Two researchers from the DOST- Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) are involved in a project meant to consolidate the database of timber species being traded in Southeast Asia. Mr. Fernando C. Pitargue Jr. and For. Glenn B. Estudillo are the Philippine representatives to the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)- led project “Equivalent Timber Names in the ASEAN”, which hopes to gather information— such as trade names, common names and locations— of various timber species in Southeast Asia.

“Those involved in timber trading will be guided as to the equivalent woods from each ASEAN member state. The database will help them know the prevailing prices and sources of timber, making the import-export market system among ASEAN countries more efficient.” explained Pitargue.

In line with the project, the two attended workshops on November 7-9, 2018 and January 22-24, 2019 in Malaysia to collate and finalize the data. The output will be presented during the 2019 ASEAN Senior Officials on Forestry (ASOF) meeting and will be published into a book.

Funded by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), the project involves delegates from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. ### (Apple Jean C. Martin- de Leon, 31 January 2019)