Harvesting of timber from established forest plantation in Peninsular Malaysia: an early experience

The early experience of large scale commercial forest plantation establishment in Peninsular Malaysia started in the 1950`s with the planting of Tectona grandis (Teak). Teak was choosen for its high quality timber and a raw material for handicrafts and furniture production.This species was planted in the States of Kedah, Perak and Perlis with a rotation length of 25 years. A total of 2,400 hectares was successfully planted under various planting distances of 2.5mx2.5m, 2.5mx3.0m and 3.0mx3.0m, and 3.0mx4.0m. In the 1960`s under the Food and Agriculture Organisation - United Nation Development Programme (FAO-UNDP), Pine (Pinus spp) plantation was established with the objective of supplying long fibred wood for pulp and paper in the country. This species were planted in the States of Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang and Selangor with rotation lengths of 7 to 10 years. A total of 3,500 hectares were successfully planted with planting distance of 3.0mx3.0m. Harvesting of timber through thinning from these areas in the states of Johor, Pahang and Selangor had contributed as an additional income to the States. In 1982, the Compensatory Forest Plantation Project (CFPP) was launched in Peninsular Malaysia. This species such as Acacia (Acacia mangium), Yemane (Gmelina arborea) and Batai (Paraseraianthes falcataria)in anticipation of an expected timber shortage by the end of the 1990`s. The species were planted with planting distances of 3.0mx3.0m and 3.0mx3.7m and rotation length of 15 years for use as general utility timber. To date, there are about 62,379 hectares of Acacia mangium planted in the States of Johor, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Selangor and Terengganu. Various approaches of timber extraction from these planted areas were observed.This paper intends to hightlight the early experiences of the various timber extraction approaches. Early indication had shown that there is an increased demand for such timber from the wood-based processing mills.The paper would also present a brief account of various related issues pertaining to harvesting of these timber in the country.