There is substantial evidence to argue that coconut wood utilization and commercialization have considerable potential in the immediate future and in the long term. This scenario is driven by several factors. First, in many countries in Asia, the availability of preferred tropical hardwood has declined dramatically in recent years, especially in areas with high population density. Second, the extensive stands of senile and unproductive coconut trees in the Asia-Pacific region will have to be cut and replaced by high yielding varieties to sustain the coconut industries in these countries which often constitute a pillar of their rural economies. The coconut replanting programmes in all coconut producing countries within the region would certainly release huge volumes of raw materials for utilization. Third, coconut wood processing technologies have been developed, and appropriate machinery and equipment have been developed to enable efficient commercial operation on coconut wood utilization.
From the economic and environmental point of view, it is practical to process and add value to a potentially useful resource rather than see it go to waste and pose a hazard to the environment. From the forest conservation perspective, increased used of coconut wood could potentially reduce the pressure exerted on natural forests by providing alternative or complementary raw material for housing, building construction and other uses. There is also significant prospects for income and employment generation to be derived from increased utilization of coconut wood. This prospect is both socially and economically attractive since more than 80% of coconut landholdings in the Asia-Pacific region are owned by small farmholders.
The demand for coconut wood for housing is very high in view of the fast growing population in the region. Tourism and the economic boom in the Pacific rim could also provide an increasing demand for coconut wood products in the form of furniture and other novelty items. Since the market is price driven, small but inexpensive and easy to sell cocowood items will find their way in the marketplace not only within the region but in European and North American countries. The environmental concern of most people in the world could create a push for an easily renewable resource like coconut wood. The idea of substituting the cutting of a forest tree with products derived from coconut lumber should fit well into the thinking and feelings of environmentally - friendly people world-wide.
The increasing trend of demand for coconut wood could very well follow the success achieved in the utilization and commercialization of rubberwood and even wood derived from mango trunks. After resolving the technological problems and constraints on raw material supply availability, rubberwood is now the raw material of choice for the Malaysian and Thai furniture industry.
To sustain the utilization and commercialization of coconut wood, it is therefore necessary that the governments and the private sector consider the following:
· ensure adequate raw material supply availability on a continuing and sustained basis;· maintain active research programme to overcome technical problems and expand product lines;
· support the training of potential sawmillers and other users to build confidence in the material and create a critical mass of investors and entrepreneurs in the coconut wood industry; and
· support a private sector led promotional campaign to convince all players in the industry and its potential users and consumers on the versatility of coconut wood.
Table 1 - Asia and Pacific: Coconut Area, 1991-1995 (in 1000 Ha)
|
Country |
1991 |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 | |
|
A. APCC member Countries |
10,071 |
10,105 |
10,090 |
10,272 |
10,437 | |
|
|
Asia |
9,533 |
9,548 |
9,529 |
9,706 |
9,852 |
|
|
India |
1,514 |
1,529 |
1,538 |
1,635 |
1,669 |
|
|
Indonesia |
3,573 |
3,599 |
3,636 |
3,681 |
3,712 |
|
|
Malaysia |
320 |
315 |
310 |
305 |
290 |
|
|
Philippines |
3,093 |
3,077 |
3,075 |
3,083 |
3,164 |
|
|
Sri Lanka |
419 |
419 |
419 |
419 |
419 |
|
|
Thailand |
389 |
389 |
336 |
397 |
412 |
|
|
Vietnam |
225 |
220 |
215 |
186 |
186 |
|
|
Pacific |
538 |
557 |
561 |
566 |
585 |
|
|
F.S. Micronesia |
17 |
17 |
17 |
17 |
17 |
|
|
Fiji |
56 |
65 |
65 |
65 |
64 |
|
|
Papua New Guinea |
260 |
260 |
260 |
260 |
260 |
|
|
Solomon Islands |
59 |
59 |
59 |
59 |
59 |
|
|
Vanuatu |
96 |
96 |
96 |
96 |
96 |
|
|
Western Samoa |
36 |
46 |
50 |
55 |
75 |
|
|
Palau |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
|
B. Other Countries |
111 |
111 |
109 |
109 |
109 | |
|
|
Asia |
63 |
63 |
64 |
64 |
64 |
|
|
Bangladesh |
31 |
31 |
31 |
31 |
31 |
|
|
Myanmar |
29 |
29 |
30 |
30 |
30 |
|
|
Others |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
Pacific |
48 |
48 |
45 |
45 |
45 |
|
|
French Polynesia |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
|
Kiribati |
26 |
27 |
25 |
26 |
25 |
|
|
Others |
17 |
16 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
|
|
Total |
10,182 |
10,216 |
10,199 |
10,381 |
10,546 |
Table 2: Cocowood Resources in Asia and Pacific
|
Country |
Coconut Area: 1995 |
Estimated Area with Senile Palms |
Estimated Area with Senile Palms |
Est. No. of Senile Trees |
Assumed Replanting Cycle |
Est. No. of Trees Available per year | |
|
A. APCC member Countries |
10,437 |
|
3,691 |
369,100 |
|
9,940 | |
|
|
Asia |
9,852 |
|
3,438 |
343,800 |
|
8,675 |
|
|
India |
1,669 |
20 |
334 |
33,400 |
20 |
167 |
|
|
Indonesia |
3,712 |
50 |
1,856 |
185,600 |
40 |
4,640 |
|
|
Malaysia |
290 |
|
93 |
9,300 |
20** |
465 |
|
|
Philippines |
3,164 |
30 |
949 |
94,900 |
40 |
2,373 |
|
|
Sri Lanka |
419 |
15 |
63 |
6,300 |
20 |
315 |
|
|
Thailand |
412 |
30 |
124 |
12,400 |
20 |
620 |
|
|
Vietnam |
186 |
10 |
19 |
1,900 |
20 |
95 |
|
|
Pacific |
585 |
|
253 |
25,300 |
|
1,265 |
|
|
F.S. Micronesia |
17 |
60 |
10 |
1,000 |
20 |
50 |
|
|
Fiji |
64 |
60 |
38 |
3,800 |
20 |
190 |
|
|
Papua New Guinea |
260 |
50 |
130 |
13,000 |
20 |
650 |
|
|
Solomon Islands |
59 |
20 |
12 |
1,200 |
20 |
60 |
|
|
Vanuatu |
96 |
50 |
48 |
4,800 |
20 |
240 |
|
|
Western Samoa |
75 |
16 |
12 |
1,200 |
20 |
60 |
|
|
Palau |
14 |
20 |
3 |
300 |
20 |
15 |
|
B. Other Countries |
109 |
|
22 |
2,200 |
|
110 | |
|
|
Asia |
64 |
20 |
13 |
1,300 |
20 |
65 |
|
|
Bangladesh |
31 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Myanmar |
30 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Others |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pacific |
45 |
20 |
9 |
900 |
20 |
45 |
|
|
French Polynesia |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kiribati |
25 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Others |
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
10,546 |
|
3,713 |
371,300 |
|
10,050 |
*Estimated at 100 tress per hectare
** Malaysia's current policy will not involve replanting but coconut area is on a decreasing trend and to be maintained at approx. 285,000 hectare-level/n the year 2000
Source: APCC Statistical Yearbook 1995.
APCC Coconut Industry Country Studies.
Personal Communications from country experts.
Table 3: Comparative physical properties of cocowood and some conventional wood
|
|
Cocowood |
Apitong |
White Lauan |
Tanguile |
||
|
Properties |
Dermal |
Sub-Dermal |
Core |
|||
|
Moisture content (%) |
87 |
182 |
356 |
83 |
85 |
88 |
|
Basic Density (kg/m3) |
697 |
473 |
286 |
619 |
441 |
466 |
|
Shrinkage (Green to Oven-dry) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Radial |
6.3 |
5.9 |
5.6 |
6.8 |
3.7 |
4.1 |
|
Tangential |
6.6 |
6.1 |
5.8 |
12.7 |
7.5 |
7.7 |
Table 4: Mechanical and related properties of cocowood
|
|
|
Static Bending |
Compression Parallel |
Compression Perpendicular |
||||
|
Basic Density (Kg/A3) |
Moisture Content (%) |
Modulus Of Elasticity (MPa) |
Modulus Of Rupture (MPa) |
Stress At Proportional Limit (MPa) |
Modulus Of Elasticity (MPa) |
Maximum Crushing Strength (MPa) |
Stress At Proportional Limit (MPa) |
Impact Bending (N) |
|
600 and above |
57 |
10,857 |
86 |
51.6 |
7,988 |
49 |
8.3 |
20.2 |
|
12 |
11,414 |
104 |
61.7 |
9,747 |
57 |
9.0 |
20.1 |
|
|
107 |
6,880 |
53 |
30.4 |
5,151 |
31 |
2.8 |
18.3 |
|
|
400 to 599 |
||||||||
|
|
12 |
7,116 |
63 |
38.4 |
5,282 |
38 |
3.4 |
10.1 |
|
|
240 |
3,100 |
26 |
13.1 |
2,287 |
15 |
1.3 |
8.4 |
|
250 to 399 |
||||||||
|
|
12 |
3,633 |
33 |
15.4 |
2,914 |
19 |
1.7 |
9.0 |
Table 5: Comparison of mechanical and related properties of cocowood with some common conventional wood in green condition
|
Property |
Cocowood (Cocos Nucifera) |
Apitong (Dipterocarpus grandiflorus) |
White Lauan (Pentacme concorta) |
Tanguile (Shored polysperma) |
|||
|
High Density |
Medium Density |
Low Density |
|||||
|
Static bending |
|||||||
|
|
Modulus of Elasticity (1000 MPa) |
10.9 |
6.9 |
3.1 |
12.9 |
95 |
10.4 |
|
|
Modulus of rupture (MPa) |
86 |
53 |
26 |
62.2 |
51.9 |
56.7 |
|
|
Stress at proportional limit (MPa) |
51.6 |
30.4 |
13.1 |
35.7 |
31.3 |
33.9 |
|
Compression parallel to grain |
|||||||
|
|
Modulus of elasticity (1000 MPa) |
7.9 |
5.2 |
2.3 |
17.3 |
12.3 |
13.3 |
|
|
Maximum crushing strength (MPa) |
49 |
31 |
15 |
29.5 |
25.5 |
27.2 |
|
Compression perpendicular to grain |
|||||||
|
|
Stress at proportional limit (MPa) |
8.3 |
2.8 |
1.3 |
4.8 |
3.3 |
3.7 |
|
Hardness |
|||||||
|
|
Side (KN) |
5.3 |
2.4 |
0.7 |
3.9 |
2.6 |
2.7 |
|
|
End (KN) |
3.8 |
2.1 |
1.3 |
3.8 |
2.9 |
2.8 |
Table 6: Uses of coconut timber for building construction
|
Uses |
Portion of Coconut Timber |
|
Posts |
Solid - round form |
|
Flooring |
Hard |
|
Trusses |
Hard |
|
Floor joists |
Hard |
|
Stairs and railings |
Hard |
|
Door panels |
Hard |
|
Rafters |
Hard |
|
Window jambs |
Hard |
|
Sidings |
Hard with soft |
|
Ceiling |
Hard with soft |
|
Jalousies |
Hard with soft |
|
Studs |
Medium |
|
Purlins |
Medium |
|
Roof shingles |
Medium |
|
Exterior walls |
Medium |
|
Panels |
Soft |
|
Interior walls |
Soft |
Table 7: Coconut timber derived products and recommended characteristics of raw materials
|
Products |
Portion of Coconut Timber | |
|
Boxes | ||
|
|
Cigar boxes |
Hard portion |
|
|
Chest and jewel boxes |
Hard portion |
|
|
Crating and packing boxes |
Hard with soft portion |
|
|
Canes and sticks |
Hard portion |
|
Household implements | ||
|
|
Plates |
Hard with soft portion |
|
|
Bowls |
Hard with soft portion |
|
|
Cups |
Hard with soft portion |
|
Novelties | ||
|
|
Gavels |
Hard portion |
|
|
Handles |
Hard portion |
|
|
Glass holder |
Hard with soft portion |
|
|
Candle holder |
Hard with soft portion |
|
|
Paper weight |
Hard with soft portion |
|
|
Ink stand |
Hard with soft portion |
|
|
Pencil holder |
Hard with soft portion |
|
|
Ash tray |
Hard with soft portion |
|
|
Lampshade stand |
Hard with soft portion |
|
|
name plate |
Hard with soft portion |
|
|
Laminated baseball bat |
Hard with soft portion |
|
|
Flower vases |
Hard with soft portion |
|
|
Cloth hangers |
Soft portion |
|
Fixtures | ||
|
|
Show case |
Hard portion |
|
|
Moulding |
Hard portion |
|
|
Shelves |
Hard with soft portion |
|
|
Cabinet divider |
Hard with soft portion |
|
Parquet flooring |
Hard portion | |
|
Balusters |
Hard with soft portion | |
|
Headboards |
Hard with soft portion | |
|
Drafting boards |
Hard with soft portion | |
|
Radio and television cabinets |
Hard with soft portion | |
|
Boat side planking |
Hard portion | |
|
Street sign posts |
Hard portion | |
|
Road guard rails |
Round and half round forms | |
Table 8: Kiln drying schedule of 25 mm sawn coconut lumber
|
Moisture Content (%) |
Dry Bulb Temperature (C) |
Wet Bulb Temperature |
Relative Humidity |
Cumulative Drying Time (Days) |
|
Green - 85 |
49 |
44 |
78 |
2 |
|
85-58 |
53 |
47 |
75 |
4 |
|
58-35 |
56 |
48 |
64 |
5 |
|
35 -28 |
58 |
49 |
51 |
7 |
|
28- 19 |
62 |
48 |
43 |
9 |
|
19- 12 |
60 |
43 |
40 |
10 |
Table 9: Air and kiln drying schedule of 50 mm sawn coconut lumber
|
Moisture Content (%) |
Dry Bulb Temperature (C) |
Wet Bulb Temperature |
Relative Humidity |
Cumulative Drying Time (Days) |
|
|
|
|
|
(Air drying) |
|
Green - 64 |
- |
- |
- |
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
(Kiln drying) |
|
64-54 |
45 |
36 |
55 |
3 |
|
54-39 |
50 |
40 |
55 |
6 |
|
39-28 |
55 |
44 |
53 |
10 |
|
28-22 |
58 |
46 |
53 |
13 |
|
22- 17 |
61 |
47 |
51 |
17 |
|
17- 15 |
65 |
48 |
53 |
20 |
Table 10: Recommended treating processes for coconut wood
|
Service Condition |
Preservative And Concentration |
Process And Treatment Schedule |
Timber Condition |
Retention (KIt/Cu.m.) |
|
Ground Contact |
CCA: 4-5% |
Pressure: 1st vacuum 45 min; |
Dry |
14-18 |
|
Outdoor, not in contact with ground |
CCA: 2% |
Pressure: 1st vacuum-30 |
Dry |
7-12 |
|
Indoor, not in contact with ground |
Pentachlorophenol 5 % in Oil |
Soaking/brushing |
Dry |
1.8-2.0 |
|
Cuprinol: ready-mixed |
Brushing: brush for 3 coatings |
Dry |
1.8-2.0 |
|
|
CCA: 2% |
Soaking/brushing |
Dry |
1.8-2.0 |
Table 11: Population of Coconut Crowing Countries in Asia Pacific and their Projected Requirements for Housing (in '000,000)
|
Country |
Population |
1 % of Population requiring housing unit |
Cocowood requirement at 15 Cu.m. per housing unit |
5 % of population requiring housing unit |
Cocowood requirement at 15 Cu.m. per housing unit |
|
A. APCC member Countries |
1348.3586 |
13.4836 |
202.2538 |
67.4179 |
1011.2690 |
|
Asia |
1342.7600 |
13.4276 |
201.4140 |
67.1380 |
1007.0700 |
|
India |
914.0000 |
9.1400 |
137.1000 |
45.7000 |
685.5000 |
|
Indonesia |
192.2200 |
1.9222 |
28.8330 |
9.6110 |
144.1650 |
|
Malaysia |
19.6500 |
0.1965 |
2.9475 |
0.9825 |
14.7375 |
|
Philippines |
67.0400 |
0.6704 |
10.0560 |
3.3520 |
50.2800 |
|
Sri Lanka |
17.8600 |
0.1786 |
2.6790 |
0.8930 |
13.3950 |
|
Thailand |
59.4000 |
0.5940 |
8.9100 |
2.9700 |
44.5500 |
|
Vietnam |
72.5900 |
0.7259 |
10.8885 |
3.6295 |
54.4425 |
|
Pacific |
5.5986 |
0.0560 |
0.8398 |
0.2799 |
4.1990 |
|
F.S. Micronesia |
0.1040 |
0.0010 |
0.0156 |
0.0052 |
0.0780 |
|
Fiji |
0.7780 |
0.0078 |
0.1167 |
0.0389 |
0.5835 |
|
Papua New Guinea |
4.0000 |
0.0400 |
0.6000 |
0.2000 |
3.0000 |
|
Solomon Islands |
0.3680 |
0.0037 |
0.0552 |
0.0184 |
0.2760 |
|
Vanuatu |
0.1641 |
0.0016 |
0.0246 |
0.0082 |
0.1231 |
|
Western Samoa |
0.1680 |
0.0017 |
0.0252 |
0.0084 |
0.1260 |
|
Palau |
0.0165 |
0.0002 |
0.0025 |
0.0008 |
0.0124 |
|
B. Other Countries |
161.9154 |
1.6192 |
24.2873 |
8.0958 |
121.4366 |
|
Asia |
161.6200 |
1.6162 |
24.2430 |
8.0810 |
121.2150 |
|
Bangladesh |
117.7000 |
1.1770 |
17.6550 |
5.8850 |
88.2750 |
|
Myanmar |
43.9200 |
0.4392 |
6.5880 |
2.1960 |
32.9400 |
|
Others |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pacific |
0.2954 |
0.0030 |
0.0443 |
0.0148 |
0.2216 |
|
French Polynesia |
0.2170 |
0.0022 |
0.0326 |
0.0109 |
0.1628 |
|
Kiribati |
0.0784 |
0.0008 |
0.0118 |
0.0039 |
0.0588 |
|
Others |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
1510.2740 |
15.1027 |
226.5411 |
75.5137 |
1132.7055 |
* Source: Asia-Pacific in Figures, 1995, ESCAP
