Investigation the Authenticity of Local and Imported Timber Species in Sri Lanka

Abstract

In Sri Lanka there are over 400 different timber species, which show a remarkably widerange of variation in their physical properties as well as their anatomical structures. Hencetimber Identification is a highly important task to confirm its authenticity.

The objective of this study is to investigate the authenticity of local and imported timberspecies used in Sri Lanka. In this study 237 timber identification reports (local and imported)were studied. These reports were issued by State Timber Corporation to various timber usersand companies during past four years (2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010) after identifying the statusof authenticity of timber samples.

According to timber identification reports, there were 118 local timber samples claimed byend users among 237 total samples. Out of 22 local timber species, it was found that 12 localtimber species claimed by end users were 100% correct (authentic): Satin, Kumbuk,Batadomba, Mahogany, Pelen, Jak, Dawata, Hulanhik, Lunumidella, Sabukku, Bedidel andKon. However claims for 10 local species were incorrect (not authentic). The claim forspecies Microcoris, Gammalu, Munamal, Ginisapu and Milla were not authentic in 100%.Out of 28 timber species, there were only 6 imported timber species. In these samples, Bitis isthe only timber species found with 100% of correct (authentic) end user claims. The claimsfor species Balau was totally incorrect. Authenticity percentages of Kandis, Tualang, Kempasand Red Balau were, 92, 77, 25 and 10 respectively.

According to the results, it can be concluded using of local species has higher authenticpercentage compared to imported species.

Quality and authenticity of timbers used in Sri Lanka were also investigated using differenttimber samples collected from different construction sites in Western Province includinglarge scale construction sites and house construction sites by a field survey conducted inColombo district. 104 timber samples were collected from 68 construction sites randomly andclaims for timber species by end users were also recorded.

According to the results, there were 28 timber species claimed by end users among 104samples. Out of 28 timber species, it was found that 20 timber species claimed by end userswere 100% correct (authentic): which were Satin, Kumbuk, Paramara, Pinus, Hora,Microcoris, Domba, Margosa, Palu, Dawata, Hawarinuga, Lunumidella, Ginisapu, Milla,Grandis, Coconut, Bedidel, Kon, Ketakala and Kandis. However claims for 8 species wereincorrect. The claim for species Jak was 93.3% (15 samples) correct/authentic and the rest6.7% (1 sample) was identified as Bedidel. The claim for species Mahogany was found with 88.8% authentic and the rest 11.2% (1 sample) was identified as Paramara. The claim forspecies Teak was found with 75 % (3) authentic and the rest 25 % (1) was identified asParamara. The claim for species Liyan was found with 66.6 % authentic.

Overall results indicated that out of 23 local timber species, the end user claims 19 localtimber species were 100% correct/authentic. Among the 28 timber species investigated in thefield survey, there were only 5 imported timber species out of which Kandis is the onlytimber species found with 100% of correct end user claims (all four samples have proven tobe authentic). The calim for species Balau and Red Balau was totally incorrect. The samplewas claimed as Balau was identified as Kandis and the samples of Red Balau (3 samples) wasidentified as Kandis (2) and Tualang (1). Authenticity percentages of Kempas and Taulangwere 42.8% and 80% respectively. Based on overall results for imported timber species, itwas found that out of five imported timber species, only one timber species claim was 100%correct/authentic. Based on the results of the present study it can be concluded that the endusers get higher percentage of authentic local timber species compared to the importedspecies.