Key takeaways for TDUK members
Short on time? Read the key takeaways below, or scroll down for the full explainer on how chemical origin testing becomes reliable and usable in practice, starting with field sampling
Why this matters
In June 2025, field teams working with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) carried out targeted sampling of widely traded timber species in Cameroon to support the continued development of chemical timber origin testing. The samples collected are aimed to expand World Forest ID’s global reference library, strengthening the evidence base that gives confidence in its use alongside existing due diligence systems.
What chemical origin testing can (and can’t) do
Chemical origin testing provides independent verification of supplier origin claims by comparing the chemistry of a timber product against scientifically validated reference data. It is not a replacement for due diligence systems, but a targeted tool that can strengthen assurance where documentation alone may be insufficient – particularly in higher-risk supply chains, for high-risk species, or where additional verification is needed.
Why reference data matters
Crucially, chemical origin testing is only as reliable as the reference data behind it. Confidence in test results depends on samples being collected rigorously, across the right locations and species, and following robust scientific protocols. This fieldwork is about building that foundation – ensuring origin testing tools are credible, transparent and fit for purpose for industry use.
Regulatory relevance
While chemical testing is not mandated under the UK Timber Regulation or the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the EUDR explicitly permits the use of scientific testing for enforcement authorities, including chemical testing, when assessing companies’ compliance.
What this means for TDUK members
- Supports risk identification and mitigation in complex or high-risk supply chains
- Provides additional assurance alongside documentation, traceability systems and certification
- Particularly useful for high-risk species, new suppliers or regions with known challenges
“Chemical origin testing isn’t a silver bullet – but when used alongside strong due diligence systems, it can provide powerful additional assurance for responsible timber sourcing.” David Hopkins, Timber Development UK
Full explainer: Fieldwork in Cameroon – building the foundations for timber chemical origin testing
In June 2025, field teams working with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) carried out sampling work for widely traded timber species in Cameroon to strengthen the scientific foundations of timber chemical origin testing. This work is funded by Fondation Lombard Odier and the European Union through the ECO-SOLVE project, and delivered in partnership with ZSL, World Forest ID, Timber Development UK (TDUK) and Etifor.
The samples collected contribute to World Forest ID’s growing timber reference library, which underpins the ability to verify timber harvest locations and supports responsible sourcing and risk-based regulatory compliance.
Why Cameroon?
Cameroon is a key timber-producing country in the Congo Basin, supplying tropical timber to markets including the UK, EU and China. Forestry plays a major role in the national economy, but the sector also faces ongoing challenges linked to illegal logging, timber laundering and mis-declared origins.
In this context, scientific origin testing can provide an important additional layer of assurance, helping verify harvest locations, support enforcement, and build confidence in legal and sustainable supply chains.
Preparing for fieldwork
Before any samples could be collected, extensive groundwork was required. Sampling and exporting biological material are tightly regulated, particularly for CITES-listed species. ZSL’s local presence in Cameroon and established relationships with government authorities were critical in securing the necessary permissions at national, regional and local levels.
This preparation work is essential to ensure that the samples collected can be sent onwards to the laboratory for testing, without encountering any logistical issues.
What was sampled?
The fieldwork focused on three commercially important timber species identified by World Forest ID as having incomplete reference coverage:
- Milicia excelsa (Iroko) – One of Cameroon’s most widely exported species
- Afzelia bipindensis (Doussié) – Increasingly popular in the Asian market and CITES-listed
- Tectona grandis (Teak) – Primarily from plantations, with limited existing reference data
To build accurate reference models, samples must be collected from individual trees across wide geographic areas. Trees of the same species are sampled in small “pockets”, spaced tens of kilometres apart, before teams move long distances to the next location. In practice, this means only one or two trees of a given species can usually be sampled per day.
Sampling follows a strict methodology guided by experts at World Forest ID, ensuring samples are collected, handled and documented in a way that maintains scientific integrity and a clear chain of custody.
From concessions to community forests
Sampling took place in both industrial forestry concessions and community forests.
In concessions, timber companies provided access, inventory maps and logistical support. Local inventory managers accompanied the teams to confirm species identification before sampling. The condition of logging roads varied widely, often reflecting broader management practices.
Community forests posed different challenges. These areas are often accessible only on foot and require engagement with village leaders and local guides, whose detailed knowledge of individual trees is invaluable — particularly for culturally important species such as Iroko.
How samples are collected
Once a suitable tree is identified, sampling follows a strict protocol:
- Species confirmation and assessment
- Recording of key data, including diameter and GPS coordinates
- Collection of wood cores using a gas-powered drill, alongside sawdust and, where possible, a verification voucher such as a leaf
Each sample is carefully dried, packaged and labelled to prevent degradation in Cameroon’s humid climate.
Ensuring chain of custody
Each physical sample is assigned a unique ID, linking it to its location data, which is automatically recorded in the collections app. Samples are then shipped to a UK laboratory within the World Forest ID network, all of which are trained for its non-proprietary chemical testing methodologies.
This clear chain of custody is essential if results are to be relied upon for due diligence, enforcement or legal purposes.
Turning samples into usable data
Laboratories analyse samples using stable isotope ratios and multi-element analysis. World Forest ID then uses the resulting chemical data to build origin models that map how a species’ chemistry varies across its growing range.
The chemistry of a trade timber product can then be tested against this origin model to check whether its claimed country or region of origin is plausible. Results are provided as pass/fail outcomes, alongside probabilistic assessments, helping users understand both likelihood and uncertainty.
Why this matters for industry
While chemical testing is not mandated under regulations such as the UK Timber Regulation or the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the EUDR explicitly permits enforecement authorities to use scientific testing, including chemical testing, when assessing compliance.
Crucially, the reliability and evidential value of chemical testing depends on the quality, integrity and geographic coverage of the underlying reference data – reinforcing the importance of well-designed field sampling campaigns such as this.
For TDUK members, scientific origin testing is not a replacement for existing due diligence systems, but a targeted tool that can be deployed where risks are higher, documentation is weaker, or additional verification is needed.
What this means for TDUK members
- Supports risk identification and mitigation in complex or high-risk supply chains
- Provides additional assurance alongside documentation, traceability systems and certification
- Particularly useful for high-risk species, new suppliers, or regions with known challenges
- This project is expanding the reference data that makes these tools more reliable and usable in practice
“Chemical origin testing isn’t a silver bullet, but when used alongside strong due diligence systems, it can provide powerful additional assurance for responsible timber sourcing.” David Hopkins, Timber Development UK
What’s next?
The Cameroon fieldwork is one step in a wider programme that will also extend to the Republic of Congo. Further articles will explore how this data is used in practice, including collaboration with timber importers to test real-world samples.
For TDUK members, this work highlights how science, governance and practical due diligence can work together to support legal and sustainable timber trade. If you’d like to learn more about chemical origin testing or are interested in participating in future pilot testing, please contact the TDUK sustainability team.
