Search Results (13)

The global supply chain of wood products plays a key role in sustainable development and climate resilience, but remains fragmented in the academic and technical literature. This systematic review aims to synthesize research published between 2000 and 2025 on wood products’ production, transformation, trade, governance, and sustainability. A comprehensive search was conducted in multiple databases and repositories, including Scopus, FAOSTAT, ScienceDirect, DOAJ, SciELO, CAPES, EMBRAPA, and AGNIC. A total of 784 records were identified and, after applying eligibility and deduplication criteria, 119 documents were included in the final synthesis. The results reveal key thematic trends, including the dynamics of international timber trade, certification and traceability systems, logistical challenges, digitalization, and integration of forest policies. Key gaps include limited inclusion of smallholders, low technology adoption in the Global South, and fragmented governance mechanisms. The results suggest that improving sustainability in global timber supply chains requires coordinated policy frameworks, technological investment, and inclusive market systems. This review contributes a consolidated overview and offers insights for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in the forestry sector. Full article

Digital intelligent supply chains strengthen industrial resilience and optimize economic efficiency in the timber industry. Information asymmetry and low collaboration efficiency remain key challenges across the timber supply chain. This study develops a three-party evolutionary game model examining digital collaboration between timber production and processing enterprises, finished product distribution and retail enterprises, and third-party service providers, introducing third-party service providers alongside traditional production and distribution enterprises. The model incorporates novel parameters including information sharing degree, value-added reliability gains, and free-riding coefficients to reflect real-world circumstances. Through equilibrium simulation and analysis, we identify four possible evolutionary states. The results demonstrate that successful digital collaboration in timber supply chains relies on three conditions: a high level of initial stakeholder involvement accelerates the formation of supply chain digital intelligent collaborative mechanisms, equitable benefit distribution maintains long-term cooperation, and integrated third-party services reduce implementation costs while improving information reliability. These findings provide a new perspective and reference for timber enterprises to implement digital transformation strategies. Full article

In general, bark serves a protective role for trees and is genetically determined. The quantification of bark based on biometric characteristics is linked to studies on the distribution of forest species across the globe and vegetation fires. In Romania, on the other hand, the improvement of the wood traceability system requires an increase in the accuracy of the estimation of the biometric characteristics of bark and, implicitly, of the volume of wood under the bark. The aim of this study was to develop more precise models for predicting bark thickness along the stem of three key Romanian species, taking into account a comprehensive range of models and stem sections, including those with a diameter over bark smaller than 8 cm, which have been excluded in previous studies. The study is based on two datasets, one containing the national measurements of three commercially valuable forest species, i.e., Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst), European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), and pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) from 12,186 trees, and a second dataset containing the measurements from 61 logs of the same species at a specific forest site. A set of seven double bark thickness (DBT) estimation models with stem diameter over bark (DOB), DOB and total tree height (H), DOB and relative height along the stem (h/H), and diameter over bark at breast height (DBH) and DOB as predictors were used. The DBT models were evaluated using the coefficient of determination (R²), mean absolute error (MAE), root mean squared error (RMSE), the Akaike information criterion (AIC), and the Bayesian information criterion (BIC). This led to the selection of two more accurate models, Model 2 (based on a third-degree polynomial) and Model 3 (based on a logarithmic function), with DOB as the predictor. Relative double bark thickness (RDBT) and proportion of bark area (PBA) were also estimated using a sixth-degree polynomial and relative height as a predictor variable after stratifying the data by DBH classes to reduce variability. The results of this study indicate that there is a need to complete the database, for all three forest species of commercial value in Romania especially for large trees with DBH greater than 60–70 cm. The models obtained for PBA are of great use to the industry and the economy, in particular in the context of the traceability of wood. This is due to the fact that PBA can be equated with the proportion of bark volume (PBV), which describes the variation in the proportion of bark in the volume of the wood assortments along the stem. For a given DBH, PBA and PBV demonstrate minimal variability in sections from the tree’s base to a relative height of 0.6; however, a pronounced increase is observed at crown level in sections above relative heights of 0.8. Full article

(1) The early assessment of wood quality, even while trees are standing, provides significant benefits for forest management, sales efficiency, and market diversification. Its definition cannot be in absolute terms but must always be linked to the material’s intended use. (2) In this contribution, a review of the scientific literature is given to discuss the visually evaluable attributes that define wood quality in standing trees, the applicability of the techniques used for their assessment, and the effectiveness of these attributes and technologies in predicting quality, to finally highlight future research needs. (3) The visual characteristics generally used to evaluate wood quality are linked to stem form and dimension, branchiness, and stem damage, but their assessment is challenging due to time and resource constraints. To address these challenges, laser-based and image-based techniques have been applied in field surveys. (4) Laser scanners offer detailed and accurate measurements. Photogrammetry, utilizing images to reconstruct 3D models, provides a cost-effective and user-friendly alternative. Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of these tools in surveying the visible properties of stems and branches, but further development is necessary for widespread application, particularly in software development, with faster and more effective algorithmic advancements for automatic recognition and subsequent measurement of pertinent characteristics being critical for enhancing tool usability. (5) However, predicting wood quality from these surveys remains challenging, with a limited correlation between the visible tree characteristics assessed and the sawn product quality. Empirical studies evaluating products downstream in the forest-wood supply chain could provide valuable insights. In this sense, the implementation of traceability systems could facilitate the linkage between data on standing trees and the quality of the sawn product. Also, further research is needed to develop models that can accurately predict internal tree characteristics and their impact on product quality. Full article

The research into and applications of wood origin traceability technology are of great significance for promoting the standardization and legality of the global timber trade. This paper focuses on analyzing the content of ten mineral elements and the ratios of stable isotopes δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N in ash samples. Furthermore, multivariate statistical analysis was conducted to assess the clusters and differences in mineral elements, as well as δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N, among the samples, for identifying the different factors used to trace the origin of ash imported from different regions. Through unsupervised clustering and supervised discriminant modeling, a highly accurate method for discriminant analysis was developed. The results reveal significant differences (p < 0.05) in the contents of Mg, Cu, and Sr, as well as δ¹⁵N, between European and American samples. Additionally, the normalized results of mineral elements and isotope ratios were then subjected to partial least squares–discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), resulting in the highest level of separation. This analysis achieved an overall accuracy of 96.2% in discriminating between samples of European and American ash. The chemometrics analysis method integrating stable isotope analysis with elemental analysis exhibited potential for discriminating between samples from European and American ash. Full article

Traceability is the ability to follow the processes that a raw material or product goes through. For forestry, this means identifying the wood from the standing tree to the mill entrance and recording all information about the technical (production) and spatial (transportation) manipulation of the timber by linking it to the ID. We reviewed the literature for developments in timber flow traceability. Findings range from disillusionment with the non-application of available forestry technology to enthusiasm for the advancement of technology that—given appropriate incentives of an economic, environmental, consumer-oriented and legislative nature—can rapidly lead to widespread end-to-end media-interruption-free implementation. Based on our research, the solution lies in optical biometric systems that identify the individual piece of wood—without attaching anything—at three crucial points: during assortment at the skid road, at the forest road and at the mill entrance. At all of these points, the data accruing during the timber supply process must be linked to the ID of the piece of wood via data management. Full article

The present study is focused on revealing a characteristic kink of the neutron shell closure N = 126 across the Hg-isotopic chain within the relativistic mean-field (RMF) approach with the IOPB-I, DD-ME2, DD-PC1 and NL3 parameter sets. The RMF densities are converted to their spherical equivalence via the Wood–Saxon approximation and used as input within the parametrization procedure of the coherent density fluctuation model (CDFM). The nuclear matter symmetry energy is calculated using the Brückner energy density functional, and its surface, as well as volume components, are evaluated within Danielwicz’s liquid drop prescription. In addition, a comparison between Brückner and relativistic energy density functionals using the NL3 parameter set is shown as a representative case. The binding energy, charge distribution radius and symmetry energy are used as indicators of the isotopic shift in both ground and isomeric states. We have found the presence of a kink at the shell/sub-shell closure at N = 126 for neutron-rich ${}^{206}$Hg. The formation of the kink is traceable to the early filling of the 1$i_{11/2}$ orbitals rather than 2$g_{9/2}$, due to the large spin-orbit splitting. As such, the link between the occupational probability and the magicity of nuclei over the Hg-isotopic chain is established. Full article

Pine wilt disease is a devastating forest disaster caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, which has brought inestimable economic losses to the world’s forestry due to lack of effective prevention and control measures. In this paper, a porous structure CuBTC was designed to deliver avermectin (AM) and a control vector insect Japanese pine sawyer (JPS) of B. xylophilus, which can improve the biocompatibility, anti-photolysis and delivery efficacy of AM. The results illustrated the cumulative release of pH-dependent AM@CuBTC was up to 12 days (91.9%), and also effectively avoided photodegradation (pH 9.0, 120 h, retention 69.4%). From the traceable monitoring experiment, the AM@CuBTC easily penetrated the body wall of the JPS larvae and was transmitted to tissue cells though contact and diffusion. Furthermore, AM@CuBTC can effectively enhance the cytotoxicity and utilization of AM, which provides valuable research value for the application of typical plant-derived nerve agents in the prevention and control of forestry pests. AM@CuBTC as an environmentally friendly nanopesticide can efficiently deliver AM to the larval intestines where it is absorbed by the larvae. AM@CuBTC can be transmitted to the epidemic wood and dead wood at a low concentration (10 mg/L). Full article

Blockchain applications have received a lot of attention in recent years. They provide enormous benefits and advantages to many different sectors. To date, there have not been any systematic studies comprehensively reviewing current blockchain-based applications in the forestry sector. This paper examines published work on blockchain-based applications in the forestry sector. A systematic review was conducted to identify, analyze, and discuss current literature on current blockchain applications deployed (and/or proposed) in the forestry sector, grouping results into three domains of forest management, traceability of forest-based products, and forest fire detection based on content analysis. The analyses highlight reported benefits, opportunities, and challenges of blockchain applications in the forestry sector. The study results show that blockchain has great potential in sustainable forestry, minimizing illegal logging, conserving biodiversity, and many other areas in forestry. It also shows that blockchain in forestry is still immature and complex, since it requires specialists to adopt. This paper contributes towards filling the existing research gap through this systematic review on blockchain applications in forestry. This review offers insights into a deep understanding of blockchain applications for managers, practitioners, and consultants interested in forestry. The paper identifies existing research gaps on related topics of blockchain applications in forestry and makes recommendations on potential future directions for research into blockchain in forestry. Full article

Social networks have become increasingly popular lately, being a complementary method of expression and communication. With the adoption of quarantine and social distancing imposed by the authorities as measures to limit the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, society has used the opportunity offered by digital technology to continue its concern related to the protection and conservation of the environment, especially the forest. The purpose of this study was to highlight the public interest regarding the forests in the context of COVID-19, especially the extent to which public opinion expressed on social networks has determined public forest management policies. The results revealed a major interest in preserving biodiversity and forestry, in reducing legal logging and stopping illegal logging, and monitoring of timber shipments as measures to combat illegal logging. During the analyzed period (i.e., 1 February 2020 to 31 July 2020), several legislative acts were adopted that overlap with the requests and needs identified by environmental organizations, acts that address the issue of illegal logging, conservation, and protection of the forest, monitoring the traceability of wood. The legislation adopted in the analyzed timeframe and shortly after responded to several major topics related to the licensing and withdrawal of the logging license for illegal logging, amending the legislation for the conservation of biodiversity and the classification of areas with virgin forests as strictly protected forests. An IT system has also been implemented by the government environmental authority that allows the supervision of timber transport, offering the possibility of active involvement of civil society. Full article

Digitalization and its associated technology are shaping the world economy and society. Data collection, data exchange, and connection throughout the wood supply chain have become increasingly important. There exist many technologies for the implementation of Industry 4.0 applications in forestry. For example, the integration of harvester production data throughout the wood supply chain seems to have strong optimization potential but it is faced with several challenges due to the high number of stakeholders involved. Therefore, the objective of this article is to analyze the legal, social, and economic conditions surrounding the integration of harvester production data integration in Germany. For analysis of the legal and economic conditions, a narrative literature analysis was performed with special consideration of the relevant German and European legal references. For determination of the social conditions, a qualitative content analysis of 27 expert interviews was performed. Results showed that legal ownership of harvester production data cannot be clearly defined in Germany, but there exist several protection rights against misuse, which can define an ownership-similar data sovereignty. Furthermore, harvester data use can be restricted in the case where personal data are traceable, based on European data protection law. From a social perspective, the stakeholders interviewed in the study had different opinions on data ownership. Stakeholders require specific criteria on the data (interfaces) and other factors for the acceptance of new structures to allow successful harvester data integration. From an economic perspective, harvester production data are tradeable through varying transaction forms but, generally, there is no accepted and valid formula in existence for calculating the value or price of harvester data. Therefore, the authors advise discussing these issues with key stakeholders to negotiate and agree on data ownership and use in order to find a suitable solution to realize optimization potentials in the German wood supply chain. Full article

Traceability of natural resources, from the cradle to the final product is a crucial issue to secure sustainable material usage as well as to optimize and control processes over the whole supply chain. In the forest products industries the material can be tracked by different technologies, but for the first step of material flow, from the forest to the industry, no systematic and complete technology has been developed. On the way to close this data gap the fingerprint technology for wooden logs looks promising. It uses inherent properties of a wood stem for identification. In this paper hyperspectral cameras are applied to gain images of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) log end faces in different spectral ranges. The images are converted to a biometric template of feature vectors and a matching algorithm is used to evaluate if the biometric templates are similar or not. Based on this, matching scores specific spectral ranges which contain information to distinguish between different log end faces are identified. The method developed in this paper is a necessary and successful step to define scanning system parameters for fingerprint recognition systems for wood log traceability from the forest. Full article

This is the first work to introduce the use of blockchain technology for the electronic traceability of wood from standing tree to final user. Infotracing integrates the information related to the product quality with those related to the traceability [physical and digital documents (Radio Frequency IDentification—RFID—architecture)] within an online information system whose steps (transactions) can be made safe to evidence of alteration through the blockchain. This is a decentralized and distributed ledger that keeps records of digital transactions in such a way that makes them accessible and visible to multiple participants in a network while keeping them secure without the need of a centralized certification organism. This work implements a blockchain architecture within the wood chain electronic traceability. The infotracing system is based on RFID sensors and open source technology. The entire forest wood supply chain was simulated from standing trees to the final product passing through tree cutting and sawmill process. Different kinds of Internet of Things (IoT) open source devices and tags were used, and a specific app aiming the forest operations was engineered to collect and store in a centralized database information (e.g., species, date, position, dendrometric and commercial information). Full article