world leaders are to commit more resources to research and development to advance the sustainable management of planted teak forests and investigate the quality of teak wood grown in plantations as compared to natural forests.
participants at the 4th world teak conference in accra further recommended that superior planting material be made available to private and local communities to improve the planted teak forests.
teak makes only a small proportion of world timber production and trade.
however, it has become a major component of the forest economies of many tropical countries.
planted teak forests have attracted large investments from the private sector in africa, asia and latin america.
globally, teak constitutes the only valuable hardwood resource that is increasing in terms of area.
the accra conference therefore resolved that more commitment must be put in at all levels to ensure sustainable benefit for all.
it recommended the facilitation of capacity building for local community and field workers, in teak management techniques and intercropping of teak with profitable agricultural crops.
the establishment of confidence in teak investments with small holders and farmers through the provision of realistic cost-benefit analyses, market price information and enabling government policies.
it again encouraged smallholder growers to apply better silvicultural techniques, to use intercropping systems in order to bridge the initial years without earnings from forestry, to organize group marketing and to make better use of marketing data and information.
investigate the opportunities of linking teak plantations with carbon credit markets.
finally it called on leaders to commit more resources to research and development to advance the sustainable management of planted teak forests and investigate in particular the quality of teak wood grown in plantations as compared to natural forests.
deputy lands and natural resources minister, benito owusu bio, performed the official closing of the four-day event.
