Pocket-Sized AI Helps Viet Nam Tackle Billion-Dollar Timber Crime

A new AI-powered tool is helping frontline officers in Viet Nam identify illegal timber in minutes — not hours — boosting efforts to protect some of the world’s most threatened forests. 

Illegal timber trade is one of the most lucrative environmental crimes on the planet, worth an estimated $10-15 billion a year.  

Viet Nam, a global timber processing hub, sits at a critical junction in this trade, importing vast volumes of wood — including from protected species — from Africa’s biodiversity-rich Congo Basin. 

But identifying timber species on the ground has always been a bottleneck. Without the tools to distinguish protected woods from legal ones, enforcement officers are often forced to rely on paperwork or field guides; a process that can take hours, or worse, lead to missed detections. 

That’s changing. 

Drawing on decades of field experience and enforcement insight, TRAFFIC helped to adapt the Xylorix Enforcer tool — developed by technology developer Agritix — to meet the practical needs of officers in Viet Nam, Cameroon and the Republic of the Congo.  

This AI-powered mobile app helps customs and forest officers identify timber species quickly and accurately in the field — using just a smartphone and a macro lens.  

From hours to minutes 

In May and June 2025, TRAFFIC trained 75 frontline officers across three Vietnamese provinces (Bac Giang, Quang Nam and Nghe An) to quickly identify timber species with a high commercial value — turning hours-long checks into minutes and strengthening inspections. The tool was tested on 15 high-risk species, including Siamese rosewood (Dalbergia cochinchinensis), Burmese rosewood (Dalbergia oliveri), and Tali (Erythrophleum ivorense). 

One training participant, Mr Ngo Thanh Trung, Deputy Director of the Ba Ria Vung Tau Forest Protection Department, said:  

Previously, when we encountered unfamiliar timber species, we often had to rely on documentation alone or spend hours consulting multiple references. With WOOD ID, I can now verify species in minutes and share findings instantly with colleagues. This will dramatically strengthen our ability to detect suspicious shipments.”  

Targeting timber that needs it most 

The tool’s species list was developed in collaboration with TRAFFIC, based on IUCN Red List status, CITES listings, and commercial prevalence. The goal: focus on the most vulnerable and commonly trafficked species entering Viet Nam from countries like Cameroon and the Republic of the Congo. 

We didn’t want another piece of technology — we needed a conservation tool that could genuinely transform how officers protect our most vulnerable forest species,” 

said Chen Hin Keong, Senior Advisor on Forest Governance and Trade at TRAFFIC. WOOD ID’s impact goes beyond identification.  

By enabling faster inspections, stronger case building, and instant data sharing between enforcement teams, the tool boosts collaboration across borders — while reducing unnecessary delays for legitimate timber shipments.  

Faster, more accurate species checks mean more illegal timber stopped — and forests protected before damage is done. 

Every minute saved in species identification translates into more thorough inspections and stronger enforcement outcomes. By bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and frontline enforcement, we are empowering officers with the confidence and tools they need to make enforcement decisions that protect our forests and the communities that depend on them.” 

said Trinh Nguyen, TRAFFIC’s Viet Nam Office Director.What’s next? 

TRAFFIC will continue expanding WOOD ID’s database — aiming for 50 species by 2026 — while delivering more training across Viet Nam, Cameroon, and the Republic of Congo, where timber exports and enforcement needs are highest. 

TRAFFIC’s role is connecting innovation with conservation impacts,”

Trinh added:

Through partnership like this, we’re ensuring that breakthrough tools like WOOD ID reach the officers who need them most, enabling rapid, accurate identification that directly translates into better protection for endangered species and more sustainable forest management practices.”