INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Volume 6: Issue 4

October 2013

Editorial

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-

bur, Kerala during September

last was that Nilambur Teak,

otherwise known as Malabar

Teak in the trade is going to get

the Geographical Indications

(GI) tag of the World Trade

Organisation for wood products

manufactured using Nilambur

teakwood. Indications are that

Nilambur teak will become the

first forest resource to get a GI

tag in the country and is

expected to enthuse the farmers

and traders to boost teak

cultivation in the region. Another

news is about the recent discov-

ery of a giant teak in central

Kerala, hitherto unnoticed by

anybody and is believed to be as

old as 500 years. This discovery

overwrites the history of the

largest living teak of India.

1 2 4 5 5

6

Geographical Indications (GI)

tag for Nilambur Teak

A giant natural teak located

in the Western Ghats of

Kerala

Massive increase of log

shipments from Myanmar to

India

Prices of plantation teak

imported to India

Western India Forest Depot

auction price

New Releases

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

hardwoods shipped to India. It is to be remembered at this juncture that Myanmar government

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

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

bulletin. Auction price of teak logs from Central Kerala is given in the TEAKNET website

www.teaknet.org up to August 2013. Auction of timbers had not taken place after August due to

some delay in the implementation of E-auction procedures by the Govt. of Kerala and the deck is

now cleared for the auction of teak and other timbers.

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

Rica in association with FAO brought out a comprehensive book entitled “Teak Cultivation in Latin

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

these publications are included as New releases in the bulletin.

We once again request our esteemed readers, to provide us articles/news items of interest/research

papers etc. of non-technical nature related to teak, for inclusion in the Bulletin for the benefit

of our readers.

With Christmas and New Year Greetings!!

P.K. Thulasidas TEAKNET Coordinator

Geographical Indications (GI) Tag for Nilambur Teak

Nilambur Teak, which is a name instantly recognized by connoisseurs of teak around

the world will soon be protected against unauthorized labeling. Efforts are ongoing to

get the name registered as a Geographical Indication (GI). Geographical indications

are names used to identify the place of origin and quality, reputation or other

characteristics of products that are unique to the place. The GI tag is a mechanism

instituted by the World Trade Organization (WTO) of the UN to prevent unfair

competition in trade where the public can be mislead about the real origin of

goods.

The Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) along with the local self-government at

Nilambur, the Kerala Forest Department, Kerala Forest Research Institute and the GI

Registry, Chennai recently took an initiative for the registration of the Nilambur

variety of Teak or Malabar Teak, which enjoys a world-wide reputation for the log

dimensions and desired wood figure. A workshop on 'GI Tag for Nilambur Teak:

Opportunities and Legal Paths' was held on September 28, 2013. Nilambur Teak is

thus destined to be first forest resource from India to get such a designation.

Read more on page 2

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

A giant natural teak located in the Western Ghats of Kerala

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.

Continued from page 1

Repra Teak Read more on page 3

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.

Teaknet Bulletin 6(4):2013 Page 3 of 6

View of Repra teak from Idamalayar Reservoir

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.

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)

Continued from page 2

Read more on page 4

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

Thit Hla Teak Myanmar

Mahesak teak Thailand

P K Chandrasekhara Pillai, P K Thulasidas, E M Muralidharan and Mammen

Chundamannil

Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Kerala, India

Comparison of Giant Teaks in the world

Tree Name Location Forest type

Girth at

Breast Height (m)

Height (m)

Estimated age in years

Myanmar Thit Hla

Teak Tree

Pyin Oo Lwin Town-ship Baw Reserve Compartment

Moist-deciduous 7.498 54.864 Approx. 600

India Repra Teak

Thundathil Forest Range, Malayattoor,

Kerala

Semi-evergreen 7.65 54 Approx. 500

Thailand Mahesak

Ton Sak Yai Park in the Luang Prabang Range, Uttraradit

Province, Nampard

District, Thailand

Mixed-deciduous

10.10 37

(originally it

was 48.5 m high, but it was damaged in a storm)

Approx. 1500

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

Indian buyers to ship logs.

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

November2013

Continued from page 3

Prices of plantation teak imported

to India

Current C & F prices , Indian ports per cubic meter

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

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

Western India Forest Depot auction Price

Approximately 6000 cu.m of logs were offered for sale at the

recent auction held at the Tapti depots of Raj Pipla, Vyara etc

from 20th to 25th October 2013 . Average prices recorded at

the most recent auction are as follows:

Criteria for major classification of teak wood in India

Straightness and

soundness Girth Length

Grade Criteria Girth

class

Middle

girth

(cm)*

Length

class

Length

(m)

A

Logs

straight and

sound

without any

defects

Export

185

and

above

SL

(Short

Length)

Above

1 &

below

2.5

B

Fairly

straight and

sound logs

I 150-

184

ML

(Medium

Length)

2.5 -

7.3

C

Defective

and crooked

logs

II 100-

149

LL

(Long &

Lengthy)

above

7.3

D

Highly

defective

and crooked

logs

III 75-99

Teak logs Per cubic foot

(INR) *

A quality for ship building 3300 -3400

B quality for ship building 3100 -3200

A for sawing 2900-3000

B or sawing 2700-2800

A Long length logs 2500-2600

B Long length logs 2400-2500

Long length, Medium Quality 2100-2200

Short Length, Medium Quality 1800-1900

Short Length, Average Quality 1500 plus

Country US$ per cu. m

Benin logs 250-650

Colombia logs 350-750

Congo logs 450-550

Costa Rica logs 350-700

Côte d'Ivoire logs 280-750

El-Salvador logs 350-650

Ghana logs 275-650

Guatemala logs 350-550

Guyana logs 300-450

Kenya logs 390-600

Laos logs 320-450

Liberia logs 350-460

Malaysian logs 140-450

Nicaragua logs 430-535

Panama logs 260-550

PNG logs 400-575

Sudan logs 450-700

Tanzania logs 350-700

Thailand logs 500-700

Togo logs 350-715

Trinidad & Tobago logs 400-680

Uganda logs 440-760

Benin sawn 430-800

Uganda sawn 680-800

Brazil squares 360-680

Ecuador squares 290-540

Nigeria squares 300-450

* 1 US$ = INR 62.45

* Middle log girth (under bark)

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

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: coordinator@teaknet.org

Teak Plantations in Latin America: Myths

and Realities

Tropical Agricultural Research

and Higher Education Center

(CATIE), Costa Rica, in associa-

tion with Food and Agricultural

Organization of the United

Nations (FAO) published a book

"Teak Plantations in Latin

America: Myths and Realities"

in Spanish. This book is written

by regional specialists with long

experience in planting teak.

Teak plantations in the region have been embroiled in

controversy for environmental reasons. This book seeks

to clarify some of the issues being discussed and calls

upon technicians and promoters of investment not to

promise more than what can be obtained.

The publication is available in hard copy, and also in

digital (PDF) distribution to provide a better access to

those who are interested in teak investments in Latin

America. To download this publication please visit

http://b ib l i oteca.cat i e.ac.cr/descargas/

Teca_Mitos_y_Realidades.pdf

NEW RELEASES

ITTO Annual Review and Assessment of

the World Timber Situation 2012

ITTO has published the Annual Re-

view and Assessment of the World

Timber Situation 2012 providing

data on trends in forest area, forest

management and the economies of

ITTO member countries .

This compiles the most up-to-date

and reliable international statistics

available on global production and

trade of timber, with an emphasis

on the tropics.

The Annual review contains:

Summarizes developments in major markets for tropical timber

Provides an analysis of production, consumption,

trade and prices for primary tropical timber products (tropical logs, sawnwood, veneer and plywood)

Describes trade in secondary processed wood prod-ucts (SPWPs), with a focus on tropical countries

The publication can be downloaded from

http://www.itto.int/annual_review/. Production and

trade data from 1994 to the present are also available

from ITTO’s Statistical database (http://www.itto.int/

annual_review_output/ )