EUROPEAN UNION

Resin tapping in Uganda

Resin tapping from uganda’s pine plantations providing intermediate financial returns to forest owners Contents 1 Introduction What is resin? Functions of resin in plants Commercially important resinous pine species Commercial uses of resin

2 Resin tapping methods/techniques The Chinese method 3 The Portuguese Method Resin Yield The economics of resin tapping

4 Effects of resin tapping on trees Issues of concern

5 Conclusion Next steps Bibliography

©FAO/JosephatKawooya Introduction nder proper management, pine forests can canals secrete resin, which immediately loses oils to provide multiple economic benefits. Most evaporation and forms a heavy solid (hardens when Upeople in Uganda are familiar with timber exposed to air) coating. Resin is contained in ducts and non-timber forest products from pine trees. or canals that run through the bark and wood, and Increasingly however, many are learning of resin diminish in size and number as they enter roots tapping from pine trees, as an income-generating and needles. For most tree species, resin ducts are activity. Although resin tapping is considered to be mainly restricted to the bark. a new economic undertaking among tree growers in Uganda, humans have gathered and used Functions of resin in plants resins from plants for thousands of years. In recent esins perform a number of functions in the years, the world has witnessed a renewed interest plants that produce them. Resins seal over in natural resins, fuelled mainly by an increasing Rwounds used as introductory pathways by demand from China, which has pushed prices up to invading insects and fungal disease agents. They about USD 650/tonne. help in containing the injury and healing any resulting infection. Resins contain antimicrobial Initially, Ugandan tree farmers were reluctant to properties (antiseptic qualities) that help prevent participate in resin tapping due to fears of possible fungal infections and subsequent decay. Insects adverse effects of tapping on trees. However, that try to enter a tree via a wound can be flushed many now seem to agree that resin tapping can out, can become stuck and trapped in the seal provide additional income to their enterprises. and can be overcome by the resin’s toxicity. Resins Furthermore, resin tapping provides other benefits also decrease water loss from plant tissue during to growers, including employment creation for droughts or injury, for instance from fire and rural communities and improved fire management thinning operations. practices by understory vegetation slashing to reduce fuel load and increase fire surveillance Commercially important resinous pine species during the dry season when fire risk is high. The production of resin is very common in nature; but only a few plant families can be considered Consequently, about 10 tree farmers in Uganda are of commercial importance to resin collectors. In already participating in resin tapping, as of June Uganda, resin tapping is being done from Pinus 2018. There are close to 40 000 hectares (ha) of Pinus carribea trees. Other primary sources of commercial caribaea var. hondurensis (PCH) plantations already pine resin include Pinus elliottii, Pinus taeda and established under SPGS I & II alone, which forms a Pinus halepensis among others. solid foundation for resin tapping. With guidance and support from FAO/SPGS III, working closely Commercial uses of resin with the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) Resins, are critical to a tree’s health but can also be and Uganda Timber Growers Association (UTGA), commercially valuable when collected or “tapped”. farmers are aiming at a sustainable exploitation of Resins are low volume, high value forest products, resin from pine plantations. commonly used in everyday life and are important non-wood forest products. They have been known to humankind since time immemorial and are the What is resin? most widely used and traded Non Wood Forest Products (NWFP), besides items consumed directly, esin is a fluid (a hydrocarbon) that is secreted such as food, fodder and medicine. Resins are from certain plants, particularly coniferous used to make adhesives, glaze for foods (in ice Rtrees such as pine, as a result of injury to the creams, puddings, pastries, sauces, soups, fruit and tree. The production of resin is a defensive response vegetable preserves, soft drinks, coffee), incense, of the tree to mechanical damage. Resin flows into medicine, varnishes, for waterproofing, perfumes the wound to form a physical and chemical barrier and cosmetics. Surfaces that are painted with resin- to prevent water loss and insect and pathogen based solutions retain a thin waterproof layer of penetration, to allow fast healing. It helps to protect resin only, as the solvents and oils evaporate. It is this the tree from shock caused by wounds. Resin-loaded ability of resins to harden (essential oils and solvents

1 used for incense, medicine, jewellery, perfumes and Principal characteristics of resins varnish. • They are insoluble in water. Resin tapping methods/ • They are soluble in ordinary solvents like alcohol, ether, petroleum and turpentine. techniques • They are brittle, amorphous apping is done in order to obtain commercially • They are transparent or semi-transparent. viable amounts of resin and resin can also be • They have a characteristics lustre Textracted during the processing of wood into other products including pulp and paper. Resins are • Resins are ordinarily fusible and when collected from pine trees through tapping using ignited, resins burn with a smoky flame. different methods that involve inducing resin flow by deliberately inflicting an injury to a tree. Consideration evaporate) that makes them vital in production of for the right method to use should be based on its commercial varnishes. ability to maximize resin yield while minimizing Resins are categorized into the following groups: damage to the wood. The depth of the cut/injury into the tree for resin taping must reach the cambium layer 1. Hard Resins: These resins are physically hard and but not go beyond it, into the sapwood. are mainly used for varnishes and adhesives. Below is a description of the two main methods 2. Oleoresins: These resins contain an oil component currently being used to tap resin in Uganda: naturally made by the tree. They typically stay soft or gum-like. An example of oleoresin is the terpene The Chinese method resins – obtained commonly from Pine trees (Pinus Consists of a series of downward-pointing V-shaped species). They are often used for therapeutic narrow grooves (1.5mm wide) cut on the tree stem, purposes and incense. deep enough to reach the secondary xylem. The first groove is cut about 1.7meters above the ground, and 3. Gum Resins: These are resins produced with a subsequent grooves are cut downwards after every natural gum (sugars) instead of oil. They are used two days. for incense, perfume, medicine and some religious ceremonies. The groove reaches roughly half way around tree’s circumference. Resin oozes out of the newly created 4. Fossilized Resins: These resins are mined and groove and flows down the stem to a collection extracted from ancient fossil materials. They are container (plastic bag) fasted to a tree about 40-60cm from the end of the cut. No chemical stimulant is used in this method. FAO/Josephat Kawooya

The Chinese method of tapping resin 2 The Portuguese Method the tree trunk at about 10cm above the ground In this method, slices of the back measuring about for a period of 18-22days before a new slice is cut 10x5cm are cut into the tree stem every 18-22 days. upwards. The slices are cut upward, the first at 20 cm A stimulant paste with 18 to 24 percent sulphric above the ground and gradually extends to about acid (H2SO4) is applied to stimulate and maintain 1.8Meters after two years of extraction. The resin resin flow. Resin continually oozes out of the sliced collecting bag is raised with each cut to minimize portion of the stem and flows into a bag fasted to chances of resin drying before it enters the bag.

The Portuguese method of tapping resin

©FAO/HenryAhimbisibwe

tree growers who were already facing prospects of Resin yield low timber prices and a long rotation period (18 esin yield varies with site; from two to four years) for sawlog production. Resin tapping thus kilogrammes per tree, per year; with an average provides an additional income stream to pine tree Ryield of three kilogrammes per tree, per year growers before final harvesting can take place. or about two tonnes per hectare, per year. Variation can be caused by length of harvesting season, tree Currently, increased demand for natural resin in size and number of resin extraction faces worked on China has pushed up prices (> USD 650/ton) and per tree at a time. Resin yield per hectare depends several Ugandan tree farmers, previously reluctant on stocking per hectare, age, tree diameter, to participate, are engaging or expressing interest accessibility of the compartment and steepness in resin tapping. The resin tapping business in of terrain. Access cleaning is recommended in Uganda is currently dominated by Chinese investors compartments that are to be tapped for resin. It who export it to mainland China. Tree growers is more difficult to work on steep terrain, carrying across the country are being paid an annual rental loads of resin during harvesting, than on flat terrain. fee equivalent to UGX 1.6 Million (USD 420)/ha/ year, paid in two instalments. On the contrary, big commercial forest companies such as Global Woods AG and Nile Ply Woods Limited, which are involved The economics of resin in resin tapping, are exporting resin tapped from tapping their own plantations, directly. or the first time in the history of commercial In Uganda, the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) for forestry in Uganda, pine forests are being managing a compartment for timber production Fsubjected to intensive resin tapping for alone in 15 years is calculated at approximately 27 commercial purposes. This comes as a relief to pine 3 percent. A combined management strategy of resin confidence of tree growers in the whole process. tapping with timber production may still provide a For instance the National Forestry Resources means by which forest farmers can optimize their Research Institute (NaFORRI) could provide research income despite any reductions in stem volume that and development support towards extraction, may occur as a result of resin tapping, on condition processing and value addition of pine resin. The that the reduction in wood quality is minimized. A research could yield useful information regarding study in China found that a combined management the effects of resin tapping on wood quality and strategy of resin tapping with timber production of tree growth. Masson pine can produce an internal rate of return of 37 percent, if reduction in wood quality is kept So far, no adverse effects have been reported at a minimum, costs are controlled and the right as a result of resin tapping, currently on- markets are found. Furthermore, the combined 2going on about 2 000ha of pine plantations in strategy of resin collection and timber production Uganda. However, there is a likelihood of damaging reduces payback period of a forest investment by the trees during the process of tapping, if clear 45 percent (Williams et al, 2017). safe guards are not put in place. This calls for an effective monitoring and training regime for the laborers as well as growers involved in the exercise Effects of resin tapping on in order to safe-guard the trees against excessive damage. Furthermore, there is need to modify trees these methods so as to adapt them to the Ugandan he most common growth anomaly seen context. The Uganda Timber Growers’ Association on trees from which resin is tapped, is the (UTGA) is already playing a monitoring and liaison Texistence of discontinuous rings. Resin role between growers and investors to ensure that tapping is also reported to result in discoloration tapping is done correctly. and hardening of wood on the wounded (tapped) area. The oldest and most valuable part of a tree is Since the yield of resin is dependent on number the butt log (first log of the tree stem) where resin of trees in a hectare, there is risk of farmers tapping is done. The injured portion of the stem 3under-thinning or not thinning compartments therefore affects grade as well as financial value of at all for fear of obstructing the resin tapping wood products from that section while the rest of exercise which will in turn adversely affect the the stem has full financial and utilization value. volume and quality of the sawlogs obtained at final harvest. Forest owners should thus be encouraged Given that resin yield depends on number of trees to carry out all the recommended (three) thinning in a hectare, there is risk of farmers under- thinning operations irrespective of the possible effects of or not thinning compartments at all for fear of thinning on resin yield. Where possible, growers interfering with the tapping exercise, which will should start tapping resin after third thinning so as affect the quality of trees at final harvest. There is not to interfere with thinning operations. no doubt however that whatever the effect on the wood as a result of tapping may be, it is sufficiently Presently, growers are being paid a fixed rental fee per hectare of plantation irrespective of compensated by the financial returns from resin. 4the amount of resin collected. Building the capacity of growers to correctly estimate yield Issues of concern of resin from their plantations as well as helping Besides financial returns, it’s worth noting that them to understand the dynamics involved in the sustainability of the resin tapping business international resin trade will enhance grower’s 1in Uganda will largely depend on the positive capacity to negotiate for better prices in future. attitude of forest owners towards the undertaking. Any significant adverse effects on tapped trees As a relatively new undertaking in Uganda, (whether real or perceived) are likely to discourage the resin tapping business is unregulated. It is other farmers from participating. Carefully thought- 5therefore imperative to develop resin tapping out interventions including training resin collectors procedures, guidelines, standards and regulations to and research will minimize the risk of adversely safe-guard trees from excessive damage, ensuring effecting trees during resin tapping and build product quality and protecting growers from

4 exploitation. FAO/SPGS III working closely working of resin tapping, tree growers in Uganda should be with UTGA and MWE, is supporting development of encouraged to participate in resin tapping. resin tapping procedures and guidelines to regulate the activity. Next steps Conclusion 1. FAO/SPGSIII, in close collaboration with MWE and UTGA, intends to develop procedures and rom the foregoing, pine resin is important in guidelines to guide both growers and business the production of a variety of products such people on how to sustainably tap resin for their as solvents, cleaning agents for varnishes and F benefit. paints, flavor and fragrances in the pharmaceutical 2. FAO/SPGSIII, in close collaboration with MWE ©FAO/HenryAhimbisibwe and UTGA, also plans to develop a resin tapping practical training course for both tree growers and resin collectors aimed at building their capacity to tap resin without harming trees as well as improving productivity.

Bibliography 1. Williams R, Nauman C, Zhu J. 2017, The Effects of Resin Tapping on the Radial Growth of Masson Pine Trees in South China-A Case Study. Agri Res & Tech: Open Access J; 8(2): 555732. DOI: 10.19080/ARTOAJ.2017.08.555732.

2. Amélia Palma, João Miguel Pereira, Paula Soares. 2017, Resin tapping activity as a contribution to the management of maritime pine forest. Forest Systems, August 2016 • Volume 25 • Issue 2 • eSC11

3. Giri, S.K. Prasad, N, Pandey, S.K. Prasad, M. Baboo, B. 2008. Natural Resins and Gums of Commercial Importance - at a Glance, Technical Bulletin, lndian Institute of Natural Resin and Gums Applying a stimulant paste to whet and maintain resin flow

and food industry, perfumes, synthetic rubber, disinfectants, coatings, printing ink resins, and waterproofing materials. The combined economic benefits of resin collection and timber production in the same forest compartment cannot be doubted. Resin tapping provides annual revenues of a stand from 10 years until clear-felling, increasing its internal rate of return that otherwise would not be possible with timber production alone. Resin tapping also minimizes the risks of fire outbreak, as it reduces fuel load and increases fire detection. Provided appropriate safe guards are put in place to minimize possible adverse effects on trees as a result 5 Resin tapping at Global Woods AG Limited in Kyankwanzi District ©FAO/AnitaTibasaaga

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United SPGS III Project Office Nations (FAO) Plot 92 Luthuli Avenue, Bugolobi Plot 88 Buganda Road P. O. Box 521, Kampala P. O. Box 521, Kampala Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Phone: +256 414 349916/7 Phone: +256 414 349916/7 www.spgs.mwe.go.ug www.fao.org/uganda @FAOUganda

Prepared by the Sawlog Production Grant Scheme (SPGS) III Project