Bhopal: Genetic record keeping, DNA test to check smuggling of trees

Bhopal: Genetic record keeping, DNA test to check smuggling of trees

Staff ReporterUpdated: Wednesday, May 29, 2019, 03:15 AM IST
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Bhopal: Forest department has taken initiative for DNA testing and maintaining genetic records for the tree-stumps chopped off in Nauradehi wild life sanctuary, Sagar district. It is being done in India for the first time to have genetically records of trees of wild life sanctuary. This initiative has been taken to check smuggling, conservation and protection of varieties of trees.

According to forest department officials, initiatives have been taken regarding maintaining DNA of tree stumps of to check the illegal smuggling of the tree logs after matching the DNA of seizure. It will help the forest department in checking such illegal trade of logs of precious trees.

DFO Nauradehi wild life sanctuary Dr Ankur Awadhiya said, “Forest department has taken the decision to maintain the NDA records of tree stumps of Nauradehi wild sanctuary. It will help in checking the smuggling as DNA will be matched with seized logs of woods with tree stumps. Secondly it will also help in forest conservation.” DNA of wood will help in determining the location of the original tree and the work could help crack down on trade in illegal timber.

Illegal logging is a serious problem. Revenue loss due to illegal logging is another aspect and it endangers people’s livelihoods, biodiversity and food security, as well as damaging the environment by increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, Dr Awadhiya said, adding, “These records make it possible to verify the degree to which the DNA of timber reaching to traders is related to the specimens he has sampled in the wild.”

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