A management plan for Albizia odorotissima

A management plan for Albizia odorotissima

Abstract of a seminar presentation

Based on a hypothetically formed plantation company

Niranjan Kannangara

Albizia odorotissma is a medium sized tree highly valued for shade and soil improvement. It is a multipurpose woody legume which obtains a height of 22-26 m and diameter of 120-150 cm. On good sites five-year-old trees can be 5 m in height and 14 cm in diameter. A mean annual diameter increment of 1.3 cm. Albizia odoratissimatolerates a wide range of temperatures and rainfall. In its natural range the maximum shade temperature varies from 37°-50°C and the minimum from 0°-15°C. Normal rainfall varies from 650-3000 mm.

It is used as a valuble timber for furniture making, as a fuel wood, and fodder for cattle grazing. The species is used in a plantation located in Puttalam with an extent of 50ha. 625 trees are planted in 1 ha and entire land is utilized as batch wise. After demarcating, fencing and clearing is done before the seedlings are planted. In the initial year 1 ha plot is planted with 625 seedlings. Although the natural rotation age is 40 yrs we are expecting to harvest within 25 yrs by providing more favorable conditions. This species is more resistant for pest and Diseases. Weeding is done properly. After the pruning stage there will be 3 thinnings and then the final harvest. A net profit of 51 million is expected.

Establishment and maintenance plan for Michelia champaca

Establishment and maintenance plan for Michelia champaca

Abstract of a seminar presentation

Based on a hypothetically formed plantation company

Upamali Perera

The management plan says what the user has to do to achieve objectives or management the forest. Plan makes policies real. It includes all activities related to plantation management. It means from land preparation to final harvest. It includes land preparation, nursery establishment, planting, weeding, watering, fertilizer, protection, pruning, thinning and finally the final harvest.

Michelia champaca has been wide spread all over tropical Asia. In Sri Lanka, it is found in wet and intermediate zones (village gardens in Kandy, Kegalle and Mirigama etc). It is a large evergreen tree with long cylindrical bole with 1.8 m in trunk diameter. The Bark is light grey, smooth about 1.27cm thick. Height is 14m-20m. Required Rainfall varies from 2250 – 5000 mm. It performs well in an altitude of 500 -1500m above msl. It is well suited for sandy loam soil and also it occurs on moist deep, well drained, good quality soil. The tree is a light demander and coppices well up to a fair size and it does not produce root sucker. It provides many products and services.

The hypothetical company created was Luxury plantations (PVT) Ltd. Vision of the company is to be a helping hand in saving our rain forests. Mission of the company 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. A barren land privately owned is cleared using machinery. Leveling is done. In the land, about 0.8 hectares of nursery area is established. Protection measures are taken like fencing the area with barbed wire. Site preparation will be done by ploughing and hoeing the land. It should have water as a perennial source to ensure adequate supply in hot weather and to reduce costs. Seeds are bought from the homegardens of Kegalle and Kandy areas. Seeds should be cleaned and dried in the shade. Nursery bed size is 1 meter wide, 15 cms high, 10 meters long or as long as the topography would allow. The nursery should be separated by a pathway of 30 cms, so that the beds can be weeded by standing on the pathway. Seed should be sown within two weeks of collection as it loses its viability very rapidly. Planting out nearly one year old seedlings at the break of the monsoon of the following year is done. Spacing is 1.8m x 1.8m. The first thinning in well-stocked plantations will normally be required in the 5th year. Trees are subject to the attacks by Urostylis punctigera, the champ bug, occurs as a pest, causing appreciable damage in pure plantations. Young plantations should be frequently inspected; Spacing with a suitable mixture, such as nicotine sulphate 1 part and soap 1.8 kg in 450 liters of water is helpful. Harvesting method is clear-cut system.

Establishment and maintenance plan for Dipterocarpus zeylanicus plantation

Establishment and maintenance plan for Dipterocarpus zeylanicus plantation

Abstract of a seminar presentation

Based on a hypothetically formed plantation company

Deshika Kariyakarawana

Dipterocarpus zeylanicus, commonly known as “Hora” in Sinhala is endemic to Sri Lanka. It is a large tree attaining a height of 40m and a girth of 4m with a dense hemispherical crown. This is an important and common species in the low land wet evergreen forest where it occurs generally scattered below 1000m altitude. In river banks and well-drained alluvium, the species grows often vigorously. In wet evergreen forests which is generally storied, the top canopy consists essentially of dipterocarps.

The species regenerates freely and the seedlings establish themselves without much difficulty. Flowering is in January to February and fruiting is during April to May. Sapwood is pinkish white and heart wood is dark reddish brown. Strong hard wood timber comes under class I. After preservative treatments it can be used for railway sleepers, rafters, electric posts, beams, joists, heavy carpentry work and eminently suitable for underwater and marine work. Bark contains oleo resins.

Management objective of the plantation company is to optimise the land utilization by growing commercially viable and environmentally sustainable trees to invest at present to make profit after 35 years.

Plants will be produced in an own nursery with a six months nursery period. Seeds can be bought by villagers. Initially 988 trees per hectare will be established in the land of 50 hectare with the spacing of 2.5m×2.5m. Fertilizing will be done once per year until the 10^th year and weeding will be done for all 35 years. Two thinning operations are scheduled at 10^th year and 25^th year. Pest or disease attacks are not recorded for the species recently in Sri Lanka but termites can be a problem. Watering will be done using drip irrigation using water from the river at the boundary of the plantation nursery.

After felling the trees at 35^th year, logs will be sectioned in to 5m pieces and loaded in to containers for transport. Transport will be done by the customer. Estimated no. of trees in final harvest is 37050 with the total income of Rs. 12,327,244,592 including income from thinning. With some assumptions made for maintenance cost changes and timber price changes, in 35 years, expected profit is Rs. 11 billion. The IRR value is 24% at the end of 35^th year.

Management plan for African mahogany

Management plan for African mahogany (Khaya senegalensis)

Abstract of a seminar presentation

Based on a hypothetically formed plantation company

Supun Nigamuni

Khaya senegalensis was introduced to Sri Lanka about 30 years ago and in the past 10 years it has become one of the priority species for timber plantation establishment in the dry zone. Timber is highly valued because of its beautiful figurative grain and its rich reddish mahogany brown colour. It is favored for furniture, high-class joinery, trim and boat building, railroad ties, flooring, turnery and decorative veneer.

A hypothetical company in the name of Greenwood Plantation Services Ltd was selected. Management objectives of the company are production of high-value; high-quality timber on sustainable basis to relieve the pressure on our valuable rainforests, practice commercial forestry by bringing in investors to invest in our plantations, achieve butt logs at harvest approximately 6 m in length and 40-60cm DBHOB with minimal taper and knots in 25 years, maintain plantation volume productivity, of 15-20 m³/ha/y merchantable volume over bark. Company is also aiming at achieving FSC certification enabling it to reach overseas markets.

A marginal land in the Dry Zone of 50 ha in Wellawaya is selected by using indigenous knowledge & checking soil parameters. Land Demarcation is carried out by surveying and establishing boundaries. Land is divided in to 10 perch blocks in order to attract small scale investors. Plots near the main roads or boundaries of the land and if there is a tank or natural scenery plots associated with that is kept by the company as a security. Main road of 20 ft, sub roads of 12 ft will also be demarcated. Land clearing, removing shrubs, clear debris is carried out in late September, holing & planting carried out in early October targeting the NE monsoon. 800-1100 trees/ha will be planted with a spacing of 3m × 3m. Live fire belt will be established using Hana.

Proper maintenance practices will be established including fertilizing up to 4 yrs and after the PCT with a mixture of N:P:K 9:13:9. Three commercial thinnings are carried out at the ages of 11yrs, 15yrs, 20yrs. Creeper cutting is carried out from the 1^st year while pruning carried out from 4^th year before and after the rainy season. Watering is done using drip irrigation up to 6 years, 4l/day in the dry season. Harvesting will be done using clear felling at the age of 25 yrs. In its natural range, K. senegalensis can be severely attacked by shoot borers (Hypsiphylla robusta). Such attacks may result in misshapen trees with no timber value. Carbofuran can be used to minimize these attacks.

At present harvest of 1 m³ of > 1.5m log in the local market is Rs. 13,830.00. Assuming 6% annual increase of Khaya lumber prices in 25 years it is projected to be Rs. 34,580.00. By doing a detail cost benefit analysis it is evident that the company will make an aggregate profit of Rs.1.4 billion in 25 yeas.

Establishment and maintenance plan for Pericopsis mooniana

Establishment and maintenance plan for Pericopsis mooniana

Abstract of a seminar presentation

Based on a hypothetically formed plantation company

Sarath Ranaweera

Pericopsis mooniana (Nedun) is a perennial tree of family Fabaceae. Mature height and dbh of this species are 20-30m and 30-70cm respectively. The trees are usually located in low land wet zone forests. Timber of Pericopsis mooniana works well with the tools. It has high durability. Colour of heart wood is dark brown and sap wood is pale in colour. It is good for furniture paneling, veneer and turnery production.

Nedun Plantation Company will start to establish a commercial Nedun plantation in June 2010. It is an investment company with Eco-friendly business plan. The company hopes to provide Nedun timber to local market and provide employment opportunities for rural people. For this proposes a land is selected in Karapagala, Mathugama. It is a barren one due to long term Tea cultivation, as well as due to high soil erosion.

The land should be developed using sloping agricultural land technique. Then Gliricidia is used to soil enhancement because it is a Nitrogen fixing and Nutrient recycling tree. Coir dust is applied as a mulch and Gliricidia shoots are lopped and laid on ground as twice per year. In addition to that Desmodium is planted as live mulch.

Nedun seedlings (purchased from FD) are planted in May-June of 2011 after totally killing of Desmodium using Glyphosate. Then Nedun and Pepper seedlings are planted. N.P.K. ratio (9:13:9) fertilizer is added to Nedun plants in first three years and just after PCT at year 7. Two pruning treatments must be done at age 4 and 7. Creeper cuttings are conducted twice per year until year 5. At pre-commercial thinning, 500 trees are removed at 7 years age. Pepper yield can be obtained from year 3 to year 13 of Nedun plant age. At year 13 of Nedun plants, 1^st commercial thinning is done to remove 300 trees. This practice cannot be done with Gliricidia and Pepper. Therefore they are removed before this thinning. Gliricidia timber can be sold as fire wood. After that, the 2^nd commercial thinning is done and sold as timber at 20 years age by removing 150 trees. We assume 0.3m³ volumes at 13 years, 0.5 m³ volume at 20 years and 1.0m³ volume at 40 years from a tree. Pest and diseases threats are minimal to Nedun plantation. Most of the time leaf eating caterpillars make damages. There is no severe damage after 3 years of Nedun plant. Therefore contact poisons can be applied within nursery period to first 3 years whenever necessary. There is a minimum threat to occur a forest fire, because this plantation is located in the wet zone. Most of the time surrounding people tend do illicit felling. Therefore the company expects to provide security using four watchers. One other benefit in addition to above of Pericopsis mooniana is that it can used to prevent soil erosion due to the heavy crown. It is also a carbon sink and create scenic value as a natural forest are more important through environmental view.