Professor of IPB Created the Technology of Wood Chain of Custody Based on DNA
Logging and trade of illegal timber had evolved into organized crime and hard to trace. Method of marking the origin of the wood with label, chisel or nail, was proved to be easily manipulated. Therefore, it was developed the method of proving that was not easily manipulated using DNA genetic resources stored in wood.
Professor of Faculty of Forestry, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), Prof. Dr. Iskandar Z. Siregar, explained his findings in the form of the technology of Wood Chain of Custody Based on DNA in his Scientific Oration in Auditorium of Andi Hakim Nasoetion, Campus of IPB Dramaga Bogor (9/4). DNA which was extracted, isolated and amplified of wood (log) was unique so that it could be used to track the flow of wood by comparing the information of DNA of wood investigated wih the wood data base of DNA in the place of of origin.
“The DNA information can be integrated on the wood administration system such as labeling with the barcodes,” he said.
In his speech entitled “Peranan Genetika Hutan dalam Silvikultur / Role of Forest Genetics in Silviculture”, Prof. Iskandar said that the genetic variation of forestry was the fundamental component of biodiversity which should be managed based on the knowledge.
According to him, there were several potential applications of forest genetics research results such as the designation of stands of ex situ conservation and utilization, the rescue of endangered species, the designation of the area of seed sources for meranti species that spread widely based on the delineation of genetic type, the reconstruction of clone in the seed garden in the community forest and the forensic forestry.
“One example of community forest trees which store genetic variation is a kind of sengon (Falcataria moluccana). Forest genetics research can also be utillized to anticipate the negative impact as a result of the forest management intervention for example the genetic implication of the decline of felling diameter limit, the limited use of seeds of specific clones, and the incident of the inbreeding due to forest fragmentation,” he said.(zul)
