Table of Contents
By Phil Burkitt
When Hawkesbury residents head to their local timber yard or Bunnings to pick decking material, they’re often steered towards Merbau. Prized for its rich colour and durability, Merbau has become one of the most popular hardwoods in Australia’s construction market.
But behind the polished boards lies a far more troubling story — one that stretches from Southeast Asia’s vanishing rainforests to the fragile mangrove ecosystems that underpin global marine life. Merbau, known scientifically as Intsia bijuga and Intsia palembanica, grows in lowland rainforests across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and parts of northern Queensland.
Yet almost all of the Merbau sold in Australia is imported. Its natural habitat is not the open forest or plantation country familiar to Australians, but delicate transitional zones between coastal rainforest and mangrove ecosystems — environments that are critical nurseries for countless marine species.
On a global scale, Merbau is classed as near threatened. In Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, where some of the last strong stands remain, illegal logging is rife. Greenpeace has accused China of importing vast amounts of illegally harvested Merbau from PNG before it makes its way to export markets, including Australia. In practical terms, this means a large portion of the Merbau used in our homes could be directly linked to environmental destruction and unregulated trade.
The irony is that Australia itself is home to some of the densest, most durable hardwoods in the world. Plantation-grown eucalyptus species offer fast-growing, sustainable alternatives. And yet, some local councils have gone so far as to recommend Merbau for construction in high fire danger areas, citing its durability.
That raises a pressing question: why are we encouraging the use of a rainforest timber — harvested from threatened ecosystems half a world away — when we have environmentally responsible options at home?
For consumers, the choice is rarely clear. Walk into a hardware chain and you’ll see Merbau marketed as the go-to decking solution. Few point-of-sale signs explain the ecological cost. Few councils issue advice about the environmental impact of tropical timber imports.
And few conversations in the building industry ask the most obvious question: why Merbau, when there are better alternatives? Environmental scientists warn that choosing Merbau is not just about felling a slow-growing tree. It’s also about undermining the stability of mangrove ecosystems — the very systems that support tens of thousands of marine species, protect coastlines, and absorb significant amounts of carbon.
In short, when Merbau forests are logged, the knock-on effects stretch from orangutan habitats to fisheries to climate stability itself. And here at home, it comes down to the choices we make as homeowners.
For the sanctuary of our own homes and the comfort we seek, surely when we sit on a balcony we’ve built for peace of mind, we would prefer to know the project was completed without harming the environment — rather than choosing a material whose impact is high and far-reaching.
The Hawkesbury community is no stranger to balancing growth with environmental responsibility. As residents consider home projects or councils weigh up material recommendations, this issue strikes close to home. If we expect transparency in food labelling and energy sourcing, shouldn’t we expect the same for the timber that frames our homes and decks?
Bunnings was asked to respond to a range of questions on its marketing and promotion of Merbau timber. At the time of publishing this article not response had been recieved. If an when a response is forthcoming we will notify readers.
