Establishment of forest Plantation Company, Tallow Wood Lanka Pvt (Ltd)

Abstract of the presentation of

Nulishika Alwis

The forest land area of Sri Lanka has been shrinking over the last several decades, primarily due to the clearing of forest land for agriculture development and shifting cultivation. Sawn wood demand is projected to grow from 0.544 million m³/year in 1993 to 0.885 million m³ in 2020, that is by about 12,600 m³/year. This corresponds to an average annual growth rate of 2%. Recent statistics show that more than 70% of the local commercially acceptable timbers are now potentially available from sources other than natural forest such as forest plantation, home garden and other cultivated lands. Major plant species available in forest department plantation are Teak, pine, Eucalyptus and Mahogany. Reforestation with Eucalyptus in Sri Lanka has a long history. Eucalyptus micricorys is one of the popular Eucalyptus species among the plant growers.

Eucalyptus micricorys is commonly known as Tallow wood. It is tall evergreen tree growing to 40 meters, occasionally to 70 m, with rough, fibrous, soft and spongy orange bark and a dense crown. Tallow wood Lanka Pvt (Ltd) was established based on this species. Tallow wood is commonly grown in up country wet zones. Our new plantation was established in Badulla and Nuwareliya areas. Total extend of plantation was 70 ha.People who like to invest on this species can be selected the woodlots and we are responsible for plantation management and timber selling activities.

There are numerous criticisms arising under the Eucalyptus plantations. However there are many reasons to establish this type of plantation; (1) Fast growth and good stem form, providing high biomass production (2) Special class high density timber for heavy construction (3) Average timber volume is high(192.5 m³/ha) (4) To overcome the scarcity of long length construction timber (5) Resistance to serious disease or insect attacks. Considering the above things we prescribed suitable management practices.

A young Eucalyptus microcorys plantation at Bambarakele, Sri Lanka