PLANTATION GROWN TROPICAL TIMBERS. 2. PROPERTIES, PROCESSING AND USES

Abstract

Wood properties, timber processing characteristics, and potential timber uses of ten major tropical plantation species have been evaluated at the Forest Research Institute, New Zealand. The difference between short-rotation plantation grown and natural forest timbers, and the implications of these differences to the processor and user are highlighted in this paper. The major difficulties associated with plantation grown timbers are reductions of density, decay resistance, and lower timber recoveries due to growth stress, smaller log size and the higher frequency of knots. Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) is thought to have the highest potential for production of high-value decorative timber, and Pinus Caribaea var. hondurensis the highest potential for producing utility timbers.