Coconut timber from non-productive plantations is a byproduct of an agricultural crop and, by the same token, constitutes a renewable resource which may serve as a complement to or, at least in part, as a substitute for traditional timbers in local markets. Its more extensive utilization is expected to contribute to the conservation of tropical rain forests. Export of coconut timber and/or wood products can open up new possibilities for exporting countries to acquire additional supplies of foreign exchange. Earlier attempts of export to industrialized countries were little successful for a number of reasons, primarily inadequate grading and drying before transport, or the lack of experience in processing and chemically treating this very particular raw material. Comprehensive knowledge about technological (physical, mechanical) properties, the durability as well as a reliable preservative treatment are indispensable in order to process and market coconut wood and wood products economically. The objective of this paper is to contribute to the durability of coconut timber.

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