New research into the properties of alternative timbers will help those in the marine and freshwater construction industry make their work more sustainable.

This message comes as the Environment Agency, HR Wallingford and TRADA Technology work together to provide better, clearer information on commercially available, but lesser known hardwoods such as Basralocus, Dahoma and Cloeziana.

Typically, freshwater and marine construction work involves the use of a small number of 'tried and tested' timbers, such as Greenheart, Ekki and Opepe. This puts pressure on supplies and strain on the environment. By providing information on the properties of less regularly used, but promising, hardwoods, the study hopes to encourage the use of a wider range of legal and sustainable timber in construction.

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Mark Yeomans, Head of Procurement at the Environment Agency, said: "In the past, construction professionals have been limited in their choices due to a lack of information and the cost of finding out more.

"Together with our project partners we are thoroughly testing a range of lesser known hardwoods that may be suitable alternatives to more popular species which could become scarce if over exploited."

Mr Yeomans added: "This means looking at the wide ranging factors that affect performance, such as engineering properties and abrasion resistance – for example the effects of pebble and tide action on the timber."

Jonathan Simm of HR Walingford, also said: "Designing and construction structures for coasts and rivers with materials such as timber is a real challenge. Risks associated with construction in this changing environment and rates of deterioration in performance during service life are important.

"It is one of the reasons why engineers will tend to use lesser-known timbers unless they have a well-documented service-life record."

Funding has been contributed by the Environment Agency, TRADA Technology, British Waterways, The Crown Estate and Volker Stevin Ltd. Timber samples have been given by Ecochoice UK Ltd and Aitken & Howard Ltd, with Ecochoice providing expert knowledge on lesser known species, their commercial availability and performance.

(JM/NS)