Queensland Government
Department of Primary industries and Fisheries
Media Release
12 January 2009
We see them along our beachfronts and in many streets and gardens, but the iconic palm tree may soon have a new place in the Queensland lifestyle as a high quality building product.
Research conducted by the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) has found that Cocowood, produced from coconut palm tree trunks, is suitable for use as high value flooring, bench tops, kitchen cabinets and furniture.
DPI&F senior technician Gary Hopewell said the latest findings from the three year $520,000 Cocowood project showed that processed coconut palm wood was actually superior to many other commercially available timbers.
”A number of Australian flooring product manufacturers are evaluating the material for their domestic manufacturing operations,” he said.
“Timber industry representatives from Australia, Fiji and Samoa, including flooring market and production specialists and potential suppliers and processors, are studying drying and processing technologies to ensure strict quality control of the product.
“Even medium density palm logs can be processed to make attractive veneers and plywood.
“The positive results achieved to date support development of palm stem processing in Pacific island countries of origin, with valued added flooring and other products produced in Australia.”
Many Pacific island nations including Tonga, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu have large but ageing coconut palm plantations, where there is declining coconut and copra crop production.
Mr Hopewell said the project was looking at opportunities to use these plantations to generate new timber industries, and create new Australian export and consumer markets, while providing a new source of income for Pacific island peoples from a locally available resource.
“With strong demand for flooring products in Asia, America and Europe, Cocowood products could be very lucrative for Queensland and our Pacific neighbours,” he said.
“By developing a Cocowood industry to provide a range of timber products, we could help reduce the demand for timber from old growth forests in Pacific island nations.”
This year the project enters a new stage with the further refinement of Cocowood processing for commercialisation and entry to domestic and international markets.
The Cocowood project is co-funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural research (ACIAR). DPI&F is a partner agency with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), the Fiji Coconut Industry Development Authority, (CIDA), Fiji Ministry of Fisheries and Forests, Samoan Ministry for Natural Resources and Environment and Strickland Brothers, Samoa.
Caption 1
Cocowood showing its distinctive woodgrain pattern
<<cocofloor_1.jpg>> <<Hopewell_cocowood_1.jpg>>
Caption 2
DPI&F senior technician Gary Hopewell evaluating Cocowood samples.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Bula Gary,
Brilliant! Now what?
Hurricane in 2003 and another C5 last year. We won’t have any trees to mill at this rate.
Are these just lab and bench top results or is there an actual veneer mill somewhere in this story.
We have a cocowood furniture manufacturer in Fiji, but rates offered to farmers is on the basis that cocowood is a waste product and not a premium timber.
Farmers need a rate that will pay for replanting.
Ideally a veneer mill should be reasonably portable to reduce transport costs, but then there is the problem of management or owners having to live in remote areas.
Merry Christmas.
This is invaluable reading for us ((timber suppliers). If this new initiative is proved successful, then the era of timber could be revolutionised. I will keep updated regarding any developments, because this could potentially open up new niches. Thanks for providing me with first hand knowledge!
I am interested to know if there is any Coco timber flooring
(floor boards) available for us in Qld. or Australia. (Brisbane area buyer interest) What price if available? ASAP. Thanks.
My family owns a coconut plantation which has reached its usefull life span for coconut production. We are looking at what to do with the 360,000 coconut trees inside the farm since we wish to replant the farm with Cocoa trees. Do you know of anyone interested in purchasing processed or unprocessed coconut tree timber?