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by Chandrasiri Nanayakkara

Jak (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is now a lucky tree. The villagers consider the fruits this giant produces as the main substitute for rice. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. with the assistance of Sevana implements, a countrywide programme to plant and popularises jak.

The media publishes the processing and consumption methods and public response for the whole programme is very high. the plastic and steel furniture industry has reduced the demand for jak timber to some extent. But in the rural areas huge jak tree in the homestead is similar to money in a fixed deposit in a bank for poor. In an urgent financial priority , a villager could sell this tree for between twenty to thirty thousand rupees depends on the size and maturity.

You need a permit to cut and transport a tree. The timber is designated as class 1, which is durable with an attractive look, fetches a high price. Transport of jak furniture needs a bill from a registered furniture shop.

To get a permit to cut a tree there is a long procedure and lot of delay but one could get it ultimately. First an applicant should go to the Divisional secretary's (DS) office to get an application form. This should be filled carefully and submitted to the Grama Sevaka (GS).

The GS gives a date and inspects the tree and sends his report to the DS. He sends his representative to inspect make his recommendation and forwards it to the District Secretary for the final approval. After his approval or disapproval the application sent back to the DS. The DS issue a permit sends back to the GS and he hand over the permit to the applicant to remove the tree within a given period of time. It takes only three months (minimum) for this 3S process.

I heard from an officer handling this subject in a DS office that only one or two applications are rejected out of hundred and the reasons is ignorance and the applicant is genuine.

If he mentioned that he wants to get timber to construct his house it is a disqualification. If the tree is dying, dangers to house or that particular place is selected for his house to be constructed, unproductive are the reasons he must mention. To kill a tree is easy. To prevent such malpractice the Minister of Home Affairs instructed recently that the Divisional Secretary must inspect personally and satisfy to recommend a permit. Other easy method is cut the tree without permit.

That is how millers do. Finalise and buy through a village broker, cut with mechanical saws, transport immediately through remote roads to where the mill is. One can cut any tree he wants with this one-day express method.

Legally there is an act, amendments, rules and regulations involve to protect jak trees. It is the "Act 2000 No. 1 Cutting Down Trees".

The fine for any breach of conditions is between Rs. 5,000 Rs. 50,000 or imprisonment between 6-12 months.

In addition it is possible to confiscate the ceased timber. Hence the law is very strict and the Police, forest Officers are vigilant to protect this valuable tree.

In this act, the other trees given protection are breadfruit (Gam-del and Rata-del) and female Palmairah trees. In general the act states that "any tree that produces edible fruits, leaves or products".

What about coconut (Cocos nucifera)? The tree is known as "Kapruka" or "Tree of life" and there are three institutions and a large number of officers survive on this single tree. The Coconut Research Institute is on research. The Coconut Cultivation Board helps cultivation. The Coconut Development Authority is for sale and to promote industry. No one to protect!

The coconut tree grows more than 60-70 feet high lives about 80 years and allow other tees or crops to grow underneath. Gives its fruits every month in a bunch for us to consume.

It provides 21% of our calorie intake. Makes famous 'polsambal', 'kirihodi' and any other curry needed, 'polkiri' as an ingredient. At the tender stage the fruit satisfies the poor man's thirst and hunger as "Kurumba" one of the most hygienic (it is untouched), natural and nutritious drink. Trickle, jaggery, vinegar and famous VSO, DD and POL are other products from coconut one could not forget. 'Pelamada' the growing cotyledon is famous among children now not available for urban kids which is taste better than "Tippy tips".

The fallen fronds use to thatch the poor man's roof. The tender frond and flowers decorates our pandals, poruwas, funerals and religious ceremonies. The shell can be turned into good handcrafts such as nice spoons etc.

At salvaged it gives good timber like jak. The roots contain medicinal value. Ekles, husks pith fibre and all give industrial raw material. The fibber is the base for all cleaning appliances like brooms mats and brushes mattresses and cushions ropes and strings. The coir dust is now very demanding as an effective mulch for pineapple cultivation. Husk cubes, geo-textiles also new industries now emerging among rural small industrialists.

Though giving all this to mankind the coconut tree is unlucky, because there is no protection for this tree. The tree is cut haphazardly. No need a permit. You can cut a tree and logged in ten minutes and loading is easy to transport to the mill.

Not only the tree, the real estate company can buy the land with coconut trees and have it blocked out and sell as "Property Development". Some advise to replace coconut with oil palm and consume palm oil.

Who suffers the society today and the future generations. The need arises to import coconut in some day. Or else we have to change our food habits wheat flour base junks.

If the demand increases with the raw consumption how can the coconut based industry survive. The loss of rural employment and foreign exchange are the main repercussions. This can lead to many social problems in the rural society. It definitely contributes to high cost of living in urban population with high price of coconuts.

If we import coconut, new pests and disease will invade and ruin the entire plantation. We can not go for oil palm cultivation or import entirely like apples. We can still remember what happened to the world famous Bibile oranges which have now disappeared and replaced by imported oranges.

Thus this act should be amended immediately to include the coconut tree also.

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