THE GLOBAL WOOD SPECIES PRIORITY LIST: A LIVING DATABASE OF TREE SPECIES MOST AT RISK FOR ILLEGAL LOGGING, UNSUSTAINABLE DEFORESTATION, AND HIGH RATES OF TRADE GLOBALLY

Abstract

. The illegal timber trade is one of the most impactful natural wildlife crimes, affecting the live-lihood of local communities, natural resource availability, and the associated carbon storage and biodiversity. Many timber species are highly sought after and are at risk of exhaustion and subsequent extinction. Although several initiatives exist to indicate tree species risk and conservation status, there is no single resource, or prioritized list, that quali fi es the most high-risk and highly traded species across the globe. Organizations end up creating their own priority species lists to meet this lack of aggregated information, requiring hours of independent research and resulting in the recreation of similar lists. To provide a one-stop-shop for similar initiatives, World Forest ID developed the Global Priority Wood Species List (GPWSL) to synthesize existing information. Currently, the GPWSL harbors 270 species most at risk for illegal logging, unsustainable deforestation, and high rates of international trade. The database contains relevant information on each species; such as natural distribution, conservation listings, and countries of import. Here, we present the list, the methods used in its development, and its potential applications for the wood industry as a whole.