

Origin, tested.
World Forest ID builds the science and tools to check where timber and other forest-linked commodities really come from, providing independent evidence to verify sourcing claims and support responsible producers
World Forest ID builds the science and tools to check where timber and other forest-linked commodities really come from, providing independent evidence to verify sourcing claims and support responsible producers
World Forest ID builds the science and tools to check where timber and other forest-linked commodities really come from, providing independent evidence to verify sourcing claims and support responsible producers

How origin testing works
How origin testing works



Product sample
Plants carry chemical signatures influenced by where they grow. A product sample is collected, along with its declared species or genus and harvest origin.
Chemical analysis
Laboratories measure the sample’s isotopes and elements to establish its chemical profile. The results are uploaded to World Forest ID’s Evaluation Platform for assessment.
Origin evaluation
Using known-origin reference data and spatial models, the platform assesses whether the chemical profile is consistent with the declared origin, producing a report of findings and limitations.

41%
of selected birch products we tested had incorrect harvest-origin claims, including certified timber.

84%
of 31 retail shrimp products tested did not match their declared country of origin.

261tonnes
of Russian-origin timber were identified in a Belgian investigation into sanctions breaches. Forensic testing drew on World Forest ID reference data.

41%
of selected birch products we tested had incorrect harvest-origin claims, including certified timber.

41%
of selected birch products we tested had incorrect harvest-origin claims, including certified timber.

84%
of 31 retail shrimp products tested did not match their declared country of origin.

261tonnes
of Russian-origin timber were identified in a Belgian investigation into sanctions breaches. Forensic testing drew on World Forest ID reference data.

41%
of selected birch products we tested had incorrect harvest-origin claims, including certified timber.

41%
of selected birch products we tested had incorrect harvest-origin claims, including certified timber.

84%
of 31 retail shrimp products tested did not match their declared country of origin.

261tonnes
of Russian-origin timber were identified in a Belgian investigation into sanctions breaches. Forensic testing drew on World Forest ID reference data.

41%
of selected birch products we tested had incorrect harvest-origin claims, including certified timber.
Independent evidence built through global collaboration
Independent evidence built through global collaboration
Independent evidence built through global collaboration


Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation / Defra / IKEA / Kingfisher / NEXT / FSC / Meise Botanic Garden / USDA APHIS / Mulago Foundation / Climate and Land Use Alliance / ZSL / American Hardwood Export Council
RESEARCH FUNDING: The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation funded research into verifying the origins of farmed shrimp and is now supporting World Forest ID's expansion into cattle. This new research aims to connect farm and animal samples with origin claims for beef, leather and collagen.
Visit Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation↗GOVERNMENT RESEARCH: Defra funded reference collections in Eastern Europe that underpin World Forest ID's peer-reviewed birch origin model, developed in response to the trade in sanctioned Russian and Belarusian timber. Its continuing support is extending reference collections, industry testing and practical applications.
Visit Defra↗REFERENCE DATA & TESTING: IKEA invested in expanding European birch reference data and helped develop World Forest ID's sample-collection tools. It also uses forensic wood testing within its sourcing processes to independently check suppliers' declared harvest origins.
Visit IKEA↗SUPPLY-CHAIN DUE DILIGENCE: Kingfisher has provided funding and worked with World Forest ID to integrate chemical origin testing into timber supply-chain due diligence. The collaboration focuses on identifying higher-risk suppliers and using independent scientific evidence alongside documentation and supply-chain mapping.
Visit Kingfisher↗RETAIL TESTING: NEXT has worked with World Forest ID since 2024 to test birch and oak products and check their declared harvest origins. The collaboration contributes real-world evidence and practical experience of how scientific verification can be used in retail supply chains.
Visit NEXT↗CERTIFICATION INTEGRITY: FSC is one of World Forest ID's founding collaborators. It has supported reference-sample collection and data-platform development, and works with World Forest ID to apply scientific origin testing within its integrity processes, particularly in higher-risk certified timber supply chains.
Visit FSC↗SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION: Meise Botanic Garden supports the collection, curation and scientific analysis of known-origin plant samples, alongside research into timber-origin verification. World Forest ID's Director of Science, Dr Victor Deklerck, is based at Meise, making it a central scientific partner.
Visit Meise Botanic Garden↗INDUSTRY TESTING PILOTS: USDA APHIS awarded funding to support the Alliance for Wood ID Testing, coordinated by World Forest ID and WWF. The programme pilots scientific timber-origin testing with traders and retailers, helping establish how independent evidence can strengthen due care under the US Lacey Act.
Visit USDA APHIS↗CORE FUNDING & LEADERSHIP: Mulago Foundation awarded Jade Saunders the 2024 Henry Arnhold Fellowship, providing unrestricted funding and leadership support. The fellowship supports the development of a scalable organisational model intended to make World Forest ID's scientific tools and reference data more widely useful.
Visit Mulago Foundation↗INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT: Climate and Land Use Alliance provided general support funding to strengthen World Forest ID's organisational systems and institutional relationships. Unlike commodity-specific research grants, this support helps build the capacity needed to connect scientific evidence with organisations able to put it to use.
Visit Climate and Land Use Alliance↗COLLABORATION: ZSL combines conservation science, field research and practical experience to protect wildlife and restore ecosystems. Working with World Forest ID could help connect this expertise with independent origin evidence, supporting research and tools that strengthen transparency in forest-connected supply chains.
Visit ZSL↗US HARDWOOD REFERENCE DATA: The American Hardwood Export Council is working with World Forest ID to develop reference sampling across US hardwood-producing regions. By involving American hardwood producers, the programme aims to establish the scientific baseline needed to distinguish genuine US hardwoods from products with misdeclared origins.
Visit American Hardwood Export Council↗Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation / Defra / IKEA / Kingfisher / NEXT / FSC / Meise Botanic Garden / USDA APHIS / Mulago Foundation / Climate and Land Use Alliance / ZSL / American Hardwood Export Council
RESEARCH FUNDING: The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation funded research into verifying the origins of farmed shrimp and is now supporting World Forest ID's expansion into cattle. This new research aims to connect farm and animal samples with origin claims for beef, leather and collagen.
Visit Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation↗GOVERNMENT RESEARCH: Defra funded reference collections in Eastern Europe that underpin World Forest ID's peer-reviewed birch origin model, developed in response to the trade in sanctioned Russian and Belarusian timber. Its continuing support is extending reference collections, industry testing and practical applications.
Visit Defra↗REFERENCE DATA & TESTING: IKEA invested in expanding European birch reference data and helped develop World Forest ID's sample-collection tools. It also uses forensic wood testing within its sourcing processes to independently check suppliers' declared harvest origins.
Visit IKEA↗SUPPLY-CHAIN DUE DILIGENCE: Kingfisher has provided funding and worked with World Forest ID to integrate chemical origin testing into timber supply-chain due diligence. The collaboration focuses on identifying higher-risk suppliers and using independent scientific evidence alongside documentation and supply-chain mapping.
Visit Kingfisher↗RETAIL TESTING: NEXT has worked with World Forest ID since 2024 to test birch and oak products and check their declared harvest origins. The collaboration contributes real-world evidence and practical experience of how scientific verification can be used in retail supply chains.
Visit NEXT↗CERTIFICATION INTEGRITY: FSC is one of World Forest ID's founding collaborators. It has supported reference-sample collection and data-platform development, and works with World Forest ID to apply scientific origin testing within its integrity processes, particularly in higher-risk certified timber supply chains.
Visit FSC↗SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION: Meise Botanic Garden supports the collection, curation and scientific analysis of known-origin plant samples, alongside research into timber-origin verification. World Forest ID's Director of Science, Dr Victor Deklerck, is based at Meise, making it a central scientific partner.
Visit Meise Botanic Garden↗INDUSTRY TESTING PILOTS: USDA APHIS awarded funding to support the Alliance for Wood ID Testing, coordinated by World Forest ID and WWF. The programme pilots scientific timber-origin testing with traders and retailers, helping establish how independent evidence can strengthen due care under the US Lacey Act.
Visit USDA APHIS↗CORE FUNDING & LEADERSHIP: Mulago Foundation awarded Jade Saunders the 2024 Henry Arnhold Fellowship, providing unrestricted funding and leadership support. The fellowship supports the development of a scalable organisational model intended to make World Forest ID's scientific tools and reference data more widely useful.
Visit Mulago Foundation↗INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT: Climate and Land Use Alliance provided general support funding to strengthen World Forest ID's organisational systems and institutional relationships. Unlike commodity-specific research grants, this support helps build the capacity needed to connect scientific evidence with organisations able to put it to use.
Visit Climate and Land Use Alliance↗COLLABORATION: ZSL combines conservation science, field research and practical experience to protect wildlife and restore ecosystems. Working with World Forest ID could help connect this expertise with independent origin evidence, supporting research and tools that strengthen transparency in forest-connected supply chains.
Visit ZSL↗US HARDWOOD REFERENCE DATA: The American Hardwood Export Council is working with World Forest ID to develop reference sampling across US hardwood-producing regions. By involving American hardwood producers, the programme aims to establish the scientific baseline needed to distinguish genuine US hardwoods from products with misdeclared origins.
Visit American Hardwood Export Council↗Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation / Defra / IKEA / Kingfisher / NEXT / FSC / Meise Botanic Garden / USDA APHIS / Mulago Foundation / Climate and Land Use Alliance / ZSL / American Hardwood Export Council
RESEARCH FUNDING: The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation funded research into verifying the origins of farmed shrimp and is now supporting World Forest ID's expansion into cattle. This new research aims to connect farm and animal samples with origin claims for beef, leather and collagen.
Visit Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation↗GOVERNMENT RESEARCH: Defra funded reference collections in Eastern Europe that underpin World Forest ID's peer-reviewed birch origin model, developed in response to the trade in sanctioned Russian and Belarusian timber. Its continuing support is extending reference collections, industry testing and practical applications.
Visit Defra↗REFERENCE DATA & TESTING: IKEA invested in expanding European birch reference data and helped develop World Forest ID's sample-collection tools. It also uses forensic wood testing within its sourcing processes to independently check suppliers' declared harvest origins.
Visit IKEA↗SUPPLY-CHAIN DUE DILIGENCE: Kingfisher has provided funding and worked with World Forest ID to integrate chemical origin testing into timber supply-chain due diligence. The collaboration focuses on identifying higher-risk suppliers and using independent scientific evidence alongside documentation and supply-chain mapping.
Visit Kingfisher↗RETAIL TESTING: NEXT has worked with World Forest ID since 2024 to test birch and oak products and check their declared harvest origins. The collaboration contributes real-world evidence and practical experience of how scientific verification can be used in retail supply chains.
Visit NEXT↗CERTIFICATION INTEGRITY: FSC is one of World Forest ID's founding collaborators. It has supported reference-sample collection and data-platform development, and works with World Forest ID to apply scientific origin testing within its integrity processes, particularly in higher-risk certified timber supply chains.
Visit FSC↗SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION: Meise Botanic Garden supports the collection, curation and scientific analysis of known-origin plant samples, alongside research into timber-origin verification. World Forest ID's Director of Science, Dr Victor Deklerck, is based at Meise, making it a central scientific partner.
Visit Meise Botanic Garden↗INDUSTRY TESTING PILOTS: USDA APHIS awarded funding to support the Alliance for Wood ID Testing, coordinated by World Forest ID and WWF. The programme pilots scientific timber-origin testing with traders and retailers, helping establish how independent evidence can strengthen due care under the US Lacey Act.
Visit USDA APHIS↗CORE FUNDING & LEADERSHIP: Mulago Foundation awarded Jade Saunders the 2024 Henry Arnhold Fellowship, providing unrestricted funding and leadership support. The fellowship supports the development of a scalable organisational model intended to make World Forest ID's scientific tools and reference data more widely useful.
Visit Mulago Foundation↗INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT: Climate and Land Use Alliance provided general support funding to strengthen World Forest ID's organisational systems and institutional relationships. Unlike commodity-specific research grants, this support helps build the capacity needed to connect scientific evidence with organisations able to put it to use.
Visit Climate and Land Use Alliance↗COLLABORATION: ZSL combines conservation science, field research and practical experience to protect wildlife and restore ecosystems. Working with World Forest ID could help connect this expertise with independent origin evidence, supporting research and tools that strengthen transparency in forest-connected supply chains.
Visit ZSL↗US HARDWOOD REFERENCE DATA: The American Hardwood Export Council is working with World Forest ID to develop reference sampling across US hardwood-producing regions. By involving American hardwood producers, the programme aims to establish the scientific baseline needed to distinguish genuine US hardwoods from products with misdeclared origins.
Visit American Hardwood Export Council↗World Forest ID is an international nonprofit protecting forests through science-based product verification. © 2026 World Forest ID. All rights reserved. The World Forest ID® logo is a registered trademark of the World Forest ID Association in the United States.
World Forest ID Association
A US 501(c)(3) nonprofit
1 Thomas Cir NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005, USA
World Forest ID Stichting
A foundation registered in the Netherlands
Fluwelen Burgwal 58, 2511 CJ Den Haag,
Netherlands
World Forest ID is an international nonprofit protecting forests through science-based product verification. © 2026 World Forest ID. All rights reserved. The World Forest ID® logo is a registered trademark of the World Forest ID Association in the United States.
World Forest ID
1 Thomas Cir NW, Suite 700,
Washington, DC 20005, USA
World Forest ID Stichting
A foundation registered in the Netherlands
Fluwelen Burgwal 58, 2511 CJ Den Haag,
Netherlands
World Forest ID is an international nonprofit protecting forests through science-based product verification. © 2026 World Forest ID. All rights reserved. The World Forest ID® logo is a registered trademark of the World Forest ID Association in the United States.
World Forest ID Association
A US 501(c)(3) nonprofit
1 Thomas Cir NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005, USA
World Forest ID Stichting
A foundation registered in the Netherlands
Fluwelen Burgwal 58, 2511 CJ Den Haag,
Netherlands


