Planters welcome govt’s decision

The Planters’ Association (PA) of Ceylon, said the government’s decision last week to lift the prohibition on Regional Plantation Companies [RPCs] from harvesting timber, from forestry cultivations, will ease pressure on fuel costs and RPCs finances.

“The government has decided to lift its previous restrictions on timber harvesting. RPCs can now harvest timber/fuelwood from their commercial forestry cultivations. We wish to express our appreciation of this decision to the government, and particularly to the Minister of Plantation Industries, Mahinda Samarasinghe, for his personal intervention on behalf of the plantation industry. We are confident this decision by the government will benefit not only the estate sector but the country as a whole,” said PA Chairman Lalith Obeyesekere.

“The latest decision to allow timber/fuel wood harvesting of RPC forestry cultivations, will provide RPCs with a cost effective alternative to imported fuels. Tea factories can now use fuel wood for their driers instead of more expensive imported petroleum products. The use of fuel wood is expected to reduce both RPC operating costs and also the country’s oil import bill, at a time when oil prices are rising. Timber harvesting will also provide RPCs with an alternate source of income. This is seen as particularly important as many RPCs are facing financial difficulties due to volatile tea prices and increasing production costs.

RPCs supply of timber to the market, says the PA also may contribute towards reducing illegal logging in the country. RPC Forestry programmes are environmentally friendly and are in accordance with the Forestry Management Plans approved by the Conservator of Forests and the Ministry of Plantation Industries. Prior to harvesting of fuel wood and timber, the areas are inspected and approved by a team of officials of the Forest Department, Central Environmental Authority, Ministry of Plantation Industries and the Divisional Secretariat, thus ensuring the necessary checks and balances are adhered to, and is in no way a threat to the environment.

The RPCs have been commercially cultivating trees such as eucalyptus (gum), in the up country and other varieties of timber, in the low country. The RPCs say the estate sector has been involved in forestry management for fuel wood and timber, since the 1970s and have, in the past, been supplying timber to national agencies like the Ceylon Electricity Board for electricity posts and the Railway Department for sleepers. Timber from RPC lands was also marketed to the State Timber Corporation for purposes such as building construction and furniture manufacture.