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 Nilambur Teak 1 bulletin. Auction price of teak logs from Central Kerala 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.