNA for each species to support the successful prosecution of timber poachers.

The success of the 2018 pilot has brought in enough attention and funding for a second round of tracking. The current project includes a massive effort in the data collection of three species of trees, each facing unique conservation challenges.

The Coast Redwood, Western Redcedar, and Alaska Yellow-Cedar can be found from Alaska to Southern California, and east into Montana. Partnering with the U.S. Forest Service and Save the Redwoods League, the Timber Tracking Project has recruited volunteer adventurers and scientists to help preserve the biological and cultural value that these trees provide.

The data collected by this project will allow partners such as the U.S. Forest Service to track the movement of timber through supply chains. It will allow them and others to enforce anti-poaching regulations, improve sustainable management practices, identify sustainable conservation methods, and improve environmental planning procedures to reduce the negative effects of climate change.

Adventure Scientists and those affiliated with the organization are well-positioned to support and execute this type of work. The outdoor community understands the challenges and risks that come with venturing into the most remote, desolate places on the planet. They understand nature and how to survive when faced with harsh conditions and are more than capable of following the strict protocols needed in generating scientific data. By sending volunteer adventurers into these remote areas to identify certain species and capture detailed information, the organization can address and improve environmental and human health challenges affecting our world today.

To learn more about the Timber Tracking Project and its parent organization, Adventure Scientists, please visit www.adventurescientists.org.