Using methods of DNA-analysis in the examination of the illegal timber trade

Abstract

Illegal timber harvesting and traffic is one of the most pressing environmental and economic problems worldwide. According to some estimates, between 15 to 30 % of the world’s timber market are of illegal origin. At present it is becoming increasingly important to conduct an independent examination to confirm the legality of the origin of forest products. One of the effective approaches that allow such verification is genetic analysis. This paper presents the results of genetic examination of 34 timber samples of Scots pine Pinus sylvestris L., collected in the framework of a model experiment from the logged area and from the timber storage site. Genetic analysis was performed on the basis of ten microsatellite loci of DNA. Electrophoretic separation of amplification products was carried out in a polyacrylamide gel. The images indicating the identity or difference in DNA of timber samples collected from the logged area and timber samples collected from timber storage site were obtained by gel electrophoresis. 26 combinations of multilocus genotypes were identified in the analysis. Four variants of the genotypes indicated the identity of timber samples collected from the logged area and timber samples collected from the timber storage site. Thus, within the framework of this experiment the efficiency of using the methods of molecular genetic analysis of timber samples to determine the degree of their identity is confirmed. It was revealed that the microsatellite loci of DNA (SSR-analysis) can reliably verify the place of origin of samples. The results of these works can be used to create a national system of harvested timber control and identification of forest products.

Keywords

• genetic studies
• microsatellites
• Scots pine
• illegally harvested timber