TEAK PLANTATIONS IN NILAMBUR - Kerala Forest Research Institute

natural mixed forest. The wildlife habitat is also modified and its quality
reduced by converting a natural forest tract into a teak monoculture. In spite
of all these, the opportunity cost is not included in this study due to the fact
that following the Forest Conservation Act 1980, no new plantations were
raised after clearfelling natural forests. At present, natural forests are not used
for raising teak plantations. Existing plantations continue to be managed as
plantations in successive rotations.
An overhead charge of Rs. 358 ha -1 for all years is included in the analysis.
This represented the cost of fire protection and administrative charges.
The different thinning and final felling costs represent the labour and other
charges for extraction of timber. It was worked out from the total costs and
mean yield obtained in each operation in selected plantations. The mean
costs per m 3 was found out from the above. Using this, the average costs per
m 3 of yield in different operations were worked out. To get the average cost
per ha for plantations with mean, low and high yield, the average cost per m3
was multiplied by the respective yields.
The average price of teak for different girth and quality classes during 1995 is
given in Table 4.1. Teak logs and poles are classified according to girth and
quality classes. Appendix 3 gives the girth limits and quality specifications
used by the Forest Department for timber and poles. The prices given in
Table 4.1 are in Rs. per m 3 and do not refer to the number of logs or poles. A
large number of poles are required to make up one m3. Appendix 8 gives the
conversion factors in terms of number of poles equivalent to lm 3 of pales.
For one m3 of teakwood the prices range from Rs. 2400 to 45,400. The price
difference is 15 times between the lowest and highest size class. Products
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