Peculiarities of determining the value of fuel wood in the course of forensic commodity examination

Abstract

The article highlights the theoretical and practical aspects of determining the value of fuelwood in the course of forensic commodity examination. The regulatory framework of Ukraine governing the accounting, harvesting, and valuation of wood is analyzed, as well as the specific features of its use as one of the most demanded types of solid fuel. The main methods of accounting for firewood, measuring volumes, assessing quality, and determining the market value of fuelwood are identified. The aim of the study is to summarize expert practice concerning the examination of the volume and value of firewood, as well as to identify the specific features of conducting forensic commodity examinations of fuelwood. The methodological basis of the study consists of the provisions of commodity examination and property valuation aimed at determining the volume, qualitative characteristics, and market value of fuelwood. The article applies the comparative approach to valuation, analysis of regulatory and legal sources, organoleptic and instrumental research methods, as well asmethods for determining the volume of firewood: solid cubic volume, stacked volume, loose volume, and weight-based measurement. The scientific novelty lies in the systematization of factors that influence the determination of the value of fuelwood, taking into account woodspecies, moisture content, harvesting method, geometric parameters, sales conditions, and market conditions, as well as in a comprehensive approach to the application of methods for determining the volume and valuation of fuelwood in forensic expert practice. The conclusionsemphasize that determining the value of fuelwood is a complex multifactorial process that requires a comprehensive analysis of the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the object under examination. In the practice of forensic commodity examination, the most appropriate method is the application of the comparative approach with the corresponding adjustment of price indicators. Further improvement of the methodological support for expert research will contribute to increasing the validity and evidentiary value of expert conclusions in cases related to the circulation of fuelwood.