Burma teak tree production unique: U.N. report
(Mizzima) – Burma is the only country in the world that currently harvests quality teak trees from natural forests, says the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Buffalo pulling teak logs from the Irrawaddy River at Mandalay. Photo: Wikipedia
The FAO said in a report on Monday that natural teak forests are in decline worldwide.
Natural teak forests declined by 385,000 hectares globally between 1992 and 2010, said the new global Teak Resources and Market Assessment conducted in 60 tropical countries by FAO.
Natural teak forests grow only in Burma, India, Laos, and Thailand, it said. In 2010, the combined area of natural teak forest was estimated at about 29 million hectares, almost half of which is in Burma.
Burma is the only country that currently produces quality teak from natural forests; India, Laos and Thailand have bans on logging in natural forests or log exports.
Asia holds more than 90 per cent of the world's teak resources, and India alone manages 38 per cent of the world's planted teak forests.
Planted teak forests are increasing in area and producing high quality wood, the report said, when good management practices are applied.
On average it takes between 20 and 80 years for planted teak to grow to harvestable size, Walter Kollert, a FAO forestry officer, said in the report.
He said sustained production of teak logs from natural forests would continue to decline due to deforestation and competition for environmental services.
“Supply trend points to a continuing decline in the volume and quality of natural teak, which results in progressive loss of genetic resources. This is why it is essential in the near future to plan, organize and implement a program for the genetic conservation of natural teak resources,” he said.
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น