I friend has just brought me a booklet on the New Zealand Kauri Tree - one of the largest tree types in the world.
A member of the "pine" family it was light but very strong and full of gum which made it very durable, resistant to rot and Teredo worms.
The downside was that it took 300 to 400yrs to reach maturity.
It was so highly prized that over 180yrs the original 1 million hectares of it were reduced to 7500 hectares by 1988.
It is now protected and new reserves are being planted - only recycled timber is allowed to be worked.
Anybody come across it over here?
Rod