Illegal logging and illicit wood trafficking are complex transnational forestry crimes that are persisting and evolving with distinct modus operandi. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade (EGILAT), has served as a valuable information-sharing and capacity-building platform to address these complex issues. The authors are delighted that this research paper entitled "Integrated Timber Data Development for Enhancing Legal Timber Trade in the Asia Pacific Region" is published on the APEC Secretariat Publications site and can be openly-accessed by all stakeholders from APEC member economies and other interested parties.

This paper is one output under EGILAT Project, “Developing Integrated Timber Data to Enhance Legal Timber Trade of the APEC through Xylaria Networking.” This Paper intends to provide a comprehensive overview of the current use of wood identification technologies in APEC member economies, the demand and importance of wood identification technologies for wood forensic, recommendation of regional standard for wood identification, and the status and use of Material Transfer Agreements for xylaria networking. The authors offer recommendations to support the potential development of an integrated timber system for enhancing illegal wood trade in APEC member economies, including a wood identification database and potential integration of that database into APEC member economy's timber legality frameworks.

The authors strive to showcase detailed explanations for developing and using integrated wood identification technologies to address illegal logging and associated trade along the supply chain based on information shared by stakeholders and associated project research. In addition, a priority list of wood traded in APEC member economies is highlighted as a reference for understanding wood species that are internationally traded among the member economies.