| Under proper conditions, wood can provide centuries of service. However, wood
must be protected from wood-degrading organisms. The organisms that can degrade
wood are principally fungi, insects, bacteria, and marine borers.
Chemical stains, although they are not caused by organisms, are mentioned
in this course, since they resemble the stains caused by fungi. Wood must also
be protected from destructive insects. Termites are the major wood destroying
insect, but on a national scale, they do less damage than fungi.
Wood biodeterioration has been studied extensively. This course introduces
highlights of some of those studies along with some of the most well-known and
widely practiced protective measures.
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