The present study constitutes an attempt to promote some lesser abundant
but overlooked timber species from Mozambique through providing
trustworthy data about physical and mechanical properties and natural
durability. The study includes an extensive review to describe the timber
sector in Mozambique and discuss the present logging system. The main
findings stress the fact that untapped forests from which commercial-sized
well known timber species can be obtained are becoming rarer in
Mozambique. Therefore, other timber resources, including lesser used
species have to be explored to diversify the timber market in the country.
This might contribute to reduce pressure on the well known species by
increasing the volume of species extracted per unity area, making harvesting
more financially viable.