Hardwood Timber Reforestation: The Life Cycle and Maintenance of a Plantation

 

Site Selection (October-December)

 

Our first step in initiating a planting is to locate and evaluate suitable land. We prefer planting on degraded cattle lands as one of our goals is to rejuvenate the soil and change the micro-climate. Our site review focuses on existing vegetation, prep expense, slope, soil content, rain fall, plantable area, and land title. Most farms have existing forests and bodies of water, which cannot be planted. These areas serve as reserves and are ideal for conserving local biodiversity. Normally a tree farm has an extra 15-25% of reserve area, which is not plantable.

 

Land Preparation and Nursery work (January-May)

During these months we develop a comprehensive schematic which becomes the blueprint for the plantation. At the onset of the dry season we prepare the plantable areas by clearing the high weeds found in the abandoned cattle pastures. We also begin creating the organic compost we use in our nursery using as much material from the site as possible. By early January our seed sources are tested and based on the results the seeds are purchased and imported, if necessary. During this period we also repair fences and create access to the planting which is designed in lots. In late-February we start filling bags or jiffy pots with compost. Ten weeks before the rains begin we start the germination process in the nursery. For ten weeks we establish and care for the seedlings as they mature into plantable young trees.

Planting (June-July)

In mid to late May after the first heavy rains come to Nicaragua, the small trees are taken to the prepared fields and planted at a volume of approximately 1000 trees per hectare depending on the species. The trees must be in the ground by August 15th to ensure that the root systems have enough time to develop before the dry season. A healthy deep root system allows the saplings to access deeper soils and moisture to survive the 3 month dry season. Organic fertilizer is added if necessary nutrients are found to be deficient.

Caring for the Young Trees

The first years of the plantation are the most crucial. Drought, fire, lack of care, over shadowing, grazing animals and pests can gravely effect the value of a plantation. A loss of 15-20% of the plants in the first year is normally assumed and replanted in the second year. During the first few rainy seasons the trees must be cleaned 3-4 times a year until they begin to reach a height where they dominate the undergrowth. The undergrowth which is cut by machete is left as mulch which enriches the soil.


The trees are planted 3 meters apart so that they compete and force each other to grow upwards instead of branching out. In a timber stand pruning is also very important to ensure the maximum yield of marketable timber which comes from straight and tall trees, free of branches and knots. 24 hour vigilance and fire breaks are a must to avoid any possibility of fire in the dry season.

Thinning

A timber stand is planted at a high density to promote rapid and tall growth of the trees. However, as the trees develop and the high canopy is created, certain trees must then be eliminated to allow the best formed trees to develop volume. Depending on the species and growth cycle there are several thinnings during the life of the timber stand. In years 5-8 there are non-commercial thinnings of poorly formed plants with little commercial value.

In Years 8-16 there are several thinnings which vary greatly in volume between species. These thinnings produce commercial lumber, albeit low grade and small dimension. In a teak stand for example the material produced in thinnings during years 8-12 can be sold as square cants which are consumed in volume in Asia. The revenue generated from these thinnings but can be substantial and used to pay plantation costs and return some initial investment.

Harvest and Reforestation

Depending on the species, Mother Nature, and the plantation business model, tropical hardwoods are usually harvested between years 18 and 25. The decision to harvest is both an economic and agronomic decision. The decision may be influenced by demand, climate cycle, individual financial considerations, and other factors. Maderas Sostenilbes maintains saw mills near our plantings. We extract, process, sell, and export tropical hardwood, and are available to manage a harvest and sale. We are also available to use a small fraction of the harvest proceeds to replant the land and continue the cycle of sustainable forestry for the next generation.