Abstract

It is high time our forests are managed for sustained development and the wasteland afforested to meet the ever increasing timber requirement. As timber has become an integral part of man's life style, it cannot be completely replaced. We should substitute timber from natural forests with ecofriendly products. Timber from coconut palms is an important resource to meet the timber requirement. Another eco-friendly wood substitute is the timber from rubber trees. To convert perishable timber like rubber wood into value-added products, it has to be treated with preservative chemicals. If proper environmental guidelines are subscribed to, manufacturing process of building boards or treatment process of perishable timbers need not be hazardous to the environment. The substitutes could be timber from sources other than natural forests and timber products from wood and agricultural residues. Use of eco-friendly timber substitutes should be given encouragement so that our