Efficient Utilization of Plantation Timbers - Challenges and Strategies

Wood has been and continues to be closely associated with man's survival and development. Despite industrial and technological advancements for development of many new generation materials and products based upon steel, metals, and plastics, wood continues to be indispensable material as these alternate materials are high energy consuming, non bio-degradable, and non-renewable and therefore non-sustainable. Due to renewability, and potential for ameliorating the environment through sequestering atmospheric carbon tree growing is the only rational option for meeting the increasing demand for wood and wood products. In the prevalent situation of growing demand and diminishing/static supply of wood from natural forests in India, use of rapid growth plantation timbers, grown by the government agencies with active people's participation and the farmers is a necessity rather than an option. Giving a comparative analysis ofthe characteristics of plantation grown timbers and ideal timber, the paper emphasizes upon the urgent need for development of appropriate indigenous processing technologies for efficient utilization of plantation timbers, for making value added consumer goods. As a long term and holistic strategy formulation of a national wood policy for coordinated efforts in developing technologies, infrastructure, marketing strategies, etc. for rational utilization of wood in general, and small diameter plantation grown species in particular is suggested. In the interim, short term measures that can be adopted by the wood processing industries, R&D organizations, national standardization body and the Government are proposed.