Establishment of a forest plantation company using Michelia champaca (Gini Sapu)

 Abstract of the presentation of 

A. Jayaweera

Michelia champaca (Gini Sapu) is a large evergreen tree with a long, clean cylindrical bole (with 60-70 feet/14m-20m height; 1.8 m trunk diameter). Required rainfall varies from 2250 – 5000 mm and it performs well in an altitude of 500 -1500 m above mean sea level. It is well suited for sandy loam soil and also it grows well on moist deep, well drained, good quality soil. It is a light demander and coppices well up to a fair size and it does not produce root suckers.  

Michelia champaca is not native to Sri Lanka. Especially people used to plant this species around Hindu temples due to the sweet smell of its flowers. Now it’s being extensively planted in the wet zone and the hill country. Now it’s getting wild in our forest areas in wet and intermediate zones and can be found in home gardens also. No pure plantations have been established   for M. champaca in Sri Lank at present.

Champwood Lanka (Pvt.) Limited is a hypothetical company established with a vision to provide a helping hand in saving our rain forests. And its mission is to meet future demand for timber in Sri Lanka by using sustainable forest management. The selected area to establish the plantation is Kegalle with a land of 50 ha.

Management prescriptions and Business model consists with several steps as site preparation and establishment of a nursery, planting in the field and weed controlling, prunning and thinning and harvesting. There are various options for value addition such as proper management activities (fertilizer regimes, harvesting schedules), Carbon crediting, forest certifications, good quality seed collection and measures for soil erosion control. Intercropping is done for maximum land utilization.

End product manufacturing consist of logs, sawn timber, essential oil from flowers and seeds, some parts for ayurvedic treatments, fuel wood (through thinning and pruning) and plants and seedlings for reclamation and ornamental purposes. Dealing with customers in a responsible and faithful manner is the basis of been successful in the sector. However, there are considerable strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats which can be presented through a SWOT analysis.