A project is under way in India to upgrade secondary timber to make it perform like good quality teak and rosewood.
The research wing of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department says tests have shown that at least 15 species of wood can be made to look like teak and rosewood through an ammonia treatment process.
And it says the project could benefit both the customer and the farmer. The customer will be able to meet construction and furniture requirements more cheaply while the farmer will be able to grow lesser known timber yet earn more returns from the land. This in turn will reduce pressure on natural forests.
To date, 13 species of trees have been shortlisted as suitable for use as plywood veneer, seven of which could be used as core veneer.
Efforts are now being made to select at least 50 economically important species for farmers’ land. A long-term selection and cloning project has already enabled researchers to achieve a 50% higher biomass yield from casuarina plantations.
