CFS has initiated a wood identification research project in partnership with Environment and Climate Change Canada and other Canadian and international organizations. The long-term objective is the creation of a Centre of Expertise in Wood Identification within the Government of Canada, including forensic analysis capacity and research to develop and contribute to novel wood identification techniques, methodologies and guides. These include, for example, a new field identification guide for imported species in Canada, image recognition (XyloTron) and mass spectrometry (DART-MS and GC-MS).
Knowledge products include: scientific publications, training and screening tools for enforcement officers, synthesis of data on legacy wood sample collections in Canada; development and expansion of reference databases for species identification (genomic and chemical signatures, wood anatomy, etc.); increased anatomical and microscopic wood identification capacity and; application of geo-referenced genomics data for Canadian tree species.
The project focuses on exotic and CITES-listed species, but attention will be paid to native tree species which closely resemble CITES-listed species.
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