Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Forensic Science International: Genetics journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/fsigen Research paper A geographical traceability system for Merbau (Intsia palembanica Miq.), an important timber species from peninsular Malaysia Chin Hong Ng ⁎ , Kevin Kit Siong Ng, Soon Leong Lee, Lee Hong Tnah, Chai Ting Lee, Nurul-Farhanah Zakaria Genetic Laboratory, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, 52109 Kepong, Selangor, Malaysia ARTICLE INFO Keywords: Timber tracking Short tandem repeat (STR) Allele frequency Chloroplast DNA Forensic tools ABSTRACT To inform product users about the origin of timber, the implementation of a traceability system is necessary for the forestry industry. In this study, we developed a comprehensive genetic database for the important tropical timber species Merbau, Intsia palembanica, to trace its geographic origin within peninsular Malaysia. A total of 1373 individual trees representing 39 geographically distinct populations of I. palembanica were sampled throughout peninsular Malaysia. We analyzed the samples using a combination of four chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) markers and 14 short tandem repeat (STR) markers to establish both cpDNA haplotype and STR allele frequency databases. A haplotype map was generated through cpDNA sequencing for population identifcation, resulting in six unique haplotypes based on 10 informative intraspecifcally variable sites. Subsequently, an STR allele fre- quency database was developed from 14 STRs allowing individual identifcation. Bayesian cluster analysis di- vided the individuals into two genetic clusters corresponding to the northern and southern regions of peninsular Malaysia. Tests of conservativeness showed that the databases were conservative after the adjustment of the θ values to 0.2000 and 0.2900 for the northern (f = 0.0163) and southern (f = 0.0285) regions, respectively. Using self-assignment tests, we observed that individuals were correctly assigned to populations at rates of 40.54−94.12% and to the identifed regions at rates of 79.80−80.62%. Both the cpDNA and STR markers appear to be useful for tracking Merbau timber originating from peninsular Malaysia. The use of these forensic tools in addition to the existing paper-based timber tracking system will help to verify the legality of the origin of I. palembanica and to combat illegal logging issues associated with the species. 1. Introduction With the current increasing concerns about environmental sustain- ability in society, timber traders have to meet legal requirements and market demands regarding product traceability throughout the supply chain [1]. To ensure traceability along the supply chain, a system that follows the trail as materials are provided by suppliers, processed and ultimately distributed as end products is needed [2]. Such traceability systems ensure the accuracy of information on product quality and la- beling. In the context of environmental sustainability, traceability is a tool for verifying sustainability claims associated with products, en- suring good practices and respect for people and the environment along the supply chain [3]. Consumers are increasingly concerned about the origin of their products, the conditions under which they were pro- duced and the associated impact on the environment. As a consequence, the forestry industry is adopting various sustainable forest management programs to meet market demands. With the formation of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in 1993 and the implementation of the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certifcation (PEFC), various eforts have been made to promote responsible stewardship and achieve broader sustainability in global forest management [4]. These steps have brought about positive efects on the environment, ranging from reduction in the carbon footprint to the prevention of uncontrolled deforestation. Under a forest certifcation program, the FSC will engage with sta- keholders along the supply chain to develop a robust chain of custody standards for products from raw material to the fnal use phase. Therefore, certifed forests uphold environmental and social standards through sustainable growth, eco-friendly harvesting and legal trading of forest products as well as consultation with indigenous people before harvesting is initiated. Statistics have shown that the estimated total forest area certifed by the FSC and the PEFC in 2017 was 429 million https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigen.2019.102188 Received 29 April 2019; Received in revised form 22 July 2019; Accepted 12 October 2019 ⁎ Corresponding author. E-mail addresses: chinhong@frim.gov.my (C.H. Ng), kevin@frim.gov.my (K.K.S. Ng), leesl@frim.gov.my (S.L. Lee), leehong@frim.gov.my (L.H. Tnah), leechait@frim.gov.my (C.T. Lee), nurulfarhanah@frim.gov.my (N.-F. Zakaria). Forensic Science International: Genetics 44 (2020) 102188 Available online 14 October 2019 1872-4973/ © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. T