Coniferous trees of the Tetraclinis articulata known under the Common name thuja from Berberie, is an endemic species from North Africa. The solid wood is much appreciated for its natural beauty and homogeneity and its quality for marquetry and furniture. The aim is to improve Tetraclinis articulate uses. At present, its wood is widely underestimated and sub-used compared to its announced qualities. Previous studies have shown that the Cupressaceous, to which the thuja belongs, possesses extractable compounds called tropolones considered as being responsible for their natural durability. A first objective is to analyse the inherent characteristics of Tetraclinis articulatasolid, a solid wood originated from Morocco, based on its physical and mechanical properties because there is little scientific data in the literature related to the quality of this species of wood. A second one is to assess the anti fungus potentials of thuja sawdust or woodchip recovered at the end of processing the timber. Indeed, the extraction of tropolones can be expensive and unprofitable, it seems therefore interesting to test the anti fungal activities and consider the possibility of incorporating them into particle board and test their durability. We have performed physical and mechanical tests and conducted biological degradation tests. Microbial resistance properties have been investigated to show any possible decay zones in the samples. Preliminary results of the biocides activities in sawdust show that rates from 1 to 2 % of sawdust, incorporated in the culture medium, limit the development of degradation agents as Coriolus Versicolor. In this context, the use of sawdust in an industrial scale in Morocco would be an environmental challenge and an answer to the challenges required, among others, by evaluation of local biomass and the reduction of the use of organic and mineral biocides.

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