Harnessing Isotope Analysis for Wood Identification: Techniques, Applications and Future Directions

Accurate identification and traceability of timber are essential for forest management, conservation, legal trade and combating illegal logging. Conventional anatomical identification may be limited in processed wood, while DNA-based methods can be affected by degradation. Stable isotope analysis provides a complementary approach by using isotopic signatures incorporated into wood during growth. This review examines the applications, strengths, challenges and prospects of isotope-based wood identification. Stable isotopes of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and strontium provide information on environmental conditions and support provenance assessment. Isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS), combined with cellulose preparation and isoscape modelling, enables comparison of unknown timber with reference datasets. Applications include timber-origin verification, illegal logging control, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) enforcement, supply-chain traceability, forensics and archaeological provenance. Limitations include high costs, specialized equipment, limited reference datasets and variable isoscape resolution