Use of Criteria and Indicators for Forest Management

Presented by

Bhagya Karunathilaka

Forests are managed for maintaining a healthy forest compatible with the owner objectives to maximum utilisation of the land ensuring the continuous outcome. In 1992 the Earth summit, the United Nations Conference Environmental Development focused on the importance of Sustainable Forest Management as a key component of sustainable development under its Chapter 11: Forest Principles for Sustainable Development in Agenda 21

Sustainable Forest Management addresses forest degradation and deforestation while increasing direct benefits to people and the environment. Criteria and Indicators are powerful tools in promoting Sustainable Forest Management by defining, guiding, monitoring and assessing the progress towards Sustainable forest management in a given context. In 1990, International Tropical Timber Organization initiated these Criteria and indicators

A criterion is a standard that a thing is judged by and an indicator is any variable can be used to infer performance which indicates the change in a direction of a criterion. Indicators can be defined in Quantitative, Qualitative or Descriptive manner. Present global initiatives of Criteria and Indicators are ITTO, Pan-European Forest, Montreal, Tarapoto, Dry Zone Africa, Near East, ATO and Central American processes.

Roles of criteria and indicators can be identified in International and/or regional scale, National and sub-national level and in Forest management unit level such as Supporting international forest policy deliberations and negotiations on issues related to Sustainable Forest management; Providing a basis for collecting, categorizing, analyzing, reporting, and  representing information the state of forests and their management; Describing, monitoring and  reporting on the national forest trends and changes; Assessing progress towards Sustainable Forest Management and identify emerging threats and weaknesses; and A basis for developing forest certification systems, etc.

There are seven common themes of Criteria and Indicators as Enabling Conditions for Sustainable forest management; Forest Resource Security; Forest Ecosystem Health and Conditions; Flow of Forest Products; Biological Diversity; Soil and water and Economic, social and culture aspect.

In the Asian context, Bhutan Has formulated general principles to guide its forest management plans but has no yet developed detailed Criteria and Indicators. China, A member of both ITTO and the Montreal process, is actively developing national and sub-national-level Criteria and Indicators. In India, The Institute of Indian Forest Management lead in developing Criteria and Indicators and Launched the Bhopal-India process in 1998 Collaboration with other international organizations, such as ITTO and CIFOR. Mongolia uses “environmental reporting indicators”.

Sri Lanka has prepared Management Plans for each natural forests consistency with international Criteria and Indicator processes. By the Forestry Sector Master Plan 1995, the Main former objective of the Forest Management: Wood production was replaced by current management strategies tending towards sustainable forest management for multiple purposes while Incorporating input from local communities. The Forest Department monitors a traditional array of basic forestry indicators in Sri Lanka because proper criteria and indicators have not been prepared in the national level.

NeemLife Plantatinon: Establishment of a Neem Plantation

Abstract of the presentation of

Sashi Dayarathne

NeemLife Plantation is willing to establish a plantation in Horowpathana area which is located in Anuradhapura district by using Azadirachta indica as the species. Plantation extends to 25.5 ha and it is going to be carried out in three phases. The plantation is adding value to its premises by intercropping with chili as a cash crop. The vision of this plantation is to be the pioneers of supplying Neem raw material to the local and international Neem based manufacturers and their mission is to provide good quality Neem leaves, seeds, fruits, bark to the Neem product manufacturers and provide high quality, durable timber to the sawmills and furniture manufacturers.

When it comes to the A. indica it is one of the multipurpose trees available in the country which provide a path to the commercial industries like cosmetics, aurvedic and biopesticies. One of the best thing is that Neem does not require highly fertile soils, can be grown even in barren lands. It does not support, however, marshy or acid lands. The tree physiology requires temperature that varies between 8º and 40º C. The more hot and humid climate, the faster is the growth. And also for an economic exploration it must be planted on sites in which rainfall is in between 800 and 1,500 mm per year. In very favorable conditions, the Neem can reach 10 m height in eight years and 12 m in ten years, and produce fruit up to 60 kg per year by one tree. The Neem tree contains a thousand of chemical components. It is remarkable the occurrence of the so-called “Limonoids”, which are very rare. They appear in Neem in more than one hundred types.

Neem is going to be planted with 5x5 m spacing under plantation establishment. Therefore 400 Neem seedlings will be planted per ha and can be maintained by providing organic fertilizer and proper irrigation system. Thinning can be carried out two times in its plantation rotation. One is at the age of 10 when the mean top height is up to 10-15 m and other one is when the age is 25 where the mean top height is up to 20 m.The first flowering of trees occurs in the 4th year. The production of fruits starts with only 10 kg per tree (4.0 tons per ha), going up to 60 kg per tree (16.0 tons per ha) in the 10th year. Each tree produces 2 tons per year up to 7 tons per year of leaves, produce 60 m3 volume of timber per ha.

Plantation can be benefited by obtaining tradable carbon credits for removing CO2 from the atmosphere, according to the cycle of cutting and harvesting of the plantation to be considered within the concept of green carbon. The Neem plantation is indeed an interesting tool for promoting sustainable plantation in Sri Lanka while providing high return rates to investors and social development in rural areas. As it can support organic agriculture in large scale for removing agro toxic from the traditional agriculture.

An open-grown neem tree

Melia Plantations: establishment of a Melia dubia Plantation

Abstract of the presentation of

Kuluni Millaniyage

One of the major problems in today's agriculture and forestry sector is reducing income year by year. The land values are increased and income from plantation management is reduced due to increased cost for labour, increase in cost of cultivation and increase in transportation cost. Because of that owners are selling land and looking for other business. Therefore we need to think of obtaining good income from forestry by reducing labors and increasing yield. In today's picture, the middle men are earning a good income from timber products, and the planter who produces gets less from what he produced. Since many short term crops need more labor, transportation and inventory cost, the final gain for the planters are very low. To make good revenues per hectare, we need to cultivate medium to long term crops keeping the cost to minimal.

Melia Dubia is one of the fast growing trees in the world and gives good returns. It can be used in match or biomass or plywood industries. After 3 years, 30-40 tons of biomass per acre can be harvested up to 10 years. The price of wood per cubic meter is SLR 9,900 and therefore one can get minimum revenue of Rs 1,033,200 per every hectare.

When establishing a plantation, the major importance is to decide on the best area to grow the plants. Since this species is growing well in the wet and intermediate zone, Mathugama area was selected as the destination.

Ginger which is a gold mining business itself is intercropped to utilize the land area. Ginger can be harvested within 10 months while the Melia plants will be harvested after 14 years.

Pruning and thinning is given a great importance as well as supplying the timber to plywood companies. As the conclusion, this plant can be recommended as a profitable tree with a good potential for the future timber market.

Green Wood Plantation: Establishment of Microcorys Plantation

Abstract of the presentation of

Sachindrika Wijesinghe

Eucalypts are 20% of major reforestation plantings for timber and fuelwood. Advantages include adaptability to a wide range of altitudes; climates and sites; high growth rate; tolerance of low fertility. Undergrowth is less (particularly in the dry zone). Reforestation with eucalypts in Sri Lanka has a long and important history. Eucalypts were among the first of three exotics introduced early this century to be raised as a forest plantation species.

Eucalyptus microcorys, a fast growing tree with clear cylindrical bole growing to 40 m, occasionally to 70 m. It is distributed in upcountry wet zone and mid country intermediate zone. Density of Unseasoned timber is 1230 kg/m3 and Seasoned timber is 1,000 kg/m3. It is Special Class timber according to the Sri Lanka State Timber Corporation classification. Sapwood is not durable without proper treatment and susceptible to powder posting beetle attack. The heartwood is very durable, highly resistant to decay and termite attack and ranges from pale to dark yellow-brown.

The textures of the timber is moderately coarse, generally with an interlocked grain relatively free of gum veins, has a distinctive lustre and greasy appearance. Relatively easy to work with hand tools due to the timber’s natural greasiness .Readily accepts paint, stain and polish.

E. microcorys timber is widely used in a variety of applications including decking, flooring, domestic structures, heavy commercial construction, sleepers, marine structures, poles, piles and bridges. Eucalyptus are also planted as windbreaks and shelter belts in certain locations particularly in the upcountry. Extraction of essential oils from leaves and beekeeping is another common practice in some areas where eucalypt plantations are raised.

Green wood plantation is in Badulla with an extent of 30 ha and it is selected based on the unique climatic and soil conditions, which are conducive for the growth of Eucalyptus microcorys. Planting objective is to obtain sawn timber mainly to cater the local market with construction timber.

Value addition can be done through proper silvicultural practices, planting superior clones of hybrids and genetically modified high yielding; disease-free, non-splitting trees which would improve timber quality and quantity within the plantation. Practicing agroforestry In order to obtain short-term income Lemongrass is inter-cropped. And promoting related industries such as beekeeping, extraction of Eucalyptus oils would generate additional income to the company and it maximizes the land use of the area.

Adding organic fertilisers, managing plantations for longer rotational periods, fire management and trench management are some of the eco-friendly management practices that add values to the plantations.

Eucalyptus microcorys plantation at Bambrakele, Sri Lanka

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.

Establishment of hypothetical forest Plantation Company for (Swietenia macropylla) AirForest Plantation Limited

Abstract of the presentation of

Sampath Bandara

S. macrophylla is one of the most valuable furniture timbers in the world due to the decorative and attractive timber with good technical characteristics. In agro forestry systems it is used for shade and fuel wood. In 1840, Mahogany was first planted in Jaffna as an avenue tree. According to the 2010 data of   FAO there were 5505 ha of Mahogany cover in SL, mainly in the intermediate zone and low country wet zone of Sri Lanka.

AirForest Plantation Limited was established in 1998, and the head office located in No-6, Glenaber Pl, Colombo 03. This company provides numerous benefits to the investors such as Deed of the land, money back guarantee, right of transfer, providing maturity value of the plantation and free maintains facilities with online monitoring facility.

Though AirForest entered into forestry and agricultural plantation industry only 15 years ago (1998), the management of AirForest has decades of experience and knowledge in the field of plantation management. Currently, the company is managing plantations at Kurunegala, Monaragala, Galle, Udawalawa, Badulla, Kegalle and Beragala. (over 250 ha, island wide). AirForest is one of the forestry management companies which use Drip Irrigation System. This ensures a higher and rapid growth and a maximum harvest as each and every tree gets sufficient nutrition by drippers.

AirForest Plantations ensures continuous monitoring and improvements by forestry consultants and experts in the industry and over 15,000 delighted clients in Sri Lanka. It provides harvest-purchase back guarantee, with many additional offers with exclusive premier membership benefits

This value addition is also a very important aspect in the plantation sector because it is eventually a business, and the increasing of profit becomes underlying target. The value addition to a plantation can be done in several aspects. It can be either by increasing the quantity of the timber produced from the plantation or by improving the quality of the mahogany produced and also especially by increasing the utility of the plantation land. Company exporting the Mahogany fruit (Sky Fruit) as a byproduct obtains from the plantation.

There are some difficulties of the Mahogany plantation sector; lack of suitable lands for establishment of plantations, shoot borer attacks, problems related to site quality, competition, problems of the labors, problems related to accessibility, lack of previous informations, political influences. 

Currently company is planning to expand the land area of the plantations and the plantation species verities. And Carbon fixing value is identified as a new business opportunity.

Mahogany sapling in a plantation of Sri Lanka

Forest management group – a long weighted requirement in Sri Lanka Forestry Sector has been fulfilled

Although the records are available about Sri Lanka forest management since 161 BC (that was the year which the Great King Dutugemunu came into the thrown) and even before the current forestry sector has been suffered in lack of research. Due to this reason, Dr. Upul Subasinghe, a Senior Lecturer of the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, thought of forming a “Forest Management Group” in Sri Lanka to cover the need of “multi-disciplinary research in Sri Lanka forestry sector”. Since it has become a trend in the science world to conduct group research to provide more benefits by covering a larger area, than individual research which covered a small scope, it is obvious that group research provide more benefits. In order to cover a vast area in a single research in collaboration with a number of experts in different fields, Dr. Upul Subasinghe thought of having multi-disciplinary research since 2005 at MSc level and brought the concept into the BSc level since 2009. The group members are listed below.

Dr. Upul Subasinghe (Senior Lecturer, Forest and Forest Plantation Management, Natural Resource Modelling, GIS and Remote Sensing), Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka

Mr. Dhanushka Hettiarachchi (Research Associate, Pharmacology), School of Pharmacy, Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia

Dr. K.M.A. Bandara (Research Officer, Silviculture), Forest Research Institute, Badulla, Sri Lanka

Ms. Chandani Edussuriya (Assistant Director, GIS Unit), Central Environmental Authority

It is expected to conduct such collaborative research with the renowned scientists in Australia, India, Indonesia and US in the future to share the knowledge, experience and expertise to enhance mutual benefits. However, The National Research Council already funds a collaborative research conducted by Dr. Upul Subasinghe as the Principal Investigator with the collaboration of Mr. Dhanushka Hettiarachchi and Prof. John Fox of the Curtin University of Technology of Western Australia.

Current status of forest certification in Sri Lanka

Abstract of a Seminar presentation

Lanka Rathnayake

“Forest certification is the process of inspecting particular woodlands to verify if they are being managed according to an agreed set of standards’

There are several certification systems in the world. The forest stewardship council certification is one of them in Sri Lanka. The Forest Stewardship Council is an international non-profit organization founded in 1993 to support environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial & economically viable management of the world’s forests”. There are ten Forest Stewardship principles. It accredits certification bodies. It is a system for independent forest certification. It has introduced an international labelling scheme.

Center for the promotion of imports from developing countries has problems to promote non Forest Stewardship Council certified products. Sri Lanka will lose market share if it is not obtained. With Forest Certification new markets can be found, a higher price will be paid (around 3%) and forests will be saved for future generations. So, the main objective of this certification system is to establish a healthy and steady export environment for the wood processing industry of Sri Lanka.

There are several certification systems in forest certification as Forest Management Certification, Chain of Custody Certification and group certification. Control Union, SGS, SCS are the current accreditation bodies in Sri Lanka. Instead of national Forest Stewardship Council standards currently interring standard have been developed using generic standards in Sri Lanka.

There are thirty five Forest Stewardship Council certification holders in Sri Lanka. Forest Stewardship Council certified forest area in Sri Lanka is 31,657 ha. Fourteen Forest Stewardship Council Chain of custody certificates have been issued.

For Forest Management/Chain of Custody certification Kotagala plantation, Agarapathana plantation, Elpitiya plantation, and Kahawatta plantation are at final stage of inspection. Also two teak projects, one mahogany project and coconut project have been proposed for Forest Stewardship Council certification. To obtain Chain of Custody certification two printing companies are also proposed.

Current status of forest certification in Sri Lanka is at considerable level when comparing with other countries. At present, Forest Stewardship Council certification is confined mainly to the private sector in Sri Lanka. Demand for FSC certified products are also increasing. Group certification should be encouraged to fulfill the demand.

Challenges faced by the private sector in establishing teak plantations in Sri Lanka

Challenges faced by the private sector in establishing eak plantations in Sri Lanka

Abstract of a seminar presentation

Prabhani Jayasekara

Teak was introduced to Sri Lanka in 17th century by Dutch. It was widely planted in dry and intermediate zones after 1950s. Teak has a long history of systematic management. The earliest Teak plantations in Sri Lanka are traced back to the late seventeenth century. Teak planting, which was once mainly the domain of government forest departments, is today attracting the interest of the private sector. The private sector has taken advantage of technical developments has succeeded in attracting private individuals to invest in teak.

Many private companies involve in Teak planting in Sri Lanka such as:

Forestree Investments limited - a subsidiary of Access Group of Companies

Sadaharitha Plantations Limited

HELP GRRN “Wanasarana” Teak Plantation Project

Green Vision Lanka Private Limited

In Sri Lanka first private sector large scale commercially managed teak plantation was started by Help Green (Pvt) Ltd in 1998 with a unit which is equivalent to a land extent of 41.6 perches with 100 teak trees.

The expected final harvest of the private forest plantations are much shorter than that of the Forest Department plantations and therefore very high financial inputs are necessary to uplift such plantation conditions.

Among the major challenges faced by the private sector in establishing teak plantations, land unavailability, social issues, environmental issues, lack of scientific information and research, management problems and unforeseen catastrophes (insects, pests, animal damages, weeds, and uncontrolled fires) become prominent. Quality of timber cut from private sector plantations will also be a major issue because timber cut from old teak trees which grow slowly in natural forests is more durable and harder and teak from young trees grown in plantations may be more prone to splitting and water damage.

The private sector Teak planters have successfully identified many of the above mentioned challenges and they have taken actions in order to avoid economic loss which can be caused due to those issues.

Challenges faced in establishing khaya plantations in Sri Lanka

Challenges faced by the Forest Department in establishing khaya plantations in Sri Lanka

Abstract of a seminar presentation

Benica Jayasekara

Khaya senegalensis is the scientific name for khaya, which belongs to the Family Meliaceae. It is commonly known as African mahogany or dry zone mahogany. It’s a fast growing tree species in dry conditions and grows up to 20-30m in height. Timber of khaya is hard, dense and reddish brown in colour.

Khaya is one of the major timber species used by the Forest Department in reforestation programs in dry and intermediate zones of Sri Lanka. It was introduced from Africa during 1960’s. However, most of the khaya plantations of Sri Lanka are less than 10 years old.

The reasons for the use of Khaya by the Forest Department is the high demand for timber, fast growth rates in dry and intermediate zones, tolerance to poor site quality and resistance to heavy weed competition, harsh conditions and diseases and pests (except borer). Moreover the rural community prefers khaya over teak because khaya is morphologically more similar to the native species in Sri Lanka. In addition to those, wild elephants do not damage khaya trees.

According to the Forest Department, khaya was selected as the best tree species for the dry zone. There are however, a few challenges faced by the Forest Department in establishment of khaya plantations. Expensive seeds, low seed viability, fertilization, weeding, multiple shoots, porcupine damage, black twig borer attack, red stem borer attack and the forest fires as examples.

Forest Department had taken remedial actions for these challenges and still they are doing further studies to improve the khaya plantations. Still the khaya plantations in Sri Lanka are less than 10 years and therefore the Forest Department might face more problems with the time, because the rotation age of khaya is 30 years and still the yield tables for this species has not been prepared.

Status and possibilities on forest certification in Sri Lanka

Status and possibilities on forest certification in Sri Lanka

Abstract of a seminar presentation

Manuri Gamage

Forest certification found its roots in the concern over rapid tropical deforestation in the 1980s and the 1990s. It is a process which results in a written certification being issued by an independent third party, attesting to the location and management status of a forest which is producing timber. Forest certification also provides consumers with a credible guarantee that the product comes from environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable sustainably managed forests.

Sri Lanka has adopted only FSC certification by an independent, non-profit organization, formed in an effort to establish a global system for certifying that products come from well-managed forests. Only three multinational certification bodies accredited by FSC are currently issuing certification in Sri Lanka.

At present, certification is confined mainly to the rubber plantation sector in Sri Lanka. Only four such companies currently hold FSC forest management certification, out of large-scale plantation companies in Sri Lanka. Forty-two percent of the country's plantations are owned by small holders. Therefore, this group plays a key role in the rubber industry as well as in supplying raw materials to wood-based industries. None of the small-scale rubber plantations in Sri Lanka are certified. Out of the many manufactures only nine companies have obtain the chain of custody certification.

Facilitating group certification for small rubber plantation owners to obtain forest certification, encouraging certified plantation owners to focus on high-end species such as teak and mahogany where there is great potential to capture price premiums, building awareness among plantation owners of advantages of obtaining the certification other than price premiums, seeking new export markets for the certified timber and timber products, obtain approval for the FSC National standards and implement within the country, encouraging local organisations to obtain accreditation from FSC as a certification body, developing an internal certification scheme with its own standards can be mentioned as some of the potentials in forest certification in the country.

Why indigenous species were not popular in Sri Lanka?

Why indigenous species were not popular in Sri Lanka in plantation establishment?

Abstract of a seminar presentation

Piyumi Nanayakkara

Forestry has two main functions to fulfill which are recognised as protection and production. Due to significant reduction in the natural forest cover in Sri Lanka during the recent past through the agricultural development, shifting cultivation and settlements; the functions that can carry out by natural forests were reduced. That means natural forests were unable to provide these two functions at required level. Therefore forest plantation establishment was started in Sri Lanka.

Utilisable timber plantations in Sri Lanka mainly consist of man-made forest plantations belonging to Forest Department (96,250 ha), companies under the Ministry of Plantation Industries (16,463 ha), private companies and rubber and coconut plantations. According to the data recorded in the past, it is clear that most of the tree species used for the plantation establishment were exotics such as Teak, Eucalyptus, Acacia, Pine and Mahogany.

Data on indigenous and exotic species were collected through the literature survey to select the most suitable species for plantation establishment, based on three selection criteria named as growth and management characteristics, end product characteristics and Usefulness of the species.

Results concluded that exotics are the most suitable and popular plantation species that recommended for Dry, Intermediate and Wet climatic zones in Sri Lanka. Monocultures of exotics cause certain shortcomings, however, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Therefore there is no secret of selecting or popular of exotics in plantation establishment compared to indigenous species in Sri Lanka.

There are some indigenous species suitable as plantation species such as Kohomba, Ebony (Diospyros ebenum), Jak (Artocarpus heterphyllus), Mara (Albizia sp), Halmilla (Berrya cordifolia), Hora (Diptercarpus zeylanicus), Kumbuk (Treminalia arjuna) and Lunumidella (Melia dubia), however, they were not popular for plantation establishment as exotics due to several poor characteristics such as relative low growth rate and having longer rotation length, very low volume compared to exotics, poor wood working qualities, unavailability of straight bole, lack of published information on Indigenous species and felling restrictions etc.

Challenges faced by the private sector in establishing mahogany plantations

Challenges faced by Private Sector in establishing mahogany plantations in Sri Lanka

Abstract of a seminar presentation

Madhushan Lankathillake

Mahogany is one of the important exotic timber species which is used for forest plantations in Sri Lanka. Mahogany was introduced to Sri Lanka in 1880 and it was used as plantation species in 1887. Later mahogany plantations were established in low land wet zone and low land intermediate zones. Private sector involvement in establishing large scale mahogany plantations started in late 90’s. When establishing mahogany plantations private sector had to face various types of challenges.

Finding a suitable land to establish plantations is one of the main such problems. In wet zone most of the fertile lands are used for agriculture crop cultivation. Therefore available lands are infertile or abandoned lands such as abandoned lands after planting rubber for a long time period. Additional effort must be needed to improve these infertile lands. Lands with steep slops, ridges or rocky lands also cause several problems. Damage to the seedlings caused by shoot borer attack is another major problem. Effective low cost methods of controlling shoot borer attack have not been found so far.

In order to provide shade, mahogany seedlings are planted under the canopy trees but when these trees are removed mahogany seedlings may get damaged. An EIA has to be done when removing naturalized canopy treesif the area is over 5 ha in extent. These canopy trees absorb fertilizer applied to mahogany seedlings and this will cause reduction of growth of mahogany trees. In the wet zone weed growth is very fast. Mahogany seedlings have to compete with the weed growth. Therefore during first few years of planting weeding must be done properly.

Available lands also do not have proper access so that transportation of seedlings and equipments aree difficult. Most of the plantations do not have nurseries with in their plantations. Therefore they have to buy seedlings from other nurseries and this is an additional cost for the companies and seedlings may also get damaged while transporting.

Moreover, scientific research has to be done to generate improved varieties which are resistant to shoot borer attack and tolerant to light. Low cost and effective methods of controlling shoot borer attack must be found out. A proper fertilizer regime for mahogany has not been developed yet. There is a lack of previous growth data and yield tables for mahogany within private sector. Sometimes people’s interest in investment in forest plantations will be changed in the future. Loss of trust on investment and economic crisis in the country as well as in the world will be barriers on investment in present situation. Reduction of investments will be a financial restriction in establishment of forest plantations.

In order to obtain an additional income, herbal plants and spices can be planted within the sites of mahogany at early stages. An proper system must be introduced to reduce the barriers and time consuming legal procedures which have to be done for canopy removal and final harvesting. Further, scientific research must be done with the involvement of the government departments and experts in the field. Appropriate procedures have to be found out to utilize carbon sequestration potential of plantations to gain an additional income. Programs and necessary background have to be created where an international investments in forest plantation sector is allowed.

Contribution of Sri Lankan forests to non-wood forest products

Contribution of Sri Lankan forests to non-wood forest products

Abstract of a seminar presentatation

Padmi Gunarathne

Non-Wood forest products (NWFPs) have an important role in the rural economy of Sri Lanka and they also provide benefits of considerable importance at the national level. They have a major impact on the social and economic conditions of village communities by providing a wide array of materials which enrich and diversify rural life. The knowledge, skills and social customs relating to NWFPs have been passed from one generation to the next and form part of traditional culture.

There are various categories of NWFPs available in Sri Lanka. The most important are rattan and bamboo, medicinal plants, the products of hunting, tapping, honey and grazing etc. Around 40% of the rural population in the Dry Zone is forest dependent and derives some benefits from NWFPs. The annual income from NWFPs per forest dependent household in some parts of Dry Zone of Sri Lanka is around Rs 15,000.

Kitul (Caryota urens) is the most significant NWFP in the Wet Zone and it contributes over 70% of the total income of the household engaged in this activity.

Lack of policy guidelines, a shrinking resource base and inadequate knowledge on cultivation, management, harvesting, processing and storage are identified as the major issues which hinder the development of the NWFPs sector. Major reforms in policy, legislation and management strategies, together with a coordinated effort in research on cultivation, utilization and product development, should be undertaken for sustainable development of the NWFPs sector in Sri Lanka.

Establishment of farmers' woodlots in Sri Lanka

Establishment of farmers' woodlots in Sri Lanka

Abstract of a seminar presentation

Asanka Wijewarnasuriya

Farmers’ Woodlots are an outcome of some donor funded social forestry projects such as Participatory Forestry Project (1993-1999) implemented by the Forest Department. There are about 15,500 ha of Farmers’ Woodlots have been established in 19 districts of Sri Lanka. The major species used for this purpose is teak (Tectona grandis). In addition to that, species such as Neem (Azadirachta indica), Eucalypts (Eucalyptus species) and Khaya (Khaya senegelensis) have also been used. There are monocultures and mixed-cultures such as Neem-Teak mix.

People belonged to lower income groups have been selected for this programme and they were given incentives for the establishment of Woodlots. They were given lands under a lease agreement for a period of 25 years, and food coupons, seedlings, fertilizer, right of intercropping in the given land and technical assistance were also given. Those incentives encouraged them to establish Woodlots by using their labour, time and knowledge. People have the right to harvest timber after the rotation age of 25 years.

Establishment of Farmers’ Woodlots has contributed to increase the tree cover and to conserve the natural forests. By fufilling the objective of establishing those forests, poverty reduction has occurred due to Farmers’ Woodlots. However, growth rates in most Farmers’ Woodlots are poor. In accordance to provincial yield table values, most of the woodlots fall in height class III. In respect of Farmers’ Woodlots, per tree average volume was found to be 38% with regards to provincial yield table values. The major reason for poor growth rates has been the less productivity associated with the lands selected. Mismatching of species and sites, water shortage, uncontrolled burning of weeds have been other reasons for poor growth.

Most of the people participated for Farmers’ Woodlots Programmes, due to early incentives. Therefore, it is obvious that people haven’t been educated well about the importance of the programme. Inadequate monitoring and assistance of Forest Department is another problem which has lead to weak maintenance of Woodlots by farmers. Most of the people who participated to Farmers’ Woodlots Programme have ignored the final or the long-term benefit which is timber. Due to the incentives given, people have completed the planting of seedlings and the maintenance of Woodlots during the first 3-4 years successfully. However, in respect of the long-term benefits, Farmers’ Woodlots Programme has been unsuccessful.

In order to overcome those issues, it can be recommended that planting of Nitrogen Fixing Trees in vacant places after thinning operations, planting of elephant repellent tree species around the woodlots and extending the rotation period for existing woodlots. For newly establishing woodlots consideration of site-species compatibility, use of fast growing species and use of a better monitoring plan can also be recommended.

Challenges faced in establishing eucalypt plantations in Sri Lanka

Challenges faced by the Forest Department in establishing eucalypt plantations in the up country of Sri Lanka

Abstract of a seminar presentation

Jithya Wijesinghe

Eucalyptus was introduced to Sri Lanka in the latter part of 18th century as an exotic species to be raised as a forest plantation species. These were originally raised in the upcountry to produce fuel wood for households and tea industry. But later most of these species were found very promising for railway sleepers and industrial timber. Therefore at present Eucalyptus are planted to meet the requirements of sawn timber, railway sleepers, transmission poles, fuel wood, extraction of essential oils and paper pulp.

Eucalyptus is also planted as windbreaks and shelter belts in certain locations particularly in the upcountry. Beekeeping is another common practice in some areas where eucalypt plantations are raised.

Afforestation of the patana grasslands in the upcountry began in 1930's with planting of E. grandis, E. microcorys and E. robusta in compact blocks on the crests of ridges and hill tops as windbreaks in upcountry.

Environmental issues, social issues, economic issues, accessibility issues, harvesting issues, management issues, unforeseen catastrophes and others are some challenges faced by the forest department establishingEucalyptus plantations in upcountry.

With the sloppy areas, soil erosion was a major challenge that faced by the Forest Department. Furthermore high cost for road constructions, labour cost, encroachment of local people, limited land areas in upcountry, lack of water, high intensity for fire hazards, need of additional effort for soil conservation practices, contours makings are some of challenges faced by the FD.

In order to overcome these challenges establishment of more fire lines, use of soil conservation practices, use of wood aids to protect saplings from wind, enhanced management practices that are used by the FD.

Make harvesting operations well controlled and road guidelines specially in slopes >60⁰, to reduce the wind damage to new plantations, proper grading of seedlings, establishment of water supply programs for field nurseries, enhance the involvement of the local communities to reduce the encroachments are some practices that can be used for further improvement of the establishment of the Eucalyptus plantations in upcountry.

Construction of a stem volume prediction model for E. grandis

Construction of a stem volume prediction model for mature Eucalyptus grandis plantation in Pidurutalagala of Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
by
Kandiah Selvarathnam and Upul Subasinghe

Timber volume is the most crucial variable in commercial forest plantations. Therefore a precise volume prediction model was constructed for the mature Eucalyptus grandis plantation located in the Pidurutalagala mountain of Nuwara Eliya District, Sri Lanka.

0.02 ha circular samples were used for the data collection. Breast height diameter (dbh) and total height (h) were measured as the preliminary measurements. Then the stems of the standing trees in the sample plots were divided into sections and section lengths, end-diameters and mid-diameters were measured in order to use the Newton's formular for the stem volume estimations. Altogether 14 samples were used for the data collection.

A basic relationship was then developed by assuming the stem volume (v) can be predicted as a function of h, basal area (g) which is calculated using dbh and site quality as given below.

v = f (g, h, site quality)

In order to represent the site quality, top height and top height / age functions were used. Regression analysis (linear) was used to quantify the relationships. In order to obtain the best models, the variables in the above equation were transformed into different forms that can biologically be accepted. R2 and standard residual distrinbution were used to evaluate the model quality. After a careful study, two models were selected to predict the stem volume of E. grandis trees in the selected plantation.