18.09.2026
When a timber species is well known for a particular use, alternatives are often difficult to identify. Yet, among the hundreds of documented timber species, some have properties similar enough to warrant a second look.
But how can one move from a familiar timber species to other options without getting lost in a sea of technical data?
This is the question addressed by the new timber species comparison tool developed by ATIBT as part of the Tropical Timber Trade Facility (TTT) project, building on previous work focused on lesser-known or less-used tropical timber species (LKTS/LUTS).
The principle is simple: start with a reference species and identify those with the most similar technical characteristics. To do this, the comparison tool draws on data from CIRAD’s Tropix fact sheets, specifically cross-referencing physical and mechanical properties, durability, and suitability for use.
The results can sometimes offer a fresh perspective. An African species, for example, may have a profile similar to that of a species from the Americas, Asia, or Oceania. Temperate species may also appear in the results. Thus, it is no longer the geographic origin or reputation of a wood that guides the search, but rather the characteristics that define it.
The exploration can then go further: two wood species can be selected to directly compare their profiles, criterion by criterion, and visualize both their similarities and differences.
However, this technical similarity does not imply substitutability. The comparator does not provide an automatic answer to the question “which species can replace which other one?” Rather, it serves as an initial stage of exploration: the intended use, processing methods, resource availability, supply conditions, and market requirements still need to be examined.
The benefit lies in broadening the scope of the search. When a wood species is already known, the comparator allows users to look beyond it and identify woods that might not have been considered at first glance.
Diversification also depends on this ability to draw connections where market conventions tend to focus primarily on differences.
Have a specific species in mind? Look for those that resemble it. Compare their profiles. And perhaps, among these similarities, you’ll discover a species that, in turn, deserves closer attention.
As a reminder, the link to the tool, available on My Tropical Timber: https://atibt.shinyapps.io/atibt_comparateur_essences/
Developed by ATIBT, the digital platform My Tropical Timber is designed to help users quickly identify suppliers, compare the technical characteristics of tropical timber species, and discover suitable alternatives for construction, manufacturing, trading, and procurement projects. The platform draws on authoritative CIRAD/Tropix data and promotes both well-known and lesser-known tropical timber species.
The development of this platform is supported by the Tropical Timber Trade Facility (TTT) project, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the ConForMa Project, which is funded by the FFEM.
