DREVO Heritage Timber Standard — DHTS 1.0 (Project Standard / Draft)

DREVO Heritage Timber Standard — DHTS 1.0 (Project Standard / Draft)

A unified standard for the selection, classification, conservation, research, extraction and use of heritage timber

DHTS — DREVO Heritage Timber Standard

DREVO Heritage Timber Standard (DHTS)is proposed as a single regulatory basis for the entire programDREVO Heritage Timber Programas part ofDREVO Living Mountains.

Its purpose is to link the entire life cycle of wood into one continuous system:

living tree → ecological solution → selection → passport → classification → reserve → decades/centuries of storage → monitoring → extraction → stabilization → certification → use → archiving.

A standard is needed primarily because in a large system, the memory of specific individuals cannot be relied upon. Symbols and records must remain understandable to the next generation 100–300 years from now.

Each barrel must have a known origin, a defined status, a documented history and clear rules for handling throughout its entire lifespan.

1. Scope of DHTS

The standard applies to timber entering the program from:

forest restoration;

river restoration;

clearing floodplains;

restoration of swamps;

consequences of storms and floods;

removal of hazardous trees;

environmentally sound thinning;

infrastructure works;

timber of natural origin, legally extracted from water bodies;

experimental wood reserves.

It covers:

DREVO Air Reserve, Water Reserve, Wetland Reserve, Sediment Reserve, Timber Capsule, Controlled Timber Formation и Heritage Timber Bank.

2. The main ecological principle

The inclusion of timber in the Heritage Reserve should never be automatic.

Before making a business decision, the following sequence applies:

Ecological Assessment → Habitat Requirement → Heritage Assessment → Material Decision.

First question:

Does the ecosystem need this wood?

If the trunk has a high value as:

habitat;

large dead wood;

element of a river bed;

anti-erosion structure;

source of organic matter;

a habitat for fungi, insects, birds and other organisms,

he gets the statusLiving Habitat Timberand mostly remains in the ecosystem.

3. Four basic statuses of wood

The standard introduces a separate purpose code.

LHT — Living Habitat Timber

Remains in nature.

WT — Working Timber

Used by the current generation.

HT — Heritage Timber

It is included in the long-term reserve.

RT — Research Timber

Intended for scientific series and experiments.

One object can receive a combined status, for exampleHT-RT.

4. Timber Quality – the quality of the original wood

To avoid confusing quality with shelf life, a separate system is being introducedTQ.

TQ-A

Rare large trunks, outstanding texture, significant age, high state of preservation or special historical value.

TQ-B

High quality wood for long lasting durability.

TQ-C

Good material without exceptional characteristics.

TQ-D

Wood with defects or specially selected for experiments.

TQ-A does not mean that the wood should last 300 years.

This is only an indicator of the original quality.

5. Reserve Horizon

Duration is indicated independently:

For example:

TQ-A / RH-200

means class A timber with a specified two-hundred-year reserve horizon.

This eliminates the previous ambiguity between the A–D classifications.

6. Storage Method – storage technology

Each object receives a technology code.

Combined designations are allowed.

For example:

WET-SED

means a swamp reserve with wood placement in bottom sediments.

7. Storage Site Class

The storage location gets its own codeSS, not TQ.

SS-A — Strategic

Maximum hydrological and institutional stability.

Preferred for RH-100–RH-300+.

SS-B — Long-Term

High stability, but there are controlled risks.

SS-C — Medium-Term

Intended primarily for medium-term reserves.

SS-D — Experimental

Research sites and new technologies.

8. Species Code

The type of wood is recorded separately.

For the international standard, it is preferable to use the botanical name as the primary name.

For example:

Quercus robur — QROB Ash tree — FEXC Ulmus glabra — UGLA Deciduous Larix — LDEC

The popular name is stored additionally.

This is especially important for a program spanning several centuries and different language regions.

9. Geographical origin

The mandatory entry must contain:

Country → Region → Watershed → Forest/Stand → Tree.

For example:

CH-ZH-TOSS-FOREST03-TREE00124

In this case, the public identifier is not required to disclose the exact coordinates of the particularly valuable object.

10. Unified DHTS-ID

Each trunk receives an immutable primary identifier.

Suggested format:

DHT-[Species]-[Year]-[Country]-[Serial]

For example:

DHT-QROB-2032-CH-000124

This number never changes.

All other characteristics are attributes of the object.

11. Full recording

A full passport may look like this:

DHT-QROB-2032-CH-000124 HT / TQ-A / RH-200 / WET-SED / SS-A / PS-N

Reads:

English oak, registered in Switzerland in 2032; Heritage Timber; original class A; 200-year horizon; bog bottom reserve; strategic location class A; wood not yet extracted.

This format is much more robust than trying to encrypt everything in one number.

12. Timber Passport

Each object receives a complete digital passport.

Required data:

DHTS-ID;

breed;

origin;

origin coordinates;

date of registration;

reason for tree removal;

estimated age;

diameter;

length;

volume;

weight;

humidity;

TQ class;

photographs;

3D model;

defects;

results of the initial examination.

13. Provenance

The origin story is part of the value of Heritage Timber.

It is necessary to document:

Seed/Tree Origin → Forest → Environmental History → Removal → Transport → Reserve → Recovery → Stabilization → Final Material.

The recording must be continuous.

If the origin cannot be verified, the object is marked as such and cannot be certified as fully documented DREVO Heritage Timber.

14. Chain of Custody

Each transfer of an object is recorded.

For example:

Forest Authority→ DREVO Collection Team → Transport Operator → Reserve Authority → Heritage Timber Bank → Recovery Operator → Stabilization Facility → Final Custodian.

The following are recorded:

date;

transmission side;

state;

location;

responsible person/organization.

15. Pre-reserve diagnostics

Before bookmarking the following is required:

visual inspection;

measurement;

photography;

humidity;

rot assessment;

metal detection;

pollution check;

identification of major defects.

For TQ-A the following are additionally recommended:

ultrasound diagnostics;

spectral study;

dendrochronology;

3D scanning;

preservation of the control sample.

16. Reserve Entry Certificate

After posting, a record is createdREC — Reserve Entry Certificate.

It contains:

DHTS-ID;

date;

reserve;

sector;

row;

depth;

position;

fixation method;

water/air parameters;

wood condition;

responsible operator.

This date is the official beginningReserve Age.

17. Reserve Age

Tree age and reserve age cannot be confused.

Two parameters are used:

Third Age (TA)— the estimated biological age of the tree.

Reserve Age (RA)— the time the timber remains in the controlled reserve.

For example:

TA ≈ 180 years RA = 102 years.

This means that the material represents approximately 180-year-old wood, which has spent an additional 102 years in reserve.

18. Monitoring

Each type of reserve has its own monitoring plan.

Basic parameters:

temperature;

humidity or water level;

oxygen;

pH;

electrical conductivity;

wood condition;

position;

condition of fastenings;

surrounding ecosystem.

For AIR:

air temperature;

RH;

ventilation;

wood moisture content;

insects;

fungal activity.

19. Monitoring Event Record

Each check receives a separate entryMORE.

It contains:

Date → Measurements → Images → Condition → Changes → Intervention → Next Inspection.

Old records are never replaced by new ones.

A time series is formed.

20. Unchangeable History

One of the most important principles of the standard:

Erroneous data is corrected by creating a new entry, not by deleting the old one.

After 200 years, the researcher should be able to see the entire history of changes in information.

21. Research Status

For experimental objects, an additional code is used:

For example:

HT-RT / TQ-A / RH-100 / CAP / RS-TL

may represent one half of the Twin Log Experiment.

22. Control samples

For TQ-A and important research series, it is advisable to keep small samples close to the main trunk.

They get the connection:

Parent DHTS-ID → Sample ID.

For example:

DHT-QROB-2032-CH-000124-S05

where S05 is the fifth sample.

The main object is not damaged during each examination.

23. Research intervals

The standard may provide for a typical research grid:

T0 → T1 → T5 → T10 → T25 → T50 → T100 → T200.

This does not mean that material must be extracted at every stage.

For long-term reserves, non-destructive diagnostics and control samples are predominantly used.

24. Extraction Rule

Heritage Timber cannot be removed just because a buyer has appeared.

Before extraction, the following must be installed:

legal basis;

achievement of RH or justified exclusion;

environmental acceptability;

scientific assessment;

technical feasibility of stabilization;

further purpose of the material.

For RH-100+, it is advisable to make a decision collectively.

25. Reserve Exit Certificate

When lifting creates RXC — Reserve Exit Certificate.

The following are recorded:

date;

actual RA;

state;

ambient temperature;

chemical parameters;

photographs;

3D scanning;

extraction method;

damage;

transport mode.

After this, the object receives the status:

RECOVERED — NOT YET STABILIZED.

It is not yet a finished Heritage Material.

26. Post-Reserve Status

After extraction, a separate classification is applied:

It's better than using A-D again.

27. Post-reserve stabilization

No WAT/WET/SED/CAP object receives a finished material certificate immediately after extraction.

Mandatory sequence:

Wet Recovery → Wet Transfer → Diagnostics → Water Stabilization → Desalination if necessary → Controlled Moisture Reduction → Slow Drying → Conditioning → Final Testing.

The mode is determined individually based on the condition of the wood.

28. Mass and geometry control

During stabilization the following are recorded:

weight;

humidity;

temperature;

RH;

dimensions;

crack opening;

deformation.

For TQ-A, periodic 3D scanning is recommended.

The result is a digital history:

Geometry T0 → T1 → T2 → ...

29. Heritage Material Grade

After stabilization, the class of the final material is no longer assigned to the original TQ.

It is proposed:

HMG-1 — Exceptional Heritage

Exceptional material.

HMG-2 — Premium Heritage

High quality products, furniture, musical instruments.

HMG-3 — Architectural Heritage

Architecture, interior, structural applications after appropriate testing.

HMG-R — Research

Scientific use.

HMG-C — Conservation

Museum or archaeological material requiring special preservation conditions.

This avoids the erroneous assumption:

TQ-A → automatically HMG-1.

The situation can change significantly in 200 years.

30. Final Heritage Certificate

Only after stabilization and testing is the following issued:

DREVO Heritage Timber Certificate — DHTC

It contains:

DHTS-ID;

type of tree;

origin;

FACING;

DAY;

storage technology;

history of the environment;

stabilization results;

final humidity;

density;

mechanical properties;

HMG;

acceptable uses;

restrictions.

31. Splitting the trunk

After cutting, the main DHTS-ID is saved as the parent.

For example:

DHT-QROB-2032-CH-000124

becomes:

...-B001 — board ...-B002 ...-B003

or:

...-BL01 — block ...-V01 — veneer.

Thus, even a single board after 150 years retains its connection with the original tree.

32. The product retains its origin

If Heritage Timber evolves into:

table;

musical instrument;

door;

sculpture;

architectural element,

is being createdProduct Heritage Record.

The buyer or museum can trace:

product → board → trunk → reserve → forest → original tree.

This creates full traceability.

33. Never Sell Reserve

Separate status:

NSR — Never Sell Reserve

This property is not intended for general commercial sale.

Acceptable uses:

museum;

research;

restoration;

nationally significant object;

artwork;

Heritage Architecture;

save without extracting.

NSR modification must require a significantly higher level of resolution than normal extraction.

34. Permanent Research Reserve

Status:

PRR

Means:

The object is preserved indefinitely as a scientific control.

It is especially important for the DREVO Timber Time Library.

Even after 300 years, not all the wood needs to be extracted.

35. Minimal information redundancy

For a horizon of 100–300 years, one cloud base is not enough.

DHTS requires at least several independent levels:

Operational Database

National/Regional Archive

Scientific Archive

Offline Digital Copy

Physical Archive.

For particularly important reserves, a durable physical card is added.

36. Data formats

The standard should require the use of:

open formats;

documented data structure;

regular migration;

checksums;

backup;

machine-readable export.

Every 10–20 years, digital infrastructure must undergo a technological review.

The main task is to preserveinformation, and not specific 21st century software.

37. Physical Heritage Record

A physical archive is created for the RH-100+.

It may contain:

reserve description;

cards;

DHTS-ID list;

code system;

photographs;

printed passports;

small control samples;

instructions to the future custodian.

This is insurance against digital loss.

38. Environmental audit

Each reserve is periodically checked not only from the point of view of wood.

Evaluated:

water condition;

soil;

peat;

biodiversity;

hydrology;

carbon;

infrastructure impact;

risk of invasive species.

If conservation of Heritage Timber begins to harm the ecosystem, environmental safety takes priority.

39. DHTS Prohibitions

The standard should explicitly prohibit:

felling of ancient healthy trees exclusively for the Timber Reserve;

illegal extraction of bog wood;

laying contaminated timber without assessment;

use of toxic preservatives in natural reserves;

creation of reserves in valuable habitats without environmental justification;

concealment of the origin of the wood;

destruction of Timber Passport history;

selling NSR as a regular material;

passing off experimentally processed wood as naturally stained.

The last point is especially important.

40. Natural and Controlled labeling

The material must receive one of the following statuses:

NAT — Naturally Preserved

or

CTRL — Controlled Formation.

For example, timber from Timber Capsule should not be sold as natural 200-year-old swamp timber, even if it looks similar.

The history of formation is part of authenticity.

41. TREE Heritage 2300

For the most long-term projects, a special program is being introduced:

H2300

This is a reserve for the 21st century, part of which is expected to be preserved until the 23rd century and beyond.

Such objects automatically require:

SS-A;

multiple archiving;

Physical Heritage Record;

institutional custodian;

reserve successor;

periodic scientific revision.

42. Hierarchy of one object

As a result, one trunk receives not just one letter, but a clear multi-level identity:

Identity DHT-QROB-2032-CH-000124

Purpose HT

Initial QualityTQ-A

Reserve Horizon RH-200

Storage WET-SED

Site SS-A

Research RS-LT

Post-Reserve PS-N

Final Material Gradeis assigned after extraction.

This is much more sustainable for a multi-generational system.

43. Full life cycle of DHTS

TREE ↓ Ecological Assessment ↓ LHT / WT / HT / RT ↓ Timber Passport ↓ TQ Classification ↓DHTS-ID ↓ Pre-Reserve Diagnostics ↓ Reserve Selection ↓ RH + Storage Method + SS ↓ Reserve Entry Certificate ↓ Monitoring ↓ Research Series ↓ Reserve Exit Decision ↓ Reserve Exit Certificate ↓ Post-Reserve Stabilization ↓ Final Material Testing ↓ HMG Classification ↓ DREVO Heritage Timber Certificate ↓ Processing ↓ Product Heritage Record ↓ Archive.

44. Standard formula

In simplified form, the passport can be read as:

DHTS-ID + Purpose + TQ + RH + Storage + SS + RS + PS + HMG

For example:

DHT-QROB-2032-CH-000124 / HT / TQ-A / RH-200 / WET-SED / SS-A / RS-LT / PS-N

After extraction and stabilization:

DHT-QROB-2032-CH-000124 / HT / TQ-A / RA-203 / WET-SED / SS-A / PS-CERT / HMG-1

One line contains the history of a material that is more than two centuries long.