Emmanuel Ebanyenle was fortunate to participate in the T5.16 IAWA-IUFRO Symposium on Advancing Methods and Applications of Wood Identification held on 27th and 28th June, 2024 at Stockholm, Sweden. He co-chaired the poster session of IAWA-IUFRO Symposium and also shared Ghana’s experience in science-based wood identification methods through an oral presentation “An automated timber identification system for Guibourtia ehie and two Melicia species” and a poster presentation “The role of multi-stakeholders’ dialogue in addressing timber trafficking: implications for science-based wood identification methods in Ghana”. Several presentations from colleague scientists exposed him to cutting edge research in anatomical, chemical and genetic methods for determination of origin and species identification of timber. In his opinion advancing research in chemical and genetic research in Ghana for determination of origin and timber species identification will complement the existing timber verification techniques to combat illegal logging more effectively. Fortunately, his team is currently collecting geo-referenced wood specimens for over 100 Ghanaian timbers across the ecological zones of Ghana in cooperation with US Forest Service.  Interested Scientists are welcome to partner with him and his colleagues to research into the chemical and genetic methods for determination of origin of timber and species identification. Finally, it was a great feeling meeting with IAWA members in person. He is grateful to IAWA and CSIR- Forestry Research Institute of Ghana for supporting him to participate in XXVI IUFRO World Congress 2024 in Stockholm, Sweden.