Abstract
Knowledge of the wood properties of tropical tree species is still relatively limited, making that timber exploitation focuses on a few abundant, large-diameter species. Very few is known about small diameter trees although they may be used, directly as round wood, in construction timber building. The aim of this work was to determine the wood natural durability of 8 candidate species for roundwood building in French Guiana ; Oxandra askeckii, Goupia glabra, Lecythis persistens, Hymenopus heteromorphus, Pouteria bangii, Licania alba, Tachigali melinonii, Simarouba amara and Virola surinamensis wood samples were exposed to white rots (European and tropical), brown rot (European) and European subterranean termites (using non-choice and multi-choice tests), in laboratory conditions by screening tests adapted from European standards. Only two species were classified as durable against both fungi and termites: Licania alba and Pouteria bangii, meaning they can be used without treatment as building material under tropical or temperate climate. The other tested species were classified (1) as durable but with important difference observed between fungal and termite durability (Goupia, Lecythis, Oxandra), (2) moderately durable (Hymenopus), (3) or slightly durable to sensible (Tachigali, Simarouba, Virola), meaning actual European standards would not let use these last species in outdoor structure without protection, despite their vernacular use. However, they could be used in structure with appropriate protection systems (including wood protection and design protection systems). The results obtained on wood decay resistance bring crucial information to assess the valorization of these 8 tree species in the Guyanese construction market.