Using a unique combination of old-fashioned field work and sophisticated computer modeling, scientists in Sweden have found a way to trace a single beam of lumber to the forest in Europe where it originated. The new method could significantly curb the sale of Russian timber in the EU amid surging demand, with 60% accuracy in identifying correctly labeled samples.
The researchers collected 900 wood samples from 11 countries in Eastern Europe, analyzing their chemical composition and feeding the data into a machine learning model. The model could predict the geographic origin of the samples and narrow it down to a 125-mile radius with high precision, even identifying incorrectly labeled samples.
The method, described in the Nature Plants journal, was commended by Naren Ramakrishnan, a data scientist at Virginia Tech, for its technical solidity. It contributes to combating the illegal trade of Russian lumber in the EU and holds promise in accurately determining lumber origins.
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