This part of the glossary identifies some of the main tree species that are frequently harvested and traded illegally (Source: Timber Development Association 2007).
Bintangor (Calophyllum spp.) This genus is widely distributed throughout South–East Asia and is used for flooring, furniture, light construction, boatbuilding and cabinetwork. Other common names include bintangur (Indonesia), penaga (Malaysia), bintangor (Malaysia), calophyllum (Papua New Guinea), bansanghal (Philippines), koila (Solomon Islands), poon (Thailand) and cong (Vietnam).
Daeng (Xylia kerrii) Daeng is a perennial non-climbing tree native to Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and Thailand. It is used as a timber source but also for domestic and medical purposes.
Deglupta (Eucalyptus deglupta)
Eucalyptus deglupta is native to the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Indonesia. It is a popular plantation species used for general construction, pulp and paper products and posts. Other common names include bagras (Philippines), mindanao gum (Australia), and komo or kamarere (Papua New Guinea).
Gmelina (Gmelina arborea) Gmelina is found in Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Thailand, the Solomon Islands and the Philippines. It was widely introduced as a forestry tree or for ornament and shade and is used for general carpentry, furniture, plywood, pulp and paper products, particleboard, matches, carvings and clogs. Other common names include yemane (Fiji), Malay bush-beech, white beech and white teak.
Kapur (Dryobalan-ops spp.) Other common names include keladan and paigie (Malaysia). Found mainly in Indonesia and Malaysia, kapur has a red-brown wood that is used as general construction timber, as well as for internal and external finishing materials, particularly exposed beams, door and window joinery, staircase material and furniture. It is particularly sought after in Australia for external joinery and decking.
Kasai (Pometia pinnata) Kasai is found from Sri Lanka throughout South–East Asia towards Taiwan, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Samoa. It is a general-purpose timber used for furniture, panelling, joinery, veneer and moulding.
Other common names include matoa (Indonesia), kasai, sibu, taun (Malaysia), agupanga, malungai, tungaui (Philippines), taun (Solomon Islands) and truong (Vietnam).
Kauri (Agathis vitiensis) Other common names include dakua makadre (Fiji), kauri pine (New Zealand), bindang (Sarawak), menghilan (Sabah), damar minyak (Malaya), tolong (Brunei) and almaciga (Philippines). Kauri is found throughout Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, and extending to New Guinea, New Zealand and Fiji. The timber is largely used for millwork, boatbuilding, furniture, veneers, and pencil slats. Trees are tapped for their copal, and used in varnishes and lacquers.
Keruing (Dipterocarpus spp.) Other common names include dau (Cambodia and Vietnam), Keroeing (Indonesia), main hang, mai sat (Laos), keruing bajak, keruing beras (Peninsular Malaysia), kanyin, yang (Myanmar), apitong (Philippines) and yang (Thailand). Keruing is found in regions of Indonesia, Malaysia and Cambodia. Its main uses include transport decking, plywood, building and strength applications in furniture.
Kwila (Intsia bijuga) Kwila is native to South–East Asia from the Malaysian mainland through the islands to New Guinea and as east to Fiji and the Solomon Islands with small amounts found in northern Australia. The dense, highly termite-resistant timber is used throughout Asia for furniture, panelling, boatbuilding and veneers. Large amounts are imported into Australia for flooring, joinery and decking.
Mayapis (Shorea squamata) Mayapis is found in the Philippines, and is used in interior joinery and panelling, furniture, veneer, shipbuilding and moulding. It is
commercialised as white lauan (when pale) and red lauan (when dark).
Mengkulang (Tarrietia javanica)
Found through Indonesia, Malaysia and other western Pacific islands, mengkulang is typically used for flooring, veneer, furniture, panelling, joinery and cabinetwork. Its other common names include don chem (Cambodia), palapi, teraling (Indonesia), mai hao, mai po hao (Laos), kembang, mengkulang (Malaysia), kanzo (Myanmar), lumbayau (Philippines), chumprak (Thailand) and huynh (Vietnam).
Meranti (Shorea spp.) This species is mainly found in Indonesia and Malaysia, and is primarily used for cladding, exterior and interior joinery, plywood and furniture.
Merbau (Intsia spp.) Merbau is native to Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and some Pacific Island nations. It is generally used in internal and external joinery, flooring and heavy structural use.
Mersawa (Anisoptera spp.) Other common names include phdiek (Cambodia), pengiran (Papua New Guinea), kaunghmu (Myanmar), palosapis (Philippines) and krabak (Thailand). Mersawa is found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia and Papua New Guinea. It is used for light construction, furniture, plywood, veneer and marine construction.
Merawan (Hopea spp.) Other common names include merawan (Peninsular Malaysia), luis (Sarawak), mang (Sarawak), selangan (Sabah and Sarawak) and koki (Cambodia). Merawan is found throughout Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia. It is suitable for general construction, boatbuilding, furniture, flooring, joinery, decking, plywood and mouldings. The heavier species are also commonly used for heavy construction.
Ramin (Gonystylus spp.) A tropical hardwood native to Indonesia and Malaysia. Cultivation of ramin is difficult and the species has never been grown successfully in plantations. It is usually traded in semi-finished parts and products, rather than in raw form, and is commonly used for furniture, wooden blinds, picture frames, high-grade fine detail moulding, dowelling, carving and other decorative items. It is a particularly prized type of timber because of its appearance and colour, fine grain, and easy working properties. Ramin is listed in the World List of Threatened Species and in Appendix III of CITES. The high value of ramin wood makes the tree an attractive target for loggers.
Red balau (Shorea vulgaris) Other common names include damar tampih (Kalimantan), beraja (Sumatra), choâ(r) chìng (Cambodia), chik dìng (Laos), balau (Peninsular Malaysia), selangan batu merah (Sabah), guijo (Philippines), phayom (Thailand) and chiay (Vietnam). Red balau is found in Cambodia, West Malaysia, Borneo, Indonesia and the Philippines, and is used for heavy construction work, bridges, sleepers, boats and wharfs.
Teak (Tectona grandis) Teak is native throughout Myanmar and the Indian peninsular, in Thailand and Indonesia. It has also been introduced into Malaysia and the Philippines. It is commonly used for sports goods, exterior and interior joinery, furniture, ship building, decking, doors, panelling and veneer.
White albizia (Albizia falcataria)
White albizia is found mainly in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. It is highly useful for pulpwood, fibreboard and particleboard, and also used for veneer, furniture, matches and crates. Other common names include molucca albizia, Indonesia albizia, batai (Peninsular Malaysia), mara (Sri Lanka), falkata, moluccan sau (Philippines), kayu macis (Sarawak, Malaysia), djeungdjing, sengon, sengon laut (Indonesia), tamalini (W. Samoa) and vaivai (Fiji).
White seraya (Parashorea plicata)
Found in Malaysia and the Philippines, the timber is used for interior joinery, light construction, flooring, plywood, furniture and
cabinetwork, general carpentry, plywood and ships’ decking. Other common names include bagtikan (Philippines), light red lauan, white seraya and urat mata. White seraya usually refers to Malaysian Species and bagitkan to Philippine species.