DNA生物條碼的目標是利用分子工具應用於物種鑑定上，然其意義不僅是單純的序列資料，而是整合分類和生物資訊的社群系統，其快速和準確性高的物種鑑定能力，有助於森林研究的發展。本文回顧植物DNA生物條碼的發展及DNA生物條碼在森林的應用面，包括森林生態學、樹種鑑定、木材鑑識，及DNA生物條碼的發展趨勢。

DNA Barcode applies molecular tools on species identification. This application goes beyond sequence data, and shared community resource to integrate taxonomic and biological information. The ability to fast and accurate identification can facilitate the development of forest researches. In this paper, authors reviewed the process of a plant barcode and its application on forest, including forest ecology, tree species identification, timber identification and outline the development of DNA barcode.