Woods from mediterranean and subtropical dry areas : possible uses besides fuel and charcoal

Due both to climatic and human historical reasons, mediterranean and subtropical dry forest ecosystems are today rather poor, with low standing volume per hectare and mostly small diameter trees. More often the demand in these countries is high both for energy and for wood material dedicated to a lot of domestic uses: tools, furniture, small carpentry, poles... Although the information about these woods are few in the classical wood data banks, most of them have interesting basic properties like fine grain, aestetical aspect, high hardness, high natural durability, so they can fit lots of uses for the local communities. Besides the need for more information on these species, there is also a huge need of specific technology dedicated to small diameter logs. After a short review of main dry forest species with their specific properties and of today available technologies in sawing or peeling and of today available technologies in sawing or peeling small diameter trees, a possible way of value added wood small industries as by product of fuel wood activity is looked at.