Genomische barcoding als een hulpmiddel om illegaal gekapte Afrikaanse bomen te traceren en te identificeren

The increase in demand for timber occurring since the mid 20th century as well as the enhancement of harvesting and processing technologies, and the transportation network, resulted in the loss of huge forest areas, with a negative impact on the forest ecosystem and the global biodiversity in the tropics. Up to 90% of the annual timber volume is obtained through illegal logging activities in Central Africa. Traditional taxonomic methods, including the visual and microscopic analysis of wood samples and reproductive organs, do not often allow to discriminate closely-related species and individuals at sub-species level. For this reason, plant DNA barcodes including genetic markers in the plastid genome and nuclear ribosomal genome were developed, resulting in the increase in the identification of many plant species. However, these markers are not suitable for the identification of a broad range of plant species. Therefore, the challenge for the plant research consists of the development of novel DNA barcoding and sequencing technologies for the universal identification of plant species. This will be essential to reduce the impact of illegal logging activities on the plant biodiversity in the tropics. The purpose of the project consists of the development costeffective high-throughput sequencing technologies for the fast and reliable identification of illegal logged Central African tree species in the framework of CITES and EU Timber Regulation. Firstly, the genome skimming by shotgun sequencing technique will be performed to produce a genetic reference database including the plastid genome of commercial timber species of interest for the international trade. Then, species-specific DNA barcodes will be produced and molecular protocols for wood analysis will be optimised. Finally, we will perform a population genetics approach to identify polymorphisms in some of the most important commercial timber species, in order to establish the origin and provenance of wood samples under the international trade. These findings will be use as an instrument for the enforcement of the forestry regulation and the inclusion of these species in the CITES appendices.