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A data collection protocol for timber trees, to support the IUCN Red List and CITES

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 May 2026

Laxmi Aggarwal Open the ORCID record for Laxmi Aggarwal [Opens in a new window]  and
Megan Barstow Open the ORCID record for Megan Barstow [Opens in a new window]
Laxmi Aggarwal*
Affiliation:
Policy, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, London, UK
Megan Barstow
Affiliation:
Policy, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, London, UK
*
(laxmiaggarwal329@gmail.com)
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Type
Conservation news
Information
Oryx , First View , pp. 1
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BYCreative Common License - NC
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original article is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press or the rights holder(s) must be obtained prior to any commercial use.
Copyright
© Botanic Gardens Conservation International, 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Fauna & Flora International

The sustainable management and trade of timber tree species depend on access to reliable, accessible and well-structured data. Globally, more than 5,000 tree species are used for timber, with approximately one-third now threatened with extinction. In addition, over 900 timber tree species are currently listed under CITES, increasing the need for robust information to support conservation decision-making, sustainable use and regulatory processes. Despite this growing urgency, significant data gaps remain, particularly in linking field knowledge, scientific assessments and policy implementation.

To address these challenges, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, as Lead Partner, is implementing a project funded by the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund. The project runs from August 2024 to January 2027, and aims to strengthen data collection and management to support both the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and CITES Non-Detriment Findings (NDFs).

The project is delivered in collaboration with key Implementing Partners: the Missouri Botanical Garden Central Africa Programme (with support from the National Herbarium of Gabon), the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, the IUCN Species Survival Commission Madagascar Specialist Group, the Missouri Botanical Garden Madagascar Programme and the University of Antananarivo.

A central output of the project is an adaptable data collection protocol, designed to guide practitioners in identifying, compiling and generating data relevant to conservation assessments and sustainable trade decisions. The protocol follows a three-stage approach: (1) desktop analysis and literature review, (2) stakeholder interviews, and (3) targeted field methodologies to address remaining information gaps. Supporting outputs include stakeholder surveys, training materials, improved datasets for focal species, a project report outlining best-practice guidance, and letters recommending adoption of the protocol within CITES and IUCN processes.

Initial application of the protocol was introduced during a technical workshop in Ghana in February 2026, bringing together partners from Ghana, Gabon and Madagascar. The protocol will continue to be implemented and refined through collaborative application and knowledge sharing across partner countries. Results and tools will be made available online in 2026 and 2027.