FAO says global natural teak forests are declining

A survey report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on the 26th showed that the global natural teak forest area is decreasing, and the wood quality of natural teak is also declining.

According to FAO, only India, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand have natural teak forests in the world. After conducting teak resource surveys and market assessments in 60 tropical countries around the world, the organization found that in 2010, the total area of natural teak forests in the world was about 29 million hectares, of which about half grew in Myanmar. Between 1992 and 2010, the global natural teak forest area decreased by 385000 hectares.

Myanmar is the only country currently using natural teak forests to produce high-quality teak, and India, Laos and Thailand have all banned logging in natural forests or the export of logs, the report said. Thailand implemented a total ban on natural forest logging in 1989, which helped restore natural teak forests. Since the ban was promulgated, the country's natural teak forest area has increased by about 2.9 million hectares.

At the same time, teak, one of the most important and valuable woods in the world, has attracted a lot of private sector investment in artificial teak forests in Africa, Asia and Latin America, and the related area is increasing. India's artificial teak forest planting area has accounted for 38% of the world's total.

FAO's official in charge of forestry, Colert, said that the supply and quality of natural teak are declining, which will lead to the loss of genetic resources. Therefore, it is necessary to formulate plans as soon as possible in the four countries with natural teak forests to organize and implement the protection of genetic resources of native teak.

Release date: March 27, 2012, 10:57 | Source: Xinhua