Volume 6: Issue 4 As in the previous issues of the Bulletin, we have included price of plantation teakwood being imported to India from various sources and the total volume of old growth Myanmar teak and other October 2013 hardwoods shipped to India. It is to be remembered at this juncture that Myanmar government

INSIDE THIS ISSUE officially announced a total ban on export of timber logs (including teak) starting April 2014. This will have far reaching implications leading to price escalation of teak and other hardwoods in the Geographical Indications (GI) Indian market. Myanmar is the only country exporting timber extracted from natural forests. Auction price of domestic teak logs from the forest plantations of Western India is also given in this tag for Teak 1 bulletin. Auction price of teak logs from Central is given in the TEAKNET website

A giant natural teak located www.teaknet.org up to August 2013. Auction of timbers had not taken place after August due to in the Western Ghats of some delay in the implementation of E-auction procedures by the Govt. of Kerala and the deck is Kerala 2 now cleared for the auction of teak and other timbers.

Massive increase of log After the successful establishment of commercial teak plantations in Latin America, CATIE, Costa-

shipments from Myanmar to Rica in association with FAO brought out a comprehensive book entitled “Teak Cultivation in Latin India 4 America: Myths and Realities” in Spanish for the beneficiaries of the region where it is the major language. Similarly, ITTO published the Annual Review of World Timber Situation 2012. Details of Prices of plantation teak 5 these publications are included as New releases in the bulletin. imported to India

We once again request our esteemed readers, to provide us articles/news items of interest/research Western India Forest Depot 5 papers etc. of non-technical nature related to teak, for inclusion in the Bulletin for the benefit auction price of our readers. New Releases 6 With Christmas and New Year Greetings!!

Editorial P.K. Thulasidas TEAKNET Coordinator We are happy to present to you the last issue of the Teaknet Bulletin for the year. In this issue, we bring you an important event that took place in Nilam- Geographical Indications (GI) Tag for Nilambur Teak bur, Kerala during September last was that Nilambur Teak, Nilambur Teak, which is a name instantly recognized by connoisseurs of teak around otherwise known as Malabar Teak in the trade is going to get the world will soon be protected against unauthorized labeling. Efforts are ongoing to the Geographical Indications get the name registered as a Geographical Indication (GI). Geographical indications

(GI) tag of the World Trade are names used to identify the place of origin and quality, reputation or other Organisation for wood products characteristics of products that are unique to the place. The GI tag is a mechanism manufactured using Nilambur instituted by the World Trade Organization (WTO) of the UN to prevent unfair teakwood. Indications are that Nilambur teak will become the competition in trade where the public can be mislead about the real origin of first forest resource to get a GI goods. tag in the country and is expected to enthuse the farmers The Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) along with the local self-government at and traders to boost teak Nilambur, the Kerala Forest Department, Kerala Forest Research Institute and the GI cultivation in the region. Another Registry, Chennai recently took an initiative for the registration of the Nilambur news is about the recent discov- ery of a giant teak in central variety of Teak or Malabar Teak, which enjoys a world-wide reputation for the log Kerala, hitherto unnoticed by dimensions and desired wood figure. A workshop on 'GI Tag for Nilambur Teak: anybody and is believed to be as Opportunities and Legal Paths' was held on September 28, 2013. Nilambur Teak is old as 500 years. This discovery thus destined to be first forest resource from India to get such a designation. overwrites the history of the largest living teak of India. Read more on page 2

Continued from page 1

The GI tag ensures that the product name can be used only by those who are authorized as the beneficiaries. The GI registration will give growers and users of Nilambur teak the legal right to exclusive use. This is expected to encourage more people to take up teak planting and improve the prosperity of the region through export of teak timber. Nilambur holds a special status as the home of the world’s first commercial teak plantation established in 1840’s. The Conolly’s plot and the Chathu Menon plot remain preserved to this day and attract tourists from far and wide. The Teak Museum, the first of its kind in the world set up by the Kerala Forest Research Institute is also located in Nilambur in recognition of the region’s contribution to teak cultivation.

A giant natural teak located in the Western Ghats of Kerala

A giant teak has been located by the Kerala Forest Department in the bamboo–rich semi–evergreen forests of Ottakallan at Repra (10o14.641” N; 76o40.636” E; 245 m altitude), in the Thundathil Forest Range, Malayattoor Division in Central Kerala, India. The tree soars above the surrounding forest to an imposing height of about 54 m and has a clear bole of 31 m from the base. The girth at breast height is 7.65 m. That makes it the tallest teak tree discovered in India and also a good contender for the title of “the largest teak tree of the world”.

On the information provided by a reed cutter A.J. Antony, that several old growth teak trees exist at Repra, B.N. Nagaraj, the Divisional Forest Officer, Malayattoor, accompanied by the Range Officer Jose Panicker, Foresters R. Madhu- soodhanan, K.K. Manoj and driver P.D. Biju perambulated the area, recorded measurements and identified the largest among them. The DFO also made arrangements to remove the epiphytic growth on the gigantic teak.

It takes a 30 minute boat drive across the picturesque Idamalayar Reservoir and a steep and arduous half a kilometer climb through lush tropical forest to reach the giant teak standing amidst dense reed-bamboo thickets.

Repra Teak Read more on page 3

Teaknet Bulletin 6(4):2013 Page 2 of 6

Continued from page 2

The gargantuan proportions of the tree rising above the forest canopy was clearly visible from a distance (see photo, right). The tree stands precariously on a 45o slope with a fluted base and roots partially exposed due to a high degree of soil erosion. The area appears to be frequented by elephants due to the profuse growth of reed-bamboos.

The Idamalayar Forest Range harbours an abundance of natural teak, many of which are giant trees. Hitherto, the largest recorded girth of 7.54 m was of the tree discovered in 1999 at Kappayam, not far from Repra. The girth of the famous “Kannimara teak” in Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Kerala is only 6.57 m.

The Forest Department has chalked out plans to protect and conserve the tree. The canopy which was in danger of being smothered by a huge strangler fig (Ficus sp.) has now been freed. Some soil conservation work around the base may help prevent further soil erosion. Grand old trees have a value beyond the commercial; they represent the heritage of the region. Conservation of such old trees in its natural habitat will serve as a reminder of the past glory of these forests and the growth

potential of the species. View of Repra teak from Idamalayar Reservoir

The other contenders to the title of the biggest teak of the world are (see Table), the “Mahesak” from Uttraradit Province, Thailand which is reported to be around 1500 years old and the Thit Hla Teak Tree, of Pyin Oo Lwin Township in Myanmar which is said to be 600 years old. The Repra teak is also estimated to be around the same age. The standing volume of the trees which is a better indicator of the size of the tree rather than just the height or girth alone will have to be ascertained in all the cases since such trees in hollows often have extreme fluting, forking and damaged canopy. The exploration team led by B.N. Nagaraj, DFO (3rd from right)

Read more on page 4

Teaknet Bulletin 6(4):2013 Page 3 of 6 Continued from page 3 Comparison of Giant Teaks in the world

Girth at Height Estimated Tree Name Location Forest type Breast (m) age in years Height (m) Pyin Oo Lwin Town- Moist-deciduous 7.498 54.864 Approx. Thit Hla ship Baw Reserve 600 Myanmar Teak Tree Compartment

Thundathil Forest Semi-evergreen 7.65 54 Approx. Range, Malayattoor, 500 India Repra Teak Kerala

Ton Sak Yai Park in Mixed-deciduous 10.10 37 Approx. the Luang Prabang 1500 Range, Uttraradit (originally it Thailand Mahesak Province, Nampard was 48.5 m District, Thailand high, but it was damaged in a storm)

Massive increase of log shipments from Myanmar to India

In October, 54,500 cu.m of teak logs and 170,000 cu.m of other

hardwoods were shipped. The total

volume of logs shipped between

April to the end of October was

241,000 cu.m of teak and 860,000

cu.m of hardwoods. The October

shipment volume is astounding

and is the highest for the past six

months.

As India purchases the largest

volume of teak (around 70%)

analysts assume that that the

stabilised US dollar-Indian rupee exchange rate has encouraged

Thit Hla Teak Mahesak teak Indian buyers to ship logs. Myanmar Thailand

P K Chandrasekhara Pillai, P K Thulasidas, E M Muralidharan and Mammen Source: ITTO TTM Report 17(17): 1-15 Chundamannil November2013 Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Kerala, India

Teaknet Bulletin 6(4):2013 Page 4 of 6 Prices of plantation teak imported Western India Forest Depot auction Price

to India Approximately 6000 cu.m of logs were offered for sale at the recent auction held at the Tapti depots of Raj Pipla, Vyara etc Current C & F prices , Indian ports per cubic meter from 20th to 25th October 2013 . Average prices recorded at the most recent auction are as follows: Country US$ per cu. m Per cubic foot Teak logs (INR) * Benin logs 250-650 A quality for ship building 3300 -3400 Colombia logs 350-750 B quality for ship building 3100 -3200 Congo logs 450-550 A for sawing 2900-3000

Costa Rica logs 350-700 B or sawing 2700-2800 Côte d'Ivoire logs 280-750 A Long length logs 2500-2600

El-Salvador logs 350-650 B Long length logs 2400-2500

Ghana logs 275-650 Long length, Medium Quality 2100-2200

Guatemala logs 350-550 Short Length, Medium Quality 1800-1900 Guyana logs 300-450 Short Length, Average Quality 1500 plus

Kenya logs 390-600 * 1 US$ = INR 62.45

Laos logs 320-450 Criteria for major classification of teak wood in India Liberia logs 350-460 Straightness and Malaysian logs 140-450 Girth Length soundness Nicaragua logs 430-535 Middle Girth Length Length Panama logs 260-550 Grade Criteria girth class class (m) (cm)* PNG logs 400-575 Logs Sudan logs 450-700 Above straight and 185 SL 1 & A sound Export and (Short Tanzania logs 350-700 below without any above Length) 2.5 Thailand logs 500-700 defects

Togo logs 350-715 ML Fairly 150- (Medium 2.5 - B straight and I Trinidad & Tobago logs 400-680 184 Length) 7.3 sound logs

Uganda logs 440-760 LL Defective Benin sawn 430-800 100- (Long & above C and crooked II 149 Lengthy) 7.3 Uganda sawn 680-800 logs

Brazil squares 360-680 Highly defective Ecuador squares 290-540 D III 75-99 and crooked Nigeria squares 300-450 logs * Middle log girth (under bark)

Page Source: ITTO TTM Report 17(17): 1-15 November2013

Teaknet Bulletin 6(4):2013 Page 5 of 6 NEW RELEASES

Teak Plantations in Latin America: Myths ITTO Annual Review and Assessment of and Realities the World Timber Situation 2012

Tropical Agricultural Research ITTO has published the Annual Re- view and Assessment of the World and Higher Education Center Timber Situation 2012 providing (CATIE), Costa Rica, in associa- data on trends in forest area, forest tion with Food and Agricultural management and the economies of Organization of the United ITTO member countries . Nations (FAO) published a book "Teak Plantations in Latin This compiles the most up-to-date America: Myths and Realities" and reliable international statistics in Spanish. This book is written available on global production and by regional specialists with long trade of timber, with an emphasis experience in planting teak. on the tropics.

Teak plantations in the region have been embroiled in The Annual review contains:

controversy for environmental reasons. This book seeks  Summarizes developments in major markets for to clarify some of the issues being discussed and calls tropical timber upon technicians and promoters of investment not to  Provides an analysis of production, consumption, promise more than what can be obtained. trade and prices for primary tropical timber products (tropical logs, sawnwood, veneer and plywood)

 Describes trade in secondary processed wood prod- The publication is available in hard copy, and also in ucts (SPWPs), with a focus on tropical countries digital (PDF) distribution to provide a better access to those who are interested in teak investments in Latin The publication can be downloaded from America. To download this publication please visit http://www.itto.int/annual_review/. Production and http://biblioteca.catie.ac.cr/descargas/ trade data from 1994 to the present are also available from ITTO’s Statistical database (http://www.itto.int/

Teca_Mitos_y_Realidades.pdf annual_review_output/ )

Editorial Committee Dr. P.K. Thulasidas Dr. Mammen Chundamannil Dr. E. M. Muralidharan Dr. S. Sandeep

Teaknet Bulletin is a quarterly electronic newsletter of TEAKNET brought out every year through its website. It is intended for circulation among the members of TEAKNET and other stakeholders of global teak sector. The views expressed in the newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organization. The readers are welcome to express their opinions or pass on information of value to teak growers, traders, re- searchers or others concerned with teak. However, TEAKNET reserves the right to choose the contributions for pub- lishing and also to make necessary editorial modifications in the articles in consultation with the authors.

Address all communications to:

TEAKNET Coordinator Kerala Forest Research Institute Peechi-680 653, Thrissur, Kerala, India Tel: +91 487 2690396 Email: [email protected]

Teaknet Bulletin 6(4):2013 Page 6 of 6