Marc Kramer

A new five-year partnership between Washington State University Vancouver and the U.S. Forest Service will give graduate and undergraduate students the opportunity to study wood and soil alongside professors and government scientists. The partnership will establish labs to study the relationship between soils, the local climate and the trees supported by the soil using stable isotope and trace element analysis. “It’s to find new ways, better ways, to identify illegal wood that’s coming into the United States,” said Christine Portfors, vice chancellor for research and graduate education. “This is a really unique opportunity to have scientists who work with the U.S. Forest Service on campus.” …Marc Kramer leads the organic geochemistry and stable isotope laboratory at the university. …“We’re providing new methods to help verify the origin of wood,” Kramer said. “ …Kramer said he anticipates the lab will run the first set of samples in early 2025.