May 14, 2014. /Lesprom Network/. The Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) is developing an interactive tool with information on the commercial species in eight ACTO member countries based on a similar tool developed by the Brazilian Forest Service (SFB). The tool that is being developed will be more comprehensive than the Brazilian ID tool as it will include genetic information and images of flowers, fruits, bark and standing trees, ITTO reported. 

The SFB will undertake work on the description of species. SINCHI (Instituto Amazónico de Investigaciones Científicas) will perform DNA analysis and botanical identification of collected samples.

The objective of the development of this interactive tool is to provide information for environmental agencies, police officers and experts or researchers for the easy identification of a timber.

In Brazil, the tool is used by IBAMA (Brazilian Institute for Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) and by the Federal Police to identify whether timbers being transported or processed are species that can be legally harvested.