British Research Establishment

The use of tropical hardwood

The pattern of tropical hardwood use is changing under the influence of two key developments: the wish of supplier countries to gain greater social and economic benefits from their forests, and a world wide recognition of the need for better conservation and management of forests as a sustainable resource A study by BRE has compared world tropical hardwood consumption in 1988 (particularly that of the UK and other selected EU countries), with world consumption in 1993 and that of Europe in 1994.
Total world timber production changed little during that period, but tropical hardwood production increased with a corresponding reduction of temperate softwood. Nearly all of the increased tropical production is used locally for fuel (some 83% of timber cut in tropical countries was burnt as fuel in 1993) though local consumption for industrial use will also increase.
The use of tropical timber in most EU countries was significantly reduced. This contrasted with increased use of North American hardwoods (but not by the UK). There was a marked change in the pattern of supply, with many fewer logs and a somewhat lower volume of sawnwood, but an increased plywood supply.
A new BRE report gives details of these and other changes in the supply and use of tropical hardwoods. It reviews why these changes have occurred and considers their significance for future tropical hardwood supply. The report encourages the use of a wider range of tropical tree species and discusses the scope for future use of alternative materials.
A review of UK and European consumption of tropical hardwoods (Ref BR 319) is available from CRC Ltd, 151 Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R 4QX, phone (0171) 505 6622, price �9 (plus 90p p&p). An earlier report (ref BR 226) gives further details of world tropical hardwood consumption in 1988. The two reports can be purchased as a package for �16 (plus �1.60 p&p).
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Purchase enquiries to CRC Ltd, phone +44 (0)171 505 6622
Press enquiries to Tom Harvey, phone +44 (0)1923 664083, e-mail [email protected]