Big Business Comes to Vanuatu
Posted on 24 February 2010 by LynThomas in Uncategorized
EC02, an international forestation company, plans to plant 3.3. million kiri (paulonia) trees over 20,000 acres of land on the tropical island of Malekula, Vanuatu, in the South Pacific.
Creating jobs, providing social and economical stability to an area that sadly lacks even the basics of schools and providing medical care and shops, is highly commendable.
Kiri Forest
The fast growing Kiri trees are being quoted as ‘the new timber tree of the 21st century’. China being the origin of these ‘fantastic’ trees, has 1,300,000 hectares of Kiri forest.
In just five months the kiri tree can grow to 20 feet high, or two feet a week, if fertilized. They can be harvested for pulp in one year, or timber in 3 to 5 years, growing to a height of 60-80 feet.
The growing area needs to be well drained, weed free, have lots of sunlight and free from strong winds. Round Up is used to kill weeds around young plants.
Kiri trees are, however, subject to caterpillars, which can severely damage the plants, if it eats the growing tips of the young trees. Planters mix Carbaryl Liquid, a highly toxic insecticide, needs to be applied regularly,with a small amount of dish washing liquid, so it will adhere to the leaves.
Kiri trees belong to the begonia family. The large broad leaves are subject to damage. Strip the tree of its leaves and the tree becomes dead wood. Depending on the stage the tree is at, determines if the timber is able to be harvested or not.
Pruning Time
To acquire tall straight timber it is essential for all lateral growth to be pinched out, usually to a height of 25 feet. Great care must be taken not to destroy the large leaves of the tree.
Kiri trees are deciduous, becoming totally dormant during the winter months. Of course Vanuatu doesn’t have too much of winter, but the leaves are going to be shed once a year, forming a mulch that enriches the ground. The leaves are rich in nitrogen and serve as good fertilizer and fodder.
The wood is light in weight and colour, strong, dries easily, has a beautiful grain, stains well, does not warp, crack, or deform easily, being resistant to rot. It is easy to work with and suitable for use as furniture, plywood, moldings and doors, boats and harps. The wood is said to be resistant to fire.
Kiri Flowers
In the springtime the air is filled with the sweet fragrance of the large petalled flowers. For one month each year, a sweet, light and very unique honey can be harvested.
When Kiri trees are cut, a new tree grows up in its place, from the root of the old tree. Once planted in an area, there will be kiri trees there forever, unless the deep root system can be fully removed.
We trust the environmental study is being done by an independent group of people and not EC02.
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24 February 2010
[...] Creating jobs, providing social and economical stability to an area that sadly lacks even the basics of schools and providing medical care shops, is highly commendable. However there are other things to consider before such a huge project can get underway. Read about some of the side effects of growing Kiri trees. [...]
This is an interesting article. I would like additional information concerning the side effects of growing the Kiri tree.