Natural decay resistance of some lesser known /used timber species from the forests of Tanzania

IRG/WP 05-10557

S A Amartey, P R Gillah, R C Ishengoma, J Gabriel, D H Kitojo

In order to manage the Tropical forest in a sustainable manner and increase the resource base for their wood industries, many Tropical African timber producing countries including Tanzania are promoting the many lesser known/used timbers in their forests as alternative sources of wood to the over-exploited primary timber species. Four lesser known/utilized timber species from the forests of Tanzania namely: Polyscias fulva (Mdeki), Prunus africana (Mwiluti), Bridelia micrantha (Mwisa) and Myrianthus holstii (Mfusta) were exposed to the wood decay fungi Goeophyllum trabeum, Coniophora puteana and Coriolus versicolor in order to determine their natural decay resistance to the fungi according to the EN 113 (1993) standard. Results obtained were used to rank the timbers into natural durability classes according to EN 350-1 (1993). B.micrantha and M. holstii were found to be very durable timbers but P. fulva and P. africana were not durable. B. micrantha and M. holstii can therefore be used as alternative timbers to the well known but rather over-exploited durable timbers such as Burkea africana and Tectona grandis for certain end uses.


Keywords: Natural durability, decay resistance

Conference: 05-04-24/28 Bangalore, India


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