Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
plantations of individual farms. Wood from this species requires a thorough drying
process, preferably by use of a timber drying machine or kiln, to achieve high qual-
ity. In contrast, the national and the international market in particular, demands
species such as narra ( Pterocarpus indicus ) or tindalo ( Paludia rhomboidea ). The
main reason for the smallholders' choice of gmelina is the high growing speed,
allowing harvesting after seven to 10 years (between seven and 10 years, the pro-
duction per tree doubles). High value hardwood species such as narra can only be
harvested after 40 to 50 years, rendering their use in private smallholder plantations
nearly impossible. A solution could possibly be found in the improvement of the
quality of gmelina wood by the use of good quality seeds (Roshetko et al. 2004)
and drying the timber in kilns instead of in the sun. Further ahead is quality
improvement, for instance through treatment with so-called platonization, a process
that consists of heating timber under pressure, of drying and then reheating (www.
platowood.nl). This is a crucial first point for further investigation, the focus being
on the required product quality.
A related point concerns the economics: the market prices along the value chain
for different kinds of timber quality, and the potential price premiums that can be
achieved due to certification. Plain gmelina wood is too cheap for transportation on
an international market but high quality timber may well provide that opportunity.
Some data, based on an exploratory field study by the authors, that compares wood
and a wooden product from narra and gmelina along the value chain, is presented
in Box 10.1. It can be concluded that there is a much smaller price difference
between high quality gmelina and hardwood furniture than is the case for gmelina
and narra wood at the level of producer to middleman. The tentative conclusion is
that because of the high added value in the chain, the choice of the fast growing
species is not prohibitive for a certification endeavor, provided that good wood
quality is ensured.
There are a number of organizational questions, including the establishment of
local or regional smallholder organizations, the link to a Philippine or regional
umbrella organization, and finding a donor organization to facilitate the transition
process. The most direct first step should involve a closer investigation of case stud-
ies about the use of certification in comparable situations in the Philippines or
nearby countries.
In conclusion, there is a potential role for sustainability certification by small-
holders for gmelina and the conservation of forests in the Philippines. The FSC
SLIMF program offers the best prospects for that. A central point relates to the
production of high quality lumber, enabling trade to take place on an international
market. The main driver should be a desire for sustainable forestry, with its various
qualitative benefits. From an economic standpoint, breaking even is the initial aim,
but successful implementation would create opportunities for additional wood-
based processing activities that are adjusted to international consumer needs and
standards, and add value to the final product. After completion of an exploration of
comparable case studies, the next step should be to organize the market and to find
a donor organization to support the transition process.
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