COMMERCIAL FOREST PLANTATION DEVELOPMENT POLICY SOME MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION

Abstract

In the millennium, the transition of forestry reflecting profound social, economic andinstitutional changes is moving from the state dominant forest management to commercialenterprises, which are oriented towards production forestry. Many countries are undergoingdramatic shift in forest ownership pattern. Hence, the management strategies have to be changedfrom government managed forest to private forest plantation. The strategies should be revised,adapted, updated and communicated to private owner

Sri Lanka at present, produce only 90 percent of the estimated wood consumption in the country.The demand is met by over exploiting the forest, which is not sustainable in the longrun.Therefore the forest policy and the forestry sector master plan in 1996 have emphasized thecommercial forest plantation development to produce sufficient industrial and other woods byprivate sector management to cater the increasing demand. At the verge of implementing thenew forest policy, it is vitally important to review the management strategies applicable to thechanging environment.

The paper attempts to discuss the following strategies required to achieve successful commercialforest plantations. Boost the availability of suitable land; strengthen the commercial incentiveenvironment and make plantations more profitable and less risky for private investors;Development of a plantation culture among government, growers and the community; andimprove information flows about plantation profitability and prospects.