Volker HaagThünen Institute | vTI · Institute of Wood Research
Volker Haag
PhD - Biology/Woodscience
About
62
Publications
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Introduction
My research is focused on wood formation and identification of timbers based on structural wood anatomy. In the last years, we have increasingly focused on 3D microscopy and the use of nano- and µCT for structural analysis. In recent studies, we are looking at the extent to which three-dimensional (volumetric) representations of wood can be used in conjunction with artificial intelligence for wood identification. Our aim is to contribute to bring wood anatomy into the new age of science.
Publications
Publications (62)
Between 4 th and 8 th June 2023, the IUFRO all-Division 5 conference 2023 took place in Cairns (Australia) under the title "The Forest Treasure Chest-Delivering Outcomes for Everyone". The conference focused on improving sustainable trade in timber and forestry, adapting forests to climate change, and cooperation between regional forestry and indig...
In the presentation, modern methods of preparation and wood species identification based on wood anatomical studies will be presented, explained and compared. One focus is on the examination of wood materials (plywood, chipboard, etc.) and particularly small wood fragments such as charcoal fragments. Furthermore, first (preliminary) results from a...
The article presents various topics that were focused on at the conference. These include, in particular, improving sustainable trade in timber and forestry, adapting forests to climate change, and collaboration between regional forestry and indigenous communities. In addition, the problems and measures of the Australian forestry industry, which in...
140 Teilnehmer diskutieren bei Konferenz der Iufro-Division 5 Forest Products in Australien Vom 4. bis 8. Juni 2023 fand in Cairns (Australien) eine Konferenz der IUFRO-Division 5 (Forest products) unter dem Titel "The Forest Treasure Chest-Delivering Outcomes for Everyone" (Die Schatztruhe des Waldes-Ergebnisse für alle erzielen) statt. Die Konfer...
Current developments and advances in the field of digital image processing/analysis and neural network programming (machine learning) open up new research perspectives and applications for wood anatomy and wood quality research. In the last decades, traditional wood anatomy has, against all expectations, ex-perienced a renaissance and gained increa...
In an age of increasing surveillance and control of markets and trade flows, methods for species and origin identification of commercial timbers and other woody plant products are needed. Traditional plant anatomy has generated a vast experience in taxon identification. In highly processed and mixed materials such as charcoal, fiber board and paper...
Illegal logging and illegal timber trade is a global problem. Anatomical, genetic, and chemical techniques support illegal logging legislation by verifying the species and geographic origin of timber. In principle, these methods can be used to identify timber species and the origin of harvest, however, the availability of specific tests for importa...
The present study focuses on the application of state-of-the-art μCT, by using a sub-micrometre CT scanner as a tool for wood identification. Charcoal was chosen as a subject for this case study. The reason for choosing charcoal is based on economic as well as technical issues. Parallel to conventional wood anatomy, various promising approaches to...
Molecular research has shown that the genus Acacia is in fact polyphyletic. The discussion about grouping the species of Acacia s.l. into monophyletic genera kept two International Botanical Congresses (Congresses 17 and 18) occupied and resulted in the general acceptance of the genera Acacia , Acaciella , Mariosousa , Senegalia and Vachellia . Thi...
Wissenschaftler des Thünen-Instituts für Holzforschung in Hamburg untersuchten eine berühmte, fast 400 Jahre alte Harfe mit neu entwickelten, zerstörungsfreien Methoden der Holzartenidentifizerung. Die Untersuchung ist Teil eines groß angelegten, interdisziplinären Forschungsprojektes mit dem Ziel einer Rekonstruktion dieses einzigartigen Instrumen...
Seit 2016 werden am Thünen-Institut für Holzforschung routiniert Holzartenidentifizierungen an Holzkohle und Briketts durchgeführt.
Mit Hilfe der anatomischen Untersuchungen kann überprüft werden, ob die Deklarationen auf den Verpackungen der Warenmuster korrekt sind. Zudem können die Herkunftsangaben über die Verbreitungsgebiete der bestimmten Tax...
Hintergrund und Zielsetzung
Vor dem Hintergrund einer nachhaltigen explorativen Nutzung der peruanischen Holzvorräte sollen die lokalen Institutionen CITEmadera und CITEforestal bei der Ausbildung von Expert*innen für den peruanischen Forst- und Holzwirt-schaftssektor und das Handwerk unterstützt werden. Ziel des von der Deutschen Gesellschaft für...
Background and aims
Against the background of a sustainable exploratory use of Peruvian timber resources, the local institutions CITEmadera and CITEforestal are to be supported in the training of experts for the Peruvian forestry and timber industry sector and crafts. The aim of the project financed by the German Association for International Coope...
The non-destructive anatomical investigation of the structural features for wood identification was carried out with a high resolution 3D reflected light microscope (Keyence type: VHX 5000). This special microscope uses integrated image analysis software which enables the generation of a flat surface for observation of the structural
features[1, 2]...
Key message Wavy grain, a rare figure type of wood, leads to highly priced timber in Acer pseudoplatanus L. The influence of this trait on growth performance and its causes are not known. Analyzed wavy and straight grain sycamore maple progenies show comparable growth performance in a field trial. Stability of wavy grain after vegetative propagatio...
For millions of people in Europe, barbecuing during the summer months is a
popular and frequent pastime, often with traditional charcoal. But few barbe-
cue enthusiasts realise that the charcoal they use comes mostly from dubious
sources in Eastern Europe or tropical regions. In these countries, charcoal
production drives deforestation, threaten...
Aproximadamente la mitad de la madera extraída a nivel mundial se utiliza para producir energía y alrededor del 17 % se convierte en carbón vegetal. A menudo se origina en países que se lidian con la tala ilegal, la destrucción de bosques y la corrupción. El sector del carbón vegetal que se encuentra en continuo crecimiento genera ingresos para más...
Oportunidades y límites de la identificación anatómica de la madera, isótopos estables
y métodos genéticos como herramienta para la regulación del comercio internacional
de madera
CHARCOAL MOVIE ---
About half the wood extracted worldwide is used to produce energy and about 17 percent of it is converted to charcoal. Often it originates from countries dealing with illegal logging, forest destruction, and corruption. The continuously growing global charcoal sector generates income for more than 40 million people. It is large...
Für Millionen Menschen in Europa ist Grillen während der warmen Jahreszeit
ein beliebtes und regelmäßiges Freizeitritual, oft mit dem klassischen Kohle-
grill. Doch kaum ein Grillfan ahnt, dass die Holzkohle, die er verwendet,
zumeist aus zweifelhaften Quellen in Osteuropa oder aus tropischen Gebieten
stammt. Dort treibt ihre Herstellung die Ent...
About half the wood extracted worldwide from forests is used as fuelwood to produce energy, about 17 percent is converted to charcoal (FAO 2017) which represents one of the least controlled/monitored segments of the European timber market. Although charcoal has a significant share on the European market of wood-based products it is not yet covered...
The present study focusses on the application of 3D-reflected light microscopy (3D-RLM) for the wood anatomical identification of charcoal specimens produced from domestic and tropical timbers. This special microscopic technique offers a detailed investigation of anatomical features in charcoal directly compared with the quality of field emission s...
Today we have five types of timber tracking tools available. Each has its own strengths and limitations (see the Timber Tracking Tool Infogram), but together they offer a broad range of methods that can assist us in identifying the botanical as well as the geographic origin (provenance) of most kinds of timber samples, even those smaller than 1 cm³...
Grilling with charcoal is the trend. According to figures from the German Federal Statistical Office, consumption in Germany in 2016 was 250,000 tonnes – and rising. Most of the wood used does not come from "domestic forests". Around 85 % of the sold charcoal is imported from abroad, often from tropical and subtropical regions, but also from Easter...
Cedrelinga cateniformis (tornillo) is a timber species of the South American Amazon Basin. In its natural distribution area, the wood has various local uses, such as furniture, art work, door and window frames, and light construction. In order to promote this lesser known species for high valued applications on the international market, wood anatom...
Presentation dealing with timber trade developments and important outdoor species - Experience reports from practical application
Presentation dealing about Natural Durability and Characteristical Properties of Wood Species for outdoor applications - Experience reports from practical applications.
As a consequence of globalized timber markets, overexploitation of primarily tropical tree species and relocation of industrial production facilities, new or unknown wood species, so-called "lesser known species", have been increasingly imported into the European market. Regular evaluations at the Thünen Institute of Wood Research reveal that 20 to...
Anatomical and subcellular characteristics of juvenile and adult wood of seven species ( Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen, Platymiscium yucatanum Standl., Lonchocarpus castilloi Standl., Roseodendron donnell-smithii (Rose) Miranda, Terminalia buceras (L.) Wright, Tabebuia rosea (Bertol.) DC., Lysiloma latisiliquum (L.) Benth. from Mexico, including a...
German environmental organizations and media frequently report, that charcoal/-briquettes used for barbecue are not manufactured - as generally assumed - from local forests. About 70% is imported charcoal from other European countries or even from tropical countries on a large scale. The wood used for charcoal production in West Africa and South Am...
German environmental organizations and media frequently report, that charcoal/-briquettes used for barbecue are not manufactured - as generally assumed - from local forests. About 70% is imported charcoal from other European countries or even from tropical countries on a large scale. The wood used for charcoal production in West Africa and South Am...
Seit Jahrhunderten ranken sich Mythen und Legenden um das besondere Wissen der histori-schen Musikinstrumentenbauer. Jede Instrumentengattung hat dabei seine eigenen Meister, deren berühmte Namen wie Stradivari (für den Geigenbau), Antonio de Torres (Erfinder der klassischen „spanischen“ Gitarre) oder den der Hamburger Pianomanufaktur „Steinway and...
This is a guide for the collection of reference samples of trees to enable the identification of species and/or geographical origin of woody material.
To enable the implementation of the different laws regulating the trade in illegal wood, reference databases for various timber tracking tools are urgently needed for at least the most traded and e...
In the presentation Volker Haag gives a practical overview how to use the „anatomical fingerprint“ for the identification of timbers by using computer aided identification systems. In context of the event a violin and five violin bows were studied a few weeks before the workshop. The results of this investigation will be presented practically by us...
The implementation of the 2013 established timber regulations requires reliable control mechanisms for a doubtless identification of the internationally traded wood and wood products. The clear identification of the timber is also important for the assessment of product properties “consumer protection” as lower-grade substitute timbers are imported...
The present paper describes two technical approaches and practical applications
of non-destructive microscopic investigation methods which
are ideally suited for wood identification and dendrochronological
measurements of cultural (heritage) objects, e.g. musical instruments.
3D-reflected-light microscopy enables the scientist to
study individual c...
Für die Holzartenidentifizierung historischer Musikinstrumente wird am Thünen-Institut die 3D-Auflichtmikroskopie-Technik verwendet, mit der eine zerstörungsfreie Begutachtung diagnostischer Strukturmerkmale im Holz möglich ist. Dabei werden die Holzoberflächen hochauflösend gescannt und Aufnahmen mit einer hohen Qualität und Schärfe erstellt, die...
El objetivo del Taller de Anatomía de la Madera fue capacitar a un grupo de aproximadamente 20 personas que se ocupan de la identificación de la madera en silvicultura, biología de la madera o areas relacionadas de maderas comerciales para el mercado internacional respecto a aspectos básicos de la anatomía de la madera (análisis estructural) y la i...
El objetivo del Taller de Anatomía de la Madera fue capacitar a un grupo de aproximadamente 20 personas que se ocupan de la identificación de la madera en silvicultura, biología de la madera o areas relacionadas de maderas comerciales para el mercado internacional respecto a aspectos básicos de la anatomía de la madera (análisis estructural) y la i...
El objetivo del Taller de Anatomía de la Madera fue capacitar a un grupo de aproximadamente 20 personas que se ocupan de la identificación de la madera en silvicultura, biología de la madera o areas relacionadas de maderas comerciales para el mercado internacional respecto a aspectos básicos de la anatomía de la madera (análisis estructural) y la i...
Anticipation on the increasing demand for timber checks and on the need for a reliable expert database:
Opportunities and limits of Macroscopic and Microscopic Wood Identification against illegal logging
Basics of Wood Anatomy - the Role of Macroscopic and Microscopic Wood Identification against illegal logging
Wood Anatomy and Computer Aided Identification of timbers in Europe. The Thuenen Centre of Competence on the origin of timbers.
This paper describes the technical approach and practical application of a new non-destructive microscopic identification method which is ideally suited for the wood identification of cultural (heritage) objects, e.g. music instruments. 3D-reflected-light microscopy enables the scientist to study individual components in historical instruments with...
This presentation describes the technical approach and practical application of a new non-destructive microscopic identification method which is ideally suited for the wood identification of cultural (heritage) objects, e.g. musicinstruments. 3D-reflected-light microscopy enables the scientist to study individual components in historical
instrument...
Der Artikel stellt die Ergebnisse der umfangreichen Untersuchungen des Thünen Instituts für Holzforschung von Holzkohle und Briketts auf dem europäischen Holzmarkt (Stand 2017) dar. Verbraucher- und Umweltschutzorganisationen, aber auch Händler und Importeure haben das Thünen-Kompetenzzentrum seit 2016 mehrfach um Prüfung von handelsüblichen Holzko...
Traditional violin and guitar builders consider it a fact that the bridge, which transfers the vibrations of the strings to the resonance board, has a signifi-cant influence on the sound of the instrument. In this context, one can as-sume that different timber species produce a defined sound which can be related to the anatomical structure of the w...
Anatomische Holzartenbestimmung in der Praxis Erfahrungen und Anforderungen seit Einführung der Europäischen Holzhandelsverordnung (EUTR)
SUPPORTING THE CLOSE-TO-NATURE FOREST MANAGEMENT BY SMALL AND MEDIUM FOREST OWNERS AND FLEGT-VPA PROCESSORS IN VIET NAM
As a contribution to global forest protection international laws and timber regulations are currently enacted, such as the USA Lacey Act, the European Timber regulation (EUTR) and, most recently, the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act in Australia. All such regulations prohibit the import and trade of illegally forested wood and wood products. Regardi...
Zusammenfassung: Als Beitrag zum globalen Schutz der Wälder wurde im März 2013 die Europäische Holzhandelsverordnung (EUTR) erlassen. Sie verbietet den Import und den Handel mit illegal eingeschlagenem Holz und verpflichtet alle Marktteilnehmer, die innerhalb der EU Holz oder Holzprodukte erstmalig in Verkehr bringen, bestimmte Sorgfaltspflichten e...
Holzarten für Terrassendielen
Anforderungen - Eigenschaften - Schadensfälle
European Timber Regulation (EUTR) - the role of macroscopic and microscopic wood identification against illegal logging
Introduction: Wood Anatomy and EUTR as tool for legal timber trade in Europe
Die vorliegende Arbeit ist Teil eines Projektes der International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO), dessen zentraler Inhalt die Entwicklung und Etablierung von Methoden zur Holzarten- und Herkunfts-bestimmung ist. Hintergrund ist die Umsetzung internationaler Richtlinien und Gesetze, die zum ei-nem dem Artenschutz und der Erhaltung gefährdeter Ö...
Der boreale Nadelwald bildet mit etwa 1,3 Milliarden Hektar das größte zusammenhängende Waldgebiet der Erde und bedeckt etwa 13 Prozent der Festlandes (Forest Resources Assessment FAO, 2010). Vom Weltall aus kann man um die Nordhalbkugel der Erde einen zirkumpolar verlaufenden Grüngürtel erkennen. Er reicht etwa vom 50. bis zum 70. nördlichen Breit...
Questions
Question (1)
Does anybody know of, or have a method suitable for sectioning very hard
organic plant parts such as nut shells (e.g., coconut, walnut) and
kernels (e.g.,olives) with a microtome? We want to soften the material
without forfeiting details of cell structure and the intercellular bond.
Any experience / advice / recommendations for dealing with such
sclerotic tissues would be very welcome.
