MICRO CERTIFICATION | Introduction to Wood Identification

28 hours spread over 4 days of in-person training— Training available as an in-house program

PROGRAM

DAY 1: GENERAL INTRODUCTION, FIRST EXPLORATION OF THE WOODS (9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.)

• 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 homo- and heteroxylous wood

Skills developed:

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

DAY 2: HOMOXYLATED WOOD (9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.)

• Hands-on 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; study of the three planes at the macroscopic and then microscopic scales

Lunch break (1 hour)

• Theoretical Section: The Diversity of Macro- and Microscopic Structures in Homoxylous Woods
• Practical Session: Observation of a collection of microscope slides in all three planes: Abies – Picea – Taxus – Pinus sylvestris, P. halepensis – Araucaria – Pseudotsuga – Cedrus

Skills developed:

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

DAY 3: HETEROXYLIC WOODS – PART 1 (TEMPERATE) (9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.)

• Hands-on 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; study of the three planes at the macroscopic and then microscopic scales

Lunch break (1 hour)

• Theoretical Section: The Diversity of Macro- and Microscopic Structures in Heterogeneous Woods
• Practical Session: Examination of a collection of microscope slides in all three planes: 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: HETEROXYLIC WOODS – PART 2 (TEMPERATE AND TROPICAL) (9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.)

• Theoretical Section: The Diversity of Structures in Heterogeneous Tropical Woods
• Practical Session: Resuming the microscopic study of the deciduous trees examined the previous day: 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 all three planes: 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