The life-expectancy of Papua New Guinea hardwoods in the marine environment has in the past been too short to be an economical proposition, a service life of six to twelve months being obtained from some of the timbers susceptible to marine wood borer attack. Consequently plans for wharves and other marine structures have specified the use of imported materials such,as steel and concrete. Due to the importance of a developing country utilising its own resources and due to the superior mechanical properties of wood compared with steel and concrete in marine structures, Forest Products Research Centre undertook a programme of work in 1970 to determine the nature and extent of marine wood borer attack in Papua New Guinea; to obtain data on the natural durability of Papua New Guinea timbers in the marine environment; and to determine the resistance of Papua New Guinea softwoods and hardwoods, pressure impregnated with C.C.A., to marine wood borer attack.

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