Workshop on Small-holder Timber Production

Forest Framework in Sri Lanka

by

Ariyadasa Kalutantri

Conservator of Forests

Forest Policy and Small-holder Timber Production

National Forest PolicyForest ResourcesNon Forest Tree ResourcesThe Role of Home Gardens

Population Increase and the Forest Cover

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1881 1900 1956 1983 1992Year

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Reduction of Forest Cover in Sri Lanka

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Forest Cover(%)

1881 1900 1956 1983 1992 1999

Year

Forest Types - 1994

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200

Extent ('000 ha.)

Monatne

Sub Montane

Lowland Rain

Moist Monsoon

Dry Monsoon

Reverine Dry

Mangroove

Sparse

Forest Policy and Restoration Strategy

Time Period

Policy Restoration Strategy

1900 Reclaim the chena cultivation areas

“Taungya” reforestation program mainly in the Dry and Intermediate zones

1938 Planting Patna lands Pinus and Eucalyptus were introduced in the up country patna lands

1953 Emphasis on timber and fuelwood production

Planting of dry and wet patna with P. caribaea, E.grandis, and E.microcoris with some mechanical site preparation

1980 Donor funded projects. USAID Watershed Management Project

Large scale planting of fuelwood in the dry zone and Pinus in the up country catchment areas

1980 Social Forestry Initiatives

CFP project 1982-1989 and PFP project 1993-1999

1995 Current Forest Policy Community based tree planting and private sector involvement in forest plantation development

National Forest Policy - 1995

To conserve forests for posterity with particular regard to biodiversity, soils, water, and historical, cultural, religious, and aesthetic values

To increase the tree cover and productivity of the forests to meet the needs of present and future generations for forest products and services

To enhance the contribution of forestry to the welfare of the rural population, and strengthen the national economy, with special attention paid to equity in economic development

Policy on Management of State Forest Resources

All state forest resources will be brought under sustainable management both in terms of the continued existence of important eco-systems and the flow of forest products and services

The traditional rights, cultural values, and religious beliefs of people living within or adjacent to forest areas will be recognized and respected

The natural forests will be allocated firstly for conservation, and secondly for regulated multiple use production forestry

For the management and protection of the natural forests forest plantations the state will where appropriate form partnership with local people, rural communities, and other stakeholders and introduce appropriate tenurial arrangements

Policy on Management of State Forest Resources

The establishment and management of industrial forest plantations on the state lands will be entrusted progressively to local people, rural communities , industries, and other private bodies in pace with institutionalizing effective environment safeguards

Degraded forest lands will be rehabilitated as forest for conservation and multiple use production, where it is economically and technically feasible, mainly for the benefit of local people

Planned conversion in forest to other land uses can take place only in accordance with procedures defined in legislation and with accepted conservation and scientific norms

Policy on Management of Private Forest and Tree Resources

Trees growing on homesteads, and other agroforestry, will be promoted as a main strategy to supply wood and other forest products for meeting household and market needs

• The establishment, management, and harvesting of industrial forest plantations by local people, communities, industries, and others in the private sector will be promoted

• The state will promote tree growing by local people, rural communities, NGOs and other non-state sector bodies for the protection of environmentally sensitive areas

Policy on Wood and Non-Wood forest products, Industries and Marketing

Greater responsibility will be given to local people, organized groups, cooperatives, industries, and other private bodies in commercial forest production, industrial manufacturing, and marketing.

Efficient forest products utilization, development of competitive forest industries based on sustainable wood sources, and manufacture of value added forest products will be promoted.

The state will facilitate the harvesting and transport of forest products grown on private lands

Effective measures to protect forests and illegal trade in wood, non-wood forest products and endangered species of flora and fauna will be instituted.

National Forest Policy

Forestry Sector Master Plan

Short TermStrategies

Medium TermStrategies

Long TermStrategies

Five Year ImplementationProgram (FYIP)

The Process

Sources of Timber Supply

Home Garden41%

Forest Plantations6%

Unrecorded21%

Imported9%

Rubber13%

Coconut10%

Agro-forestry Systems in Sri Lanka

Farm-based Agro-forestry Traditional Home Gardens Kandyan Forest Gardens Spice Gardens Trees in Agriculture Fields (Tea, Coffee, Cocoa) Intercropping with commercial trees (coconut,

rubber) Trees around agricultural fields

Agro-forestry Systems in Sri Lanka

Forest Based Agro-forestry Traditional shifting cultivation (chena) Cooperative Reforestation Program Farmers woodlots

Home Gardens - General

Best developed agro-forestry system in Sri Lanka

It is essentially a mixed cropping with a variety of tree species that provide food, fruit, timber, medicine, and spices

Home gardens are wide-spread and vary in species composition and tree density

There are about 858,000 ha. of home gardens (13% of the land area)

Distribution of Home Gardens

Land Area (ha) Area of Home Gardens DISTRICT Home Gardens(ha) as a % of district

Ampara 450031 16245 3.6 Anuradhapura 722178 56143 7.8 Badulla 285673 50764 17.8 Batticaloa 263983 14359 5.4 Colombo 68469 8577 12.5 Galle+Matara 292085 99000 33.9 Gampaha 141890 56884 40.1 Hambantota 262307 44922 17.1 Kalutara 164391 33156 20.2 Kandy 192808 61029 31.7 Kegalle 168328 46782 27.8 Kurunegula 489787 72892 14.9 Matale 206050 20258 9.8 Moneragala 576763 56739 9.8 Nuwara Eliya 174109 9172 5.3 Polonnaruwa 344988 36180 10.5 Puttalam 315848 64747 20.5 Ratnapura 327034 56462 17.3 Trincomalee 267991 14083 5.3 TOTAL 5714713 818394 14.3

Home Gardens- Species Composition

More than 400 different tree species found in home gardens

Some species are planted while other are naturally regenerated

Home garden species can be broadly categorized in to Food, Food & Timber, and Timber species. Medicinal and spice trees are also found

Five commercially grown exotic timber species (Teak, Mahogany, Alstonia, Albizzia, and Eucalyptus) are among the top ten species in order of frequency of occurrence

There are about 30 different medicinal tree species in the home gardens

Most Common Home Garden Tree Species

Species Name Origin Category Total Number Local Botanical of Trees

Coconut Cocos nucifera Planted Timber & Food 38616649 Rubber Hevea brasiliensis Planted Timber 17101488 Jak Artocarpus heterophyllus Planted Timber & Food 10437142 Arecanut Areca catechu Planted Food 9697944 Mahogany Swietenia macrophylla Planted Timber 6410248 Alstonia Alstonia macrophylla Planted Timber 5968286 Mango Mangifera indica Planted Timber & Food 5607688 Albizzia_1 Albizia molucana Planted Timber 5607581 Eucalyptus Eucalyptus spp Planted Timber 4061191 Teak Tectona grandis Planted Timber 3293609 Margosa Azadirachta indica Naturally Grown/Planted Timber 3044932 Cashew Anacardium occidentale Planted Timber & Food 3001240 Lime Citrus aurantifolia Planted Food 2484387 Lunumidella Melia dubia Naturally Grown/Planted Timber 2349245 Weera Drypetes sepiaria Naturally Grown Timber 2073390 Guava Psidium guajva Planted Food 1790026 Kitul Caryota urens Naturally Grown/Planted Timber & Food 1751016 Satin Chloroxylon swietenia Naturally Grown Timber 1489903 Orange Citrus cinensis Planted Food 1468383 Sabukku Grevillea robusta Planted Timber 1460721 Bamboo Bambusa vulgaris Planted Timber 1333073 Gliricidia Hevea brasiliensis Naturally Grown/Planted Timber 1252885 Halmilla Berrya cordifolia Naturally Grown/Planted Timber 1185466 Rambutan Nephelium lappaceum Planted Timber & Food 1177920 Toona Toona sinensis Planted Timber 1023771 Daminiya Grewia damine Naturally Grown Timber 1001625

Home Gardens- Species Density

The average tree density in home gardens is about 200 trees per hectare

In the wet zone tree density exceeds 260 trees per hectare while in the dry zone tree density is around 125 trees per hectare

Almost all the tree species have more small diameter trees compared to large diameter trees that shows the sustainable nature of the system

Tree Density in Home Gardens

DISTRICT Land Area (ha) Area of Home Gardens Total Number Trees/ha

  Home Gardens(ha) as a % of district of Trees  

Ampara 450031 16245 3.6 4684499 288

Anuradhapura 722178 56143 7.8 7820520 139

Badulla 285673 50764 17.8 12286263 242

Batticaloa 263983 14359 5.4 446427 31

Colombo 68469 8577 12.5 2427509 283

Galle+Matara 292085 99000 33.9 15799018 160

Gampaha 141890 56884 40.1 11057048 194

Hambantota 262307 44922 17.1 6315661 141

Kalutara 164391 33156 20.2 10533752 318

Kandy 192808 61029 31.7 5694609 93

Kegalle 168328 46782 27.8 22226316 475

Kurunegula 489787 72892 14.9 23505457 322

Matale 206050 20258 9.8 8019140 396

Moneragala 576763 56739 9.8 10905497 192

Nuwara Eliya 174109 9172 5.3 3541264 386

Polonnaruwa 344988 36180 10.5 1730037 48

Puttalam 315848 64747 20.5 4411647 68

Ratnapura 327034 56462 17.3 9732963 172

Trincomalee 267991 14083 5.3 281137 20

TOTAL 5714713 818394 14.3 161418764 197

Girth Class Distribution of Species

Species Name Family Category Girth Class Total Local Botanical >30cm <30cm

Coconut Cocos nucifera Palme TF 29362285 9254334 38616649 Rubber Hevea brasiliensis Euphorbiaceae T 10691775 6409713 17101488 Jak Artocarpus heterophyllus Moraceae TF 5515990 4921152 10437142 Arecanut Areca catechu Palme F 2661675 7036269 9697944 Mahogany Swietenia macrophylla Meliaceae T 1105066 5305182 6410248 Alstonia Alstonia macrophylla Apocynaceae T 2719116 3249170 5968286 Mango Mangifera indica Anacardiaceae TF 2933572 2674116 5607688 Albizzia_1 Albizia molucana Fabaceae T 4148863 1458678 5607581 Eucalyptus Eucalyptus spp Myrtaceae T 2408844 1652347 4061191 Teak Tectona grandis Verbenaceae T 1522317 1771292 3293609 Margosa Azadirachta indica Meliaceae T 1357844 1687088 3044932 Cashew Anacardium occidentale Anacardiaceae TF 1151863 1849377 3001240 Lime Citrus aurantifolia Rutaceae F 12013 2472374 2484387 Lunumidella Melia dubia Meliaceae T 1251112 1098133 2349245 Weera Drypetes sepiaria Euphorbiaceae T 3974874 11481516 2073390 Guava Psidium guajva Myrtaceae F 70716 1719310 1790026 Kitul Caryota urens Palme TF 809525 941491 1751016 Satin Chloroxylon swietenia Rutaceae T 713782 776121 1489903 Orange Citrus cinensis Rutaceae F 20790 1447593 1468383 Sabukku Grevillea robusta Proteaceae T 891560 569161 1460721 Bamboo Bambusa vulgaris Bambusaceae T 369924 963149 1333073 Gliricidia Hevea brasiliensis Euphorbiaceae T 434510 818375 1252885 Halmilla Berrya cordifolia Tiliaceae T 503663 681803 1185466 Rambutan Nephelium lappaceum Sapindaceae TF 531295 646625 1177920 Toona Toona sinensis Meliaceae T 639165 384606 1023771 Daminiya Grewia damine Tiliaceae T 372663 628962 1001625

Home Garden – Timber Production Potential

One hectare of home garden will produce 0.95 m3 of sawlogs and 0.5 m3 of poles per year

Five exotic tree species found in home gardens (Mahogany, Alstonia, Teak, Eucalyptus, and Albizzia) account for 30% of the total timber production

Jak and Rubber are the main timber producers each contributing 17% to the total production

Most Valuable Timber Species in Home GardensSpecies Name

Local Botanical Origin

Timber Class

Log Price/M3 (Rs.)

Teak Tectona grandis Planted Super Luxury 23040

Nedun Pericopsis mooniana Naturally Grown/Planted Super Luxury 23040

Jak Artocarpus heterophyllus Planted Luxury 15120

Mahogany Swietenia macrophylla Planted Luxury 14760

Satin Chloroxylon swietenia Naturally Grown Luxury 15180

Halmilla Berrya cordifolia Naturally Grown/Planted Luxury 15180

Milla Vitex altissima Naturally Grown Luxury 15180

Eucalyptus Eucalyptus spp Planted Special & 2 5700

Margosa Azadirachta indica Naturally Grown/Planted Special 14220

Kumbuk Terminalia arjuna Naturally Grown/Planted Special 11340

Palu Manilkara hexandra Naturally Grown Special 14220

Welang Pterospermum suberifolium Naturally Grown Special 14220

Kolon Adina cordifolia Naturally Grown Special 14220

Suriyamara Albizia odoratissima Naturally Grown Special 14220

Hora Dipterocarpus zeylanicus Naturally Grown/Planted 1 7740

Ketakela Bridelia retusa Naturally Grown 1 7740

Kon Schleichera oleosa Naturally Grown 1 7740

Damba Syzygium assimile Naturally Grown 1 7740

Helamba Mitragyma parvifolia Naturally Grown 1 7740

Alstonia Alstonia macrophylla Planted 2 5700

Toona Toona sinensis Naturally Grown/Planted 2 5700

Coconut Cocos nucifera Planted 3 3216

Rubber Hevea brasiliensis Planted 3 3216

Mango Mangifera indica Planted 3 1620

Albizzia_1 Albizia molucana Planted 3 1620

Lunumidella Melia dubia Naturally Grown/Planted 3 3180

Sabukku Grevillea robusta Naturally Grown/Planted 3 3180

Rambutan Nephelium lappaceum Planted 3 1620

Daminiya Grewia damine Naturally Grown 3 1620

Tamarind Tamarindus indica Naturally Grown/Planted 3 1620

Timber Production Potential of Home Garden Species

Species Name

Local Botanical

Category Total No. of Trees

Estimated No. of

Trees that would reach

Maturity

Rotation Age

(Years)

Timber Volume per Tree

(m3)

Estimated Timber Volume

(m3)

Coconut Cocos nucifera Timber & Food 38616649 27031654 50 0.15 81095

Rubber Hevea brasiliensis Timber 17101488 10260893 30 0.3 102609

Jak Artocarpus heterophyllus Timber & Food 10437142 8349714 40 0.5 104371

Mahogany Swietenia macrophylla Timber 6410248 2564099 30 0.6 51282

Alstonia Alstonia macrophylla Timber 5968286 2387314 25 0.3 28648

Mango Mangifera indica Timber & Food 5607688 3925382 40 0.4 39254

Albizzia_1 Albizia molucana Timber 5607581 2243032 25 0.4 35889

Eucalyptus Eucalyptus spp Timber 4061191 1624476 25 0.6 38987

Teak Tectona grandis Timber 3293609 1317444 35 0.6 22585

Margosa Azadirachta indica Timber 3044932 2131452 45 0.4 18946

Lunumidella Melia dubia Timber 2349245 1409547 25 0.4 22553

Kitul Caryota urens Timber & Food 1751016 1225711 35 0.15 5253

Satin Chloroxylon swietenia Timber 1489903 1042932 70 0.4 5960

Sabukku Grevillea robusta Timber 1460721 584288 30 0.35 6817

Halmilla Berrya cordifolia Timber 1185466 829826 40 0.4 8298

Rambutan Nephelium lappaceum Timber & Food 1177920 824544 40 0.4 8245

Toona Toona sinensis Timber 1023771 511886 25 0.4 8190

Daminiya Grewia damine Timber 1001625 600975 40 0.4 6010

594992

What improvements can be made

Provide better quality planting materials especially in case of commercial species

Some sort of mechanism to certify the timber produced in home gardens