GLOBAL OUTLOOK
Hungry housing programs, growing real estate sector gobbles timber production From Page 7
sold worldwide. As in many other timber processing sectors in India, the share of small and medium sized companies in the furniture sector is high accounting for around 85% of the total output, while the balance comprises large and organised manufacturers and exporters. As a result of the growing housing and tourism sectors and rising per capita incomes, furniture sector output is expected to grow by 15% a year for the next five years. Large scale plantation areas managed by industries and farmers have been promoted by the government to increase the wood supply. The present sustainable harvest from agroforestry plantations is around half a million cubic meters a year. As a result of improved wood availability, more than 150 sawmills have been reopened. Another growing sector in Indian domestic and export market, says ITTO, is paper-plastic laminates. Production value was valued at $US430 million in 2009-10 and is expected to grow 8% a year. Similarly, the manufacture of overlaid particleboard is increasing. These boards are mostly used by the furniture industry supplementing the use of solid wood. Laminated flooring panels made from engineered wood are also in fashion replacing the solid wood flooring. India is one of the largest consumers of all varieties of tropical wood and timber products imported mainly from Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Nigeria, Ghana, and South and Central American countries. Despite the growing sector of alternative products, India is expected to continue increasing the importation of tropical wood and timber products well into
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Agro-forestry systems, such as this high-yield two-year-old eucalypt plantation with annual wheat intercrop in Punjab is helping to meeting India’s insatiable demand for timber products.
the future. However, India’s achievement in rising forest plantations, in terms of area, has been impressive. According to available figures from India’s ministry of environment and forests, the total area of tree plantation, under different schemes, is 23.38 million ha. Of this, 3.54 million ha was raised before 1980, 13.51 million ha during the 1980s, and the rest during the 1990s. Current annual rate
of planting is about 1.2 million ha. The quality of these plantations varies considerably; there is a contention that forest plantations can, to some extent, compensate for the deforestation and forest degradation. Equally anchored, is the view that forest plantation cannot compensate for environmental and conservation values of natural forests. The ministry stresses that India’s forest plantations are a means
to meet the increasing demand for the industrial raw material or for direct consumption (fuel wood) but they cannot claim restoration of bio-diversity and other environmental services. Moreover, the performance of forest plantations in India, in term of survival, growth and ideal, has been poor. Based on the survival rate and stock density, the affective area of forest plantations has been estimated to be about 11.0 million ha or about 40-50% of the recorded total. The MAI of forest plantation in India varies from about 2 cub m/ ha a year for valuable timber species to about 5-8 cub m for eucalyptus and other fastgrowing species. This compares to an MAI of over 10 cub m/ha a year and about 50 cub m for good quality industrial plantations in different countries and more than 70 cub m/ha has been reported in certain cases. By any measure, the performance of forest plantations in India is far below the potential.
FTMA’s field trip is fit-for-purpose A ‘FIT-for-purpose’ survey by the Frame and Truss Manufacturers Association of Australia suggests there is some confusion in industry about what timber does and does not meet Australian standards. “Discussions with members has shown the confusion may lie with consumers in relation to what they visually accept as acceptable timber,” FTMA executive officer Kersten Gentle said. FTMA is now organising a tour of the Hyne Tumbarumba mill and the Carter Holt Harvey Tumut mill in November to give members a first-hand look at the latest timber processing technology.
“Hyne and Carter Holt Harvey have both put a lot of work in to ensuring their milling processes produce high quality timber graded according to the Australian standards,” Ms Gentle said. “One piece of timber may be scanned up to 16 times as it travels through the mill ensuring that any defects are picked up.” The tour from November 18 to 19 includes a ‘fit-for-purpose’ dinner sponsored by Carter Holt Harvey Woodproducts Australia and Hyne. The dinner on November 18 includes a panel discussion on Australian standards relating to the frame and truss industry. Speakers include Nick Livanes,
FTMA’s representative on the three Australian standards committees, Peter Juniper, manager, solid wood, A3P, Kim Harris, market and compliance manager, CHH Woodproducts, and Stephen Holtorf, Hyne’s technical and services manager. “It is important our industry understands wood and understands the processing and the different treatments so we can proudly promote our product as the sustainable alternative to steel framing,” Ms Gentle said. Contact Kersten on: (03) 5962 3453 or email kersten@ ftmaaustralia.com.au
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