Teak Plantations In Isaan?

[udon]

I came across these 2 sites recently

http://www.surfingto.com/caribbean/

and

http://tropicaltreefarms.com/

Aparently if you invest $40K in reaforestation in Panama you can have permanent residency.

Do you have any teak growing on your land? (as an investment)

I've seen many teak plantations in South Thailand.....

thanks

udon

[ray23]

I came across these 2 sites recently

http://www.surfingto.com/caribbean/

and

http://tropicaltreefarms.com/

Aparently if you invest $40K in reaforestation in Panama you can have permanent residency.

Do you have any teak growing on your land? (as an investment)

I've seen many teak plantations in South Thailand.....

thanks

udon

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There is one member of the local VFW in Udon, who is doing this to what extent I have no idea, but I know he is doing it. I have also met a member who is doing the same thing in Laos, from the information he gave me it is definetly a long term project. However it did appear to have the posiiblities of a good returen in envestment later. Does require some maitanance and upkeep. The key as usual cheap labor.

[Azul_Blanco]

I've seen the 40k residency deal in Panama. I think the minimum investment in hardwood tree plantation would be 40K USD to get the visa and many companies have set up to sell you a plot for the minimum 40 thousand. The problem is that you only get a few acres for your money. I'm sure you would do much better there if you were on the ground. 40K is about 1.6 million baht. You could plant 50 rai in Thailand for that money.

Here are some websites that can help:

http://forests.org/archive/general/manteak.htm

http://www.forest.go.th

http://www.dedp.go.th/reports/energy.asp?

http://www.dedp.go.th/reports/document.asp...&name=sitener42

http://www.custom.go.th/cgi-bin/statistic/normal.cgi

http://www.fti.or.th/nfti/group/

http://www.fti.or.th/nfti/group/thai/g02/panel-index.html

http://www.fti.or.th/nfti/group

http://www.escapeartist.com/efam/37/Trees.html

The last website if for escapeartist.com - it's a fun website but full of people trying to make a buck. Anyway, if you read between the BS it's great for ideas and some info.

I think Issan might be a little dry for teak trees? I'm more familiar with the south though and don't know much about your neck of the woods. I know that the Thai government has different programs around the country and you might be able to get your hands on some free trees to start up with.

I'm only 26 so this works out fine for me but I think at minimum that this is a 20 year investment.

[dugdig]

I have heard that not all Teak trees are the same. There was a post on TV within a month or so ago that indicated that some Teak trees do ot make good lumber. I find this hard to believe but I have been casually studying the Teak trees up here in Chiangrai. I live in the lowlands and people plant Teak around in the odd corners of land. We have about 20 around our house. What I do is look at the cross section of any cut trees to see how much of the dark colored wood is there. So far I haven't found any of the beautiful dark Teak wood. My wife keeps telling me that the trees aren't old enough yet...but lately they cut one that was about 30 cm in diameter and it still didn't have the dark wood. I'm beginning to think that thte variety of Teak we grow here doesn't get the dark wood....It does exhibit some insect and rot resistance and appears to be good for lumber but I haven't actually seen any lumber made from it. I don't know if this would affect the feasability of your plans. If anyone knows about the variety of Teak please post as I'm most interested in learning more....

dugdig

[udon]

Dug, it's "Tectona Grandis" that gets the highest price for boat fittings, decking, furniture etc.

azul, thanks for all those links, it'll keep me quiet tonite and tomorrow.

You obviously know better than me how to Google....

[udon]

From the 1st link

The total area under teak plantations today is estimated at 3 million

hectares (1). Good growth and high quality is associated with deep,

flat, and well-drained alluvial soils, rich in calcium; a mean annual

temperature between 22 and 27 degrees centigrade; and an annual

precipitation from 1,500 to 2,500 millimeters, with a marked dry season

of 3 to 5 months with a maximum of 50 millimeters of rain.

Dry site conditions are usually associated with stunted growth. Very

moist conditions may lead to faster growth, but also to a thick sapwood

and poor overall quality, including lower average density, less

attractive color, poor texture, and loss of strength.

[Azul_Blanco]

No problem udon. I kept the links on my computer for reference a while back. When I wrote you saying that I think Issan might be a bit dry I had the section you pasted in mind. On the otherhand, Southern Thailand is close to the too much rain side of the spectrum. I think this would be great for someone in central Thailand. I've been trying to find a map that shows teak's natural range in Thailand but have not come up with one yet.

Anyway, costs are not so bad and my wife and I have a few smaller plots of land (5 rai or so) scattered about and did not want to take the time to put plots that small over to agriculture or other labor intensive growing (rubber, palm oil). The trees will be ok in 20 years and we figure at about that time we'll have kids ready for university. We figure it's a good way to help 'em with the cost.

I'm heading back south mid December to get everthing finalized and get the trees in the ground. My wife's father is a good resource of info about this. PM me in a few months if you are still interested in this and I'll probably have some more info for you.

I'd be a bit worried about weather patterns in Issan in the future though. Global warming seems to be the hot topic these days and while you won't be living in a desert anytime soon I think it will get consitantly drier each year up there.

[udon]

Azul.

I'd be keen to know what you pay for seedlings and if you (or wife) can get gov't assistance with your set-up costs.

On the surface it looks like Isaan may be too dry, unless watered daily with a buffalo tanker-cart

cheers

[RamdomChances]

Have a read of this link, its not in Issan, but Nakorn Sawan, very cloes to me. Udon I dont think Issan would be to dry.

Apparently you have to register the trees with the Forestry Department, then you can get a licence for cutting, if not you would not have any paper work with them when cut and it could be classed as illegal logging.

An other idea, is not to plant say 5 rai but to plant around you boundry, and then interspace teak trees into the farm land, you can then plant crops, in between.

http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?...5E/x4565e10.htm

Try this one as well

http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?...5E/x4565e09.htm

Let me know if the link does'nt work.

Cheers RC

[dugdig]

From the 1st link

The total area under teak plantations today is estimated at 3 million

hectares (1). Good growth and high quality is associated with deep,

flat, and well-drained alluvial soils, rich in calcium; a mean annual

temperature between 22 and 27 degrees centigrade; and an annual

precipitation from 1,500 to 2,500 millimeters, with a marked dry season

of 3 to 5 months with a maximum of 50 millimeters of rain.

Dry site conditions are usually associated with stunted growth. Very

moist conditions may lead to faster growth, but also to a thick sapwood

and poor overall quality, including lower average density, less

attractive color, poor texture, and loss of strength.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sounds like I"ve got 'very moist conditions'......######...hate those moist conditions. I probably do have conditions on the moist side since we're in the lowlands with rice all around. It does grow fast here and an 8 year old tree makes a really good post for house building. Thanks for the info..dugdig

[Ijustwannateach]

Knew a farming family down in Koh Samui who had a number of large, old, teak trees on their farm, but it kept dwindling due to poachers. If you're going to farm something as valuable as teak, you gotta guard it!

"Steven"