ECOGreen (Pvt) Limited: Establishment of a Pericopsis Plantation

Abstract of the presentation of

Chathuranga Deshapriya

Nedun (Pericopsis mooniana) is a perennial tree native to Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Sri Lanka. It belongs to family Fabaceae. This species is considered as threatened species due to heavy exploitation for its beautiful timber, which is in great demand and realizes high prices. It is threatened further by poor natural regeneration and lack of replanting. Nedun trees are generally distributed in wet and intermediate zones of Sri Lanka. Usually timber has high durability thus it is use for High class furniture, cabinet work, flooring, carvings and ornamental works.

A forest management company named as ECOGreen (Pvt.) Ltd is established with aim of promoting Nedun plantations to generate investment opportunities for Sri Lankans as well as foreign investors. Company is highly focused on forest management activities, which acts on behalf of owners of plantation blocks, in order to generate the most value from their forest investment and protect their asset. With the aim of establishing Nedun plantation in low country wet zone, 42.5 hectares of abandoned Rubber estate will be acquired which is located in Bodiyakanda, Agalawatta.

Land preparation can be done using mechanical and manual methods for preparing the ground for planting to ensure the best possible utilization of the soil resources for the plants. Nedun seeds purchased from reliable suppliers are raised in the nursery using prescribed techniques. Seedlings will be planted during May-June rainy season. The required spacing for planting trees is 5.0m × 5.0m such that number of plants per ha is around 400. Fertiliser with N.P.K. ratio 9:13:9 is added to Nedun plants in first three years and just after pre commercial thinning at year 7. Two pruning treatments must be done at age 4 and 7.

Value addition to a Nedun plantation can be done by maximization of land utilization by introducing intercrops as short term income generation method. For this purpose Pepper and Arecanut can be recommended. In addition to that use of low cost fertilizer mixture, high quality seedling and obtaining FSC certification can be done. In SWOT analysis, excellent return of investment and highly experienced management as some strengths, the growing cycle for Nedun is not more aggressive as one of weakness, high market potential as one of opportunity, land invasion and theft and other natural disasters such as heavy rains and floods can be mentioned as threats.

Acacia Plantations Pvt Limited: Establishment of an Acacia Plantation

Abstract of the presentation of

Imalka Hitihamu

An ever-increasing demand for paper combined with a declining fibre supply from the forests is forcing the pulp and paper industry to find technically and economically viable fiber sources to supplement forest based resources. According to the world data records with regard to this implies that today a large amount of paper is produced from various annual plants (non wood fibers) in developing countries where forest resources are limited, For that sense we are making a plantation company for giving a solution to this demand for fibers which are raw materials of the paper and pulp making industry. 

Therefore we are using Acacia auriculiformis tree which suits well to our climatic conditions for come out a better solution for this. Acacia auriculiformis is an evergreen tree that grows between to 15-30 m tall, with a trunk up to 12 m long and 50 cm in diameter. It has dense foliage with an open, spreading crown. The trunk is crooked and the bark vertically fissured. Roots are shallow and spreading. Leaves are 10-16 cm long and 1.5-2.5 cm wide with 3-8 parallel nerves, thick, leathery and curved. Flowers are 8 cm long and in pairs, creamy yellow and sweet scented. Pods are about 6.5x1.5 cm, flat, cartilaginous, transversely veined with undulate margins. Acacia has a high calorific value. Also it has furniture, paper and pulp, medicinal as well as food values.

Land is situated in intermediate zone which provides best climatic and growing conditions to the optimum growth of the tree. Managing this Acacia land management plan will consists seed treatment methods, Nursery applications, Fertilizing, weed controlling and management of workman ship. For the value addition we are practicing intercropping and ginger will be used for this task which grows well in intermediate zone. This will become a successive effort of providing fibers for the paper and pulp industry and also it will become a profit making company.

Acacia auriculifromis tree

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

Value addition to Teak plantations

Abstract of a Seminar presentation

Hasini de Alwis

Teak (Tectona grandis) is one of the most premier luxury hardwood timbers in the world. It is native to the Indian-Burmese floristic region and found naturally in India, Myanmar, Thailand and Laos. It was introduced to Sri Lanka due to high quality wood by a Dutchman in 1680. Taungya method and participatory forest projects were two popular methods in establishing Teak Plantations at the beginning. At present teak plantations are maintained on state owned lands, private lands or as farmer woodlots. According to the Sri Lanka Forest Department, the present extent of teak plantation is approximately 45,000 ha which is distributed mainly in dry and low intermediate zones.

Value addition is a concept which an additional value is added to the product or service that has above the baseline. Teak Plantations are mainly managed for commercial purposes. Therefore the private plantation companies who export their timber have more concern about this concept.

Replacing lumber with reconstitute panels, polishing the furniture products, manufacturing timber products according to customer’s requirement, practicing seasoning methods and pre-treatment methods, obtaining certain forest certifications will add values to the end product.

Value additions can be done by increasing tree growth and timber quality of Teak plantations. Genetically improved seeds can be taken from clonal seed orchards, seed production areas.

Tissue culture to develop large scale uniform superior plants can also be practiced. Good silvicultural practices like proper spacing, pruning, weeding, thinning, pest and disease control can be done to produce high quality timber. Teak is grown as mixtures with Jak, Margosa, Eucalypts and Mahogany. Practicing agroforestry systems will provide additional incomes from agri crops and by doing so, the land is maximally utilised. Applications of organic fertilizer, fire management are some eco-friendly forestry practices can add values to the plantation.

Plantations are maintained by using the local labor. Therefore, it is desirable to maintain the structure of the local community in a way that provides a steady supply of reliable workers.

In Sri Lankan context, value additions to the plantation are not practicing properly. Advance silvicultural practices, promoting agroforestry systems, adopting appropriate new technologies and obtaining forest management certifications to the end products are recommended for the teak plantations to add values so that a better price and a better reputation can be obtained.

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 Cedrela toona

Establishment and maintenance plan for Cedrela toona

Abstract of a seminar presentation

Based on a hypothetically formed plantation company

Sadeepa Senarath Yapa

Establishment and maintenance plan for Cedrela toona is prepared by a company named as Evergreen Plantation Limited who is willing to establish a commercial toona plantation in a barren land of upcountry. The company is mainly targeting to obtain a maximum profit by selling toona timber which is popular as a veneer and used for decorative purposes.

This large tree species is a moderate shade demander whose best growth is at the elevation of around 1200m. As we have a barren land of 50ha with no shade trees we have planned to plant Acacia decurrens two years prior to planting toona in the spacing of 4.5m*4.5m. These Acacia plants will be removed completely form the site 7 years after planting them to provide more space for the growing of toona trees.

Land Preparation, planting and other treatments such as weeding, fertilizing, thinning, pruning and pest and disease control will be carried out in a very careful manner in order to obtain maximum volume of timber at the end of the rotation age of 30 years. Fencing and fire lining will be done in the early stages of the plantation establishment to prevent manmade and natural damages to the plantation.

Final stock will be 225 trees per ha which will be removed by shelter wood system to minimize environmental damages which can be occurred in clear felling. Selected trees will be felled, extracted the moved to roadside and transported to the local market.

Establishment of relationships of growth at 7-year old mahogany trees with selected site factors

Establishment of relationships of growth at 7-year old mahogany trees with selected site factors in low country wet zone, using GIS as a tool

Himesha Randeni and Upul Subasinghe

Paper presented for the 14th International Forestry and Environment Symposium 2009

Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) is an exotic tree, which is heavily adapted to the climatic conditions of wet and intermediate zones of Sri Lanka. Although the state sector manages mahogany with longer rotations, private sector expects to achieve the maximum timber yield within a shorter period. Due to the land scarcity, many of these mahogany plantations have been established in barren and rubber uprooted lands which were heavily degraded. Therefore the soil conditions and site factors directly affect the growth of the mahogany within short rotations.

The present study was carried out in a 7 years old mahogany monoculture plantation established in Gomaragala, in low country wet zone of Sri Lanka to find out the effect of soil and site factors to the mahogany tree growth. Extent of this forest is 20.7 ha and it is managed by a private plantation company. This forest has been divided into 2 lots for the purpose of administration and further divided into 240 plots of 20 perch each.

In order to identify the relationships, tree dbh and height were used as growth parameters. Slope, bedrock establishment and terrain were selected as selected site factors. The growth parameters (i.e.dbh and height) were measured for all the trees in plantation (one measurement from each plot). Slope and terrain as geographical parameters were measured of all 240 plots in the entire plantation.

Since the regression based methods were not adequate for both qualitative as well as quantitative parameter analysis, GIS based analysis was decided to use for the present study, using ArcView 3.3. In order to create digital maps, the survey plan of the selected forest was digitized and georeferanced using 10 ground control points collected by a GPS data receptor. Then the georeferanced base map was digitized to demarcate all the plots and other land marks. After that different maps were prepared in vector form separately for each parameter. However, for the analysis, all these vector layers were converted to raster layers. Raster layers were then reclassified and overlaid two or three layers at a time with the growth parameters to identify the effects. Then map analysis was completed to make decisions regarding tree growth in different site factors.

Results revealed that there are significant relationships between tree growth and the selected site parameters. However, the best conditions for the mahogany tree growth in the particular area are the slope between 11⁰-24⁰, and shallow bedrock prevalence and stony terrain.

Change of crown diameter with dbh of mahogany

Change of crown diameter with dbh of Swietenia macrophylla (mahogany)

even-aged monocultures

Shanika Lakmali and Upul Subasinghe

Paper presented for the 14th International Forestry and Environment Symposium 2009

Mahogany is one of the renowned timber species for its beautifully grained, hard and red-brown wood. It is an introduced timber species, dominated in Sri Lankan forest plantations with fast growth rates and higher timber value. Mahogany plantations are widely established in the intermediate zone and low country wet zone in Sri Lanka. Recently, private sector has started to establish of mahogany monocultures with shorter rotations to gain high income.

Due to the lack of research studies on mahogany, the objective of the present study was to establish an empirical model to predict crown diameter accurately using dbh. For this purpose, data were collected from 16 mahogany monocultures in Kalutara, Ratnapura and Matale districts. In order to represent the whole plantation, sixty trees were selected from good, moderate and poor areas from each plantation.

In order to build a reliable model, theoretical basic structures were developed assuming the crown diameter is a function of tree dbh. This basic structure was fitted to the data as linear, exponential, and logistic form separately for different growth types. In addition to the untransformed variables, transformations were also made whenever possible. Suitable candidate models were preliminary selected by R2 and residual distributions. After further analysis, it was proven that the best results were given by the logistic model structure for good, moderate and poor site types (R2 = 92.0%, 71.4%, 65.9% respectively). In order to eliminate the difficulty of using separate models for different growth types, the possibility of using a common model for all growth types were tested. For this reason, one way ANOVA was used for residuals of different growth types generated after fitting respective models. Results indicated that it was possible to use a common model and therefore the logistic form was re-fitted to pooled data.

The final model was “crown diameter = 0.645 + 2.682 / (1+exp (-0.356 (dbh –7.749)))” and it had a R2 of 60.9%.

Changes of branch and crown characteristics with stem parameters and age of Swietenia macrophylla even-aged monocultures

Changes of branch and crown characteristics with stem parameters and age of Swietenia macrophylla (mahogany) even-aged monocultures

B.Sc. Dissertation

Shyanika Lakmali and Upul Subasinghe

Growth predictions in the plantation forestry play a vital role in order to maximize the future gains specially in the field of economy. Plantations of mahogany monocultures in private sector directly focus in the timber production and thereby the financial gain. Tree growth is accompanied with the photosynthesis process and it increases the stem parameters of the trees. Therefore there is a close relationship between crown development and tree growth. In addition to that, crown growth causes a competition after the canopy closure in the forest plantations.

The main objective of the present study was to establish a series of empirical models for predicting the relationships between stem, crown and branch parameters. In addition to that an attempt was taken to predict the above parameters with age. It was expected to use those relationships to prepare a pruning schedule for mahogany monoculture plantations in Sri Lanka.

In order to achieve the objectives, data were collected from 16 mahogany monocultures in Kalutara, Ratnapura and Matale districts. In order to represent the whole plantation, due to growth differences, sixty trees were selected from each of plantation as twenty trees from each good, moderate, and poor growing areas. The measurements were taken including dbh, total tree height, crown diameter, height to the first branch, height to the second branch, branch lengths and base diameters up to two branches.

Regression analysis was employed to build the suitable relationships between related variables. Both linear and non-linear regression equations were tested for each relationship using MINITAB and GENSTAT statistical software. In order to obtain the best equations, both qualitative (R² ) and quantitative (residual distribution and fitted line plots) were used. Initially, the data were grouped as good, moderate and poor growth types. Then different theoretical model structures (linear with untransformed and transformed variables, exponential and logistic) were separately fitted to those data. After that the best model was selected for each relationship for each growth type. At this point, it was a must to select the similar model structure (with different regression parameter sets) for each relationship in each growth type.

According to the results, crown and branch variables were highly correlated with the stem variables such as dbh and total height. Therefore the predictions of the crown and branch growth could be expressed by using dbh and total height. It was not possible to build linear relationships and

In order to predict the required variable, 12 non-linear models were constructed. Then the possibility of using a common model for all growth types was tested for each variable with pooled data. However, only three models out of 12 models proved the possibility of using as common models for all growth types. The rest of models were therefore decided to use as growth specific ones.

Finally using those models, a pruning schedule was prepared for different growth types of mahogany monocultures in Sri Lanka.

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.

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.