Friday, November 7, 2014

Golden Hope Plantation Pvt Ltd: Establishment of an African Mahogany Plantation

Abstract of the presentation of 
Rangika Beddevidana

African mahogany, 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.

The name of the hypothetical company is Golden Hope Plantation Pvt. Ltd and its management objectives are the production of high-value; high-quality timber on sustainable basis to relieve the pressure on our valuable rain forests, practice commercial forestry by earning higher income with inter-cropping.

At harvesting age, trees will be approximately 6 m in length and 50-60 cm in dbh 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 of 30 ha in the Dry Zone will be selected by considering several factors such as rain fall (1400 mm per annum), terrain (flat), accessibility, value. (low cost), soil condition, availability of natural water bodies and labour availability.

Land Demarcation will be carried out by surveying and establishing boundaries. Plots near the main roads or boundaries of the land will be kept by the company as a security. Main road of 5 m, sub-roads of 4 m will also be demarcated. Land clearing, removing shrubs, clear debris is carried out in late September, holing and planting carried out in early October and November targeting the NE monsoon. 650-700 trees per ha will be planted with a spacing of 3×5 m. Live fire belt will be established using Hana.


Proper maintenance practices will be established including fertilising up to 3 years and the commercial thinnings will be carried out at the ages of 14 and 20 years. Creeper cutting will be carried out from the 1st year while pruning carried out from 4th year before and after the rainy season. Watering is done using drip irrigation up to 3 years, 4 L per day in the dry season. Harvesting will be done using clear felling at the age of 25 years. 


A 6 year old African Mahogany Plantation in Intermediate Zone, Kurunegala, Sri Lanka

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