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Timber

Our timber

Dense tropical hardwood from West Africa, chosen because it carries heavy loads on soft ground and lasts for years outdoors.

Weathered hardwood mats laid as a working platform on a quayside

Origin

Hardwood from West Africa

The timber in our mats grows in the forests of West Africa. Our supplier sources only from legally designated forest areas and works to the forestry laws of the country of harvest.

Harvesting follows an approved forest management plan, which sets where felling is allowed and how much may be cut each year. Rivers, set-aside areas and areas of high conservation value are mapped and left alone.

Each log carries its own ID from the stump to the ship, so the timber in an order can be traced back to where it was cut.

Species

The timbers we use

Species and availability are confirmed with each quote.

Ekki / AzobéThe standard timber for crane mats. Ekki is one of the densest and hardest commercial hardwoods, and its interlocked grain resists splitting under tracks and outriggers. It is naturally durable outdoors and in wet ground without chemical treatment.
OkanA dense, hard West African timber with durability close to Ekki. Okan is used for the same heavy work and is a sound choice when Ekki is in short supply.
DabemaA lighter and more economical hardwood. Dabema suits access routes, laydown areas and lighter lifts, where the full density of Ekki is not required.
Mixed speciesMats can be built from a combination of these timbers to balance strength and cost. The species in each mat are agreed and stated on your quote.

Due diligence

Before any harvest

Our supplier completes a documented due-diligence process before any tree is felled.

  1. Concession and permits

    Land tenure, harvest rights and every operating permit are checked. Harvesting follows the approved forest management plan and the annual allowable cut.

  2. Inventory and mapping

    Trees are tagged and mapped before felling. Set-aside areas, river buffers and high conservation value areas are marked and left alone.

  3. Protected species and CITES

    Protected species are excluded and CITES rules are followed where they apply. Seasonal restrictions protect wildlife and soils.

  4. Reduced-impact logging

    Skid trails and directional felling are planned to keep soil damage, erosion and waste to a minimum.

  5. Community and labour

    Local stakeholders are consulted, fair labour is upheld and strict health and safety standards apply on site.

  6. Traceability and chain of custody

    Each log carries a unique ID from stump to shipment, with full documentation for international timber legality rules.

  7. Taxes and royalties

    Stumpage fees, royalties and export duties are declared and paid.

Regulation

EUDR and UK timber rules

EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)

From 30 December 2026, timber placed on the EU market must be deforestation-free, legally harvested and traceable to the land it grew on, backed by a due-diligence statement.

UK Timber Regulation (UKTR)

Timber placed on the UK market must come from legal sources, checked through a due-diligence system.

Our supplier’s permits, mapped harvest areas and stump-to-shipment traceability cover the kind of information these rules ask for. Tell us which rules apply to your project and we’ll confirm the documents available for your order.

Documents for your project

Tell us which sourcing and legality documents your project needs, and we’ll confirm what’s available for your order before you buy.

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Send the lengths, how many, and where they’re going. We’ll come back with a written quote.

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or email sales@rgsmats.com