Maho Plantations: Establishment of a Mahogany Plantation

Abstract of the presentation of

Shernima Rodrigo

Swietenia macrophylla, which belongs to Meliaceae family, is one of the most valuable and quality furniture timbers in the world timber market, for its decorative and attractive timber with good technical characteristics. Mahogany has a long history in Sri Lanka, and this tree is maintained mainly in the intermediate zone and low country wet zone in Sri Lanka.

By realising the timber value of Mahogany, Maho Plantations Ltd. has also started creating mahogany plantations in Sri Lanka. The company head office is at Narahenpita. The mahogany plantations are mainly concentrated in Kurunegala area. The company provides variety of investment benefits to their investors.

Maho Plantations Ltd. has a competent team of consultants who has experience and knowledge in the field of plantation management and they take care of the mahogany plantations. This company does not only plant mahogany trees on the land acquired, but also has taken steps to intercrop banana as a value addition to the existing mahogany lands. This practice enables the company to provide returns ranging from short-term to long-term, and everything in between. Plus, as a result of unparalleled planning and forest management practices, the harvest yields consistently forecast returns that are above the industry average.

The company is looking forward to expand the land area and the variety of species used, to identify new business opportunities, such as Carbon fixation value of the plantation and achieving ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 standards.

Young mahogany plantation in Rathnapura, Sri Lanka

Establishment of Plantation Company of Toona ciliata T Wood Plantation (Pvt). Ltd

Abstract of the presentation of

E.T.D. Jayasinghe

T Wood Plantation (Pvt). Ltd is a Commercial Forest Plantation Company in Sri Lanka established in 2010. The Company is Willing to contribute to overcome high timber demand of the Country by supplying timber of Toona ciliata In addition to our core business to enhance productivity and maximizing profitability we willing to diversify existing lands with cash crops, Cocoa and Anthurium. The aims of the company are sustainable management, the fixation of CO₂ on the existing plantations, and the trade forestry products  of  Forest  Plantation to obtain maximum profit.

Toona ciliata is Medium height tree which is grown about 20 m height. Rotation age of Log size timber is 30-40 years. For commercial purposes it will be 30 years. Growth of the tree would be about 40 to 55 m³  on a 15 to 20 years rotation. Growth Rate is 7-18 m³/ha/year. This species is Successfully grown in Wet & intermediate zone between 600m to 1500m from MSL. Plant required shade for initial growth. Plants can be susceptible to Tip Moth (Hypsipyla robusta)  attack  in initial stages.

When consider about Timber, it has popular demand as a veneer and producing decorative purposes. It is graded under Class II timber grading in State Timber Corporation timber grading system. The wood is pinkish- brown in colour. Timber also has characteristic fragrant, nice grain patterns and it is easy to work with.

Our Toona plantation is located in Haputale, within the climatic zone of up country wet zone. Total Extent of the plantation is 50 ha. When consider about management prescriptions of the plantation, plant seeds do not need pretreatment. Seeds should be sowing in nursery and allowed to grow upto 0.6-1.2 m height prior to planting in field. Grevillea robusta is planting 2 years prior to planting Toona as a shade tree and will be removed after 8 years of planting. Then Cocoa and Anthurium is going to intercrop with Toona for maximum land utilization. The end product will be timber logs which will be sold out to local buyers and saw mills.

Value addition to Eucalypt plantations

Abstract of a Seminar presentation

Ama Wickramarachchi

Eucalyptus is a native tree to Australia which is now widespread across the world because of its fast growing rates and adoptability to wide range of geographical area from lower altitudes to higher altitudes. There are about 700 Eucalyptus species recorded in the world. It was introduced to Sri Lanka in late 1800s as a fuel wood to the upcountry households and tea industry and later different species were introduced to dry, wet and intermediate zones of the country.

Eucalyptus plantations receive criticisms due to its effect on soil fertility and hydrology. However, most of these criticisms have now been addressed by value additions to those plantations as well as to the end-products through sustainable management which optimizes economic, environmental and social benefits of the plantations.

Good silvicultural practices, planting superior clones of hybrids and genetically modified high yielding, disease-free, non-splitting trees obtained via vegetative propagations and field trials and mixed plantations would improve timber quality and quantity within the plantation. Practicing agroforestry and promoting related industries such as beekeeping, extraction of Eucalyptus oils and Eucalyptus dyes would generate additional income to the rural communities. At the same time it maximises the landuse 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.

Timber seasoning, pre-treatments, designs used in furniture manufacturing and forest certifications will add value to the end product.

When comes to local context, it is very limited that Sri Lanka follows any value additions at the plantation level. Therefore agroforestry, promoting related industries, advanced silvicultural techniques, research and development and obtaining forest certification can be recommended to follow in order to add value to the plantation.

At the end-product level, Sri Lanka has to practice more advanced pre-treatment methods and designs in furniture manufacturing have to be improved in accordance with the current trends. Forest certification to the end-product would surely add a more value at the market level, specially in international markets. Moreover, it is becoming a must to compete in most of the export markets. Therefore Sri Lankan manufactures need to concern at least in obtaining this certifications to the eucalypt plantations and its products.