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Senile coconut trees reborn as engineered wood
A pioneering initiative to transform ageing coconut trees into valuable engineered wood products has launched in Fiji, promising sustainable development for the nation’s Northern Division.
Traditionally, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” has applied to manufactured goods, but now researchers are extending this philosophy to senile coconut trees, which are over 60 years old and have experienced declining nut production. These trees often stand idle, posing a risk as breeding grounds for pests like the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB).
The two-day steering committee and workshop on "Coconut and other non-traditional forest resources for the manufacture of Engineered Wood Products” held at Hot Springs Hotel in Savusavu, Fiji, recently aimed to address these issues by repurposing senile coconut stems into engineered wood products.
The workshop, which kicked off on November 5, 2024, with key stakeholders, concluded with a field trip to observe ongoing trials in nearby facilities on November 6.
Commissioner Northern and chief guest, Mr Uraia Rainima, expressed gratitude for the developmental focus on the Northern Division.
Engineered Wood Products have the potential to drive economic growth and create a unique market, as over 50 per cent of the country’s plywood is imported.
“There will be numerous advantages when new resources, like aged coconut palms, can be utilised in high-value wood products. Crucially, the agricultural communities manage to eliminate a considerable amount of unproductive old coconut palms and, with the proceeds from the sale of the logs, they can replenish their land with new palms or other useful food crops,” he said.
“Innovative and novel items can be produced by our timber sector. These can be pursued locally in high-value export opportunities as well as in specialist joinery and furniture manufacturing. Along the new value chain, employment opportunities are anticipated."
SPC’s Naural Resource Management Adviser, Jalesi Mateboto, emphasised the importance of sustainable development, reinforcing the Pacific Community’s (SPC) commitment to a people-centred approach.
“This project will greatly benefit stakeholders and the community alike,” he noted, signalling hopes for both economic and environmental gains.
Participants of the workshop included representatives from various organisations, including SPC, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), and the Fiji Ministry of Forestry, among others.
The second day’s field trip brought participants to a local steam box, and peeling site at the Dreketi Houyilin mill, where they observed the successful peeling of old coconut stems into veneer sheets. This innovative process could pave the way for a wide array of plywood products featuring coconut veneer, offering a practical solution to the challenge of managing senile coconut trees.
With the successful trials at Long Investment Limited, the project’s team is optimistic about future developments that could position the Northern Division as a hub for sustainable timber products, further reducing reliance on imported wood products and providing a unique opportunity for economic growth in the region.
The workshop was attended by participants from SPC (Pacific Community), ACIAR (Australian Centre of International Agricultural Research), QDAF (Queensland Department of Agriculture and Forestry), University of Queensland, Fiji Ministry of Forestry, Fiji Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Fiji Hardwood Corporation Limited (FHCL), iTaukei Affairs, Mahogany Industries Limited Fiji, Fiji Growers Association, Long Investment Limited, Valebasoga Tropik Boards and Teitei Taveuni.
