During the first two phases of this project, volunteers collected data on four tree species: bigleaf maple, coast redwood, western redcedar, and Alaska yellow-cedar. Stay tuned for the next phase of this project!

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2019 - 2021, A Massive Collection Effort

Volunteers for the Timber Project collected tree tissue samples from one of our three focal species.
Western Redcedar
​(Thuja plicata)
Sample Collection complete in 2020! 
These magnificent conifers are found in Northern California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Idaho, Alaska, and Montana. 
Alaska Yellow-Cedar
(​Callitropsis nootkatensis)
Yellow-cedar's range extends well  beyond Alaska. These unique trees grow in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia as well.
Coast Redwood
(Sequoia sempervirens)
Sample Collection Complete in 2019!
Reliant on a mild, humid climate, these enormous trees are primarily found in coastal California, shown in green on the map. 
Phase two of this project sent volunteers out into forests on the public lands of California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Southern Alaska, Northwest Idaho, and Montana.

2018, Focus on Bigleaf Maple

We launched the Timber Tracking project in 2018, with a pilot season aimed at collecting samples from Bigleaf Maple. These hardwood trees have a unique, intricate woodgrain pattern prized for guitars and other decorative applications, but this also makes them a target for poachers. For phase one of the project, 110 volunteers collected more than 1000 samples across California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. 

Read more in our 2018 project report.

The Nitty-Gritty Details

 Timeframe


Stay tuned for project reports in 2021 and news about phase three!
Training and Equipment
All volunteers need to complete online training modules and a comprehensive quiz prior to getting out in the field. We offer a variety of optional educational webinars and readings to supplement the training. 

We will ship your equipment at least one week before your anticipated start date. We ask that you ship your equipment and samples back to us as soon as you finish sampling.