Non Timber Forest Products Manufacturing and Marketing with Special Reference to Aromatic Oils

Abstract of a presentation conducted by

T Venukasan

Department of Forestry and Environmental Science

University of Sri Jayewardenpura, Sri Lanka

Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are any product or service other than timber that is produced in forests. They include fruits and nuts, vegetables, fish and game, medicinal plants, resins, essences and a range of barks and fibres such as bamboo, rattans, and a host of other palms and grasses. Here forest products can be classified into two main pats timber and non-timber forest products where scope of this study remains at essential oils mainly focusing on Agarwood and Sandalwood.

Agarwood is aromatic, dark, fragrant resinous substance that is produced by certain plant members of family Thymaleaceae including specially Gyrinops and Aquilaria trees. It has a high demand in globally and considered as the most expensive wood in the world. Agarwood resin formation due to natural reasons is rare and slow. Therefore resin formation is induced at commercial scale using different techniques. Both the quantity and quality of Agarwood resins is dependent on the inducement technique and therefore the use of the right method is vital to increase the product quality and income. Sandalwood oil is extracted from wood and roots of the tree. Sandalwood oil has a characteristic sweet, woody odour which is widely employed in the fragrance industry, but more particularly in the higher-priced perfumes. And also it is used in aromatherapy, cosmetic industry and to prepare soaps due to the antimicrobial activity. Unlike other aromatic wood they retain their fragrance for decades.

Citronella oil production can be highly promoted among local communities though it has been declined as it makes high profits in international market. Citronella oil is a source of important perfumery chemicals which find extensive use in soap, perfumery, cosmetic and flavouring industries. Leaves of Citronella plant are distilled to obtain valuable oil. It is a common mosquito repellent and also used in indigenous medicine as well as in flavouring food and alcoholic drinks in certain countries.

When considering the international market of aromatic oils, the current global value of the Agarwood trade is USD 6-12 billion. The annual supply of all forms of good quality Agarwood is about 6,000 MT which is 40% of the actual demand. Current market leaders in exportation of Sandalwood oil are India and Indonesia, while United States and France are the two largest importers of Indian Sandalwood oil. Although illegal logging is a major problem faced by the local industry, establishment of commercial S. album and Aquilaria plantations have recently become popular among the private sector. When Citronella oil is considered, Indonesia and China are the current suppliers for the global market. With proper technology and government support, Sri Lanka has the opportunity to become a potential exporter of Citronella oil.

Pest Management in Commercial Forestry

Presented by

Madhushi Weerasinghe

Forest Pest can be defined as “any insect, disease or closely related organism which is harmful, injurious, or destructive to forest or timber”. All parts of a tree roots, stems, foliage, shoots and terminal leaders are vulnerable to attack by pests. Pest damage can range from slight damage that has no effect on the value of the harvested product to severe damage that stunts or kills the trees or reduces their market value. Tree pests include insects and mites, diseases, vertebrates, and nematodes.

There are several common pests that can be commonly seen in commercial forestry. In Tectona grandis the most common insects cause severe damage plantations are Leaf Skeletonizer (Eutectona machaeralis) and Defoliator (Hyblaea puera). In Swietenia macrophylla the most common pest is Mahogany Shoot Borer (Hypsipyla grandella). Moreover, there are insect pests in Eucalyptus grandis, such as Eucalyptus gall wasp (Ophelimus maskelli). Also some pathogens such as Leaf Spot Fungi (Cryptosporiopis eucalypti),Cylindrocladium Leaf Spot Blight-Fungi (Cylindrocladium reteaudii), Botryoshharia Canker (Botryosphaeria spp.) and Bacterial Wilt (Ralstonia solanacerum) are common. In Aquilaria malaccensis, Leaf spot Disease caused by Corynespora cassicola is common. Considering Sandalwood (Santalum album L.) there are some nursery diseases such as Damping off and Pre-emergence wilt.Also forest plantations can be damaged by Elephants and small mammals.

Managing tree pests effectively should be based on thorough consideration of ecological and economic factors. The pest, its biology, and the type of damage are some of the factors that determine which control strategies and methods should be used. Pest management decisions represent a compromise between the value of the product, the extent of the pest damage, the relative effectiveness and cost of the control measures, and the impact on the environment.

Here the concept of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is mainly used. That relies on an understanding of the ecology of the pest, draws on this knowledge non-chemical approaches that will make the environment less suited to the development of the pest population. Integrated Pest Management practice may involve in the control program, the judicious and sensitive use of pesticides where necessary. There are five major steps in IPM. Monitoring is the first step. Monitoring forests and newly established plantations will help detect problems early, while there is still time to take action. Identification of pests and the diagnosis of pest damage is the second step of IPM. Threshold level is point at which the pest or its damage becomes unacceptable. The threshold level may be related to the beauty, health, or economic value of the tree crop and that comes as the third step of IPM. Selection of management strategy is fourth step and under this there are several management strategies such as, do nothing, cultural management, mechanical management, biological management and chemical management. Evaluation is the final step of IPM. It is very important to determine how effective the management and control tactics are. This information will determine whether any follow-up treatment is needed and will improve management strategies for next year.