MICRO CERTIFICATION | Introduction to Wood Identification

28 hours spread over 4 days of in-person training. 

PROGRAM

DAY 1: GENERAL INTRODUCTION, INTRODUCTORY EXPLORATION OF THE WOODS (9:00 AM–5:00 PM)

• General introduction: overview of the course’s main objectives,
• Activity: handling a collection of macroscopic samples; participants identify the main sensory characteristics (density, hardness, color, odor, patterns, etc.),
• Wood for the Tree: Structure, Organization, and Functions of Wood

Lunch break (1 hour)

• Wood for the Tree: Structure, Organization, and Functions of Wood
• Practical Work: Macroscopic examination of cross-sections of homoxylous and heteroxylous wood

Skills developed:

• Be able to describe a wood sample (appearance, color, etc.)
• Understanding the development and functions of wood within the tree

DAY 2: HOMOGENIZED WOOD (9:00 AM–5:00 PM)

• Practical session: macroscopic examination of a collection of homoxylous wood samples; identification and discussion of the main identifiable macroscopic characteristics
• Theoretical section: structure and organization of homoxylous wood; examination of the three planes at the macroscopic and then microscopic scales

Lunch break (1 hour)

• Theoretical section: The diversity of macro- and microstructures in homoxylous woods
• Practical session: Examination of a collection of microscope slides in three sections: Abies – Picea – Taxus – Pinus sylvestris and P. halepensis – Araucaria – Pseudotsuga – Cedrus

Skills developed:

• Knowledge and identification of the various characteristics used to distinguish different temperate softwoods.

DAY 3: HETEROGROWN WOODS – PART 1 (TEMPERATE) (9:00 AM–5:00 PM)

• Practical session: macroscopic examination of a collection of heteroxylous wood samples; identification and discussion of the main identifiable macroscopic characteristics
• Theoretical section: structure and organization of heteroxylous wood; examination of the three planes at the macroscopic and then microscopic levels

Lunch break (1 hour)

• Theoretical section: The diversity of macro- and microstructures in heteroxylous woods
• Practical session: Examination of a collection of microscope slides in three sections: Castanea – Fagus – Quercus – Populus – Prunus (cherry) – Acer – Carpinus – Ulmus – Juglans – Robinia – Platanus…

Skills developed:

• Knowledge and identification of the various characteristics used to distinguish different temperate hardwoods.

DAY 4: HARDWOODS – PART 2 (TEMPERATE AND TROPICAL) (9:00 AM–5:00 PM)

• Theoretical section: The diversity of structures in tropical heteroxylous woods
• Practical Session: Continuing the microscopic study of the hardwoods examined yesterday: Castanea – Fagus – Quercus – Populus – Prunus (cherry) – Acer – Carpinus – Ulmus – Juglans – Robinia – Platanus…

Lunch break (1 hour)

• Practical session: Examination of a collection of macroscopic samples and microscopic slides of tropical woods in three sections: Dalbergia – Terminalia – Entandrophragma (sipo) – Azobé – Teak – Balsa – Meranti (Dipterocarpaceae)…
• Conclusion of the training: summary and feedback from participants

Skills developed:

• Understanding and identifying the various characteristics used to distinguish different hardwoods (continued)
• An Introduction to Identifying Some Tropical Woods