Wood Biology
We study tropical African trees to contribute to forest ecology and support sustainable wood production in tropical Africa.
Our xylarium is a reference collection with more than 80,000 wood samples from around the world. Our research is based on this xylarium and on fieldwork.
Fields of research are:
- wood anatomy: we analyse the anatomical structure of wood species
- dendrochronology: we study tree growth and forest ecology
- physiology of tropical trees
- archaeobotany and the history of ancient forests through analysis of charcoal present in the soil.
Through this website, we showcase some of our work in Central Africa. The site brings together information on various research and education projects in the Yangambi and Luki Man and Biosphere Reserves in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Through these pages we hope to improve project visibility and offer insights on how fieldwork is conducted in the rainforest.
Policy briefs
During the Afriford and Polcartim projects, we developed policy briefs. These briefs summarise major results of our research and make them accessible to a non-scientific public:
- Staff
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Scientific personnel
- Wannes Hubau, Postdoc forest ecology
Global carbon fluxes, forests inventories, permanent sample plots, tropical rainforests, African vegetation history and archaeobotany - Ruben De Blaere
- Pauline Hicter, Biologist
- Kim Jacobsen, Postdoc agronomy
Tropical agronomy, bananas and plantains, research-for-development (R4D), EU projects, digitization, database management - Alain Kadorho Sheria
- Félix Laurent
- Joel Mobunda Tiko
- Michael Monnoye, Biologist
Technical and administrative staff
- Blanca Van Houtte Alonso
- Daniël Wallenus, Collection Manager
Volunteers
- Hans Beeckman, Head of service
Wood anatomy, dendrochronology, system ecology, wood identification, trait-based ecology - Patrick De Snijder
- Cécile De Troyer
- Michèle Florquin
- José Kempenaers
- Wannes Hubau, Postdoc forest ecology
- Wood analysis
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We offer independent expertise services of wood species worldwide through the expertise centre ENFORCE:
- identification of wood for the wood trade and industry, art history, archaeology, palaeontology, etc. This includes plywoods, particleboards, MDF, charcoal, etc.
- wood dating via the study of growth rings.
- wood origin detection
More information, cost and contact details can be found on the website of ENFORCE: https://enforce.africamuseum.be
Contact:
enforce@africamuseum.be
Maaike De Ridder (https://www.africamuseum.be/nl/staff/884)
Michael Monnoye (https://www.africamuseum.be/nl/staff/2049)
Hans Beeckman (https://www.africamuseum.be/nl/staff/360)
- Training
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- Introduction to wood biology for African students
- We also organize introductory courses on wood anatomy and guided tours of the xylarium for students in higher education or interested groups upon request.
Contact: Hans Beeckman
- Introduction to wood biology for African students
- Publications
