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Timber development to add value to wood products
Stakeholders in a project to enhance the range, quality and value of products made from plantation grown timber in Laos this week assessed project outcomes at the conclusion of the four-year programme.
The project, named Value-Adding to Lao PDR Plantation Timber Products (VALTIP), began in 2007 and came to an end with Tuesday's meeting in Vientiane.
The main goals were to boost timber production through the development of enhanced timber processing, drying and manufacturing methods and systems, to broaden wood product design options by testing and adapting new technologies, and to develop approp riate quality control procedures, according to project reports.
The project was mostly concerned with eucalyptus and teak plantations, and was based at the National University of Laos (NUOL) Faculty of Forestry.
Over the last couple of decades, several thousand hectares of tree species grown for industrial use have been planted in northern and southern provinces of Laos.
Many trunks are cut into smaller longitudinal sections in local sawmills and exported to Vietnam and Thailand. Some of these sections are sent to Vientiane for processing into furniture for both export and domestic use.
With a strong international demand for sustainably produced wood, especially teak, plantation farmers are receiving very good prices for relatively small trees.
Teak and eucalyptus grow well, and look to be a good option for integrated agro-forestry systems in Laos. Additionally, significant areas of Eucalyptus camaldulensis have been established in central and southern areas. Some of it is processed locally into furniture for export and domestic consumption.
The Lao processing industry is in its infancy, with only a few manufacturers producing a limited range of products. But the quality is relatively good, and Laos would seem to have a competitive advantage in timber processing and manufacturing.
However, if the processing and manufacturing industry based on plantation timber is to expand to its fullest potential and contribute fully to the domestic economy, the development and introduction of processing techniques to facilitate a broader range of products will be required. Also required will be a much stronger national capability in the timber industry.
The project sought to address these issues through a tea m consisting of a project manager and facilitation unit, a country coordinator with steering committees which consulted directly with the VALTIP team, project researchers and eight factories in Laos. Tuesday's meeting was attended by NUOL Vice President Associate Professor Dr Lammai Phiphakhavong, and Country Project Coordinator Associate Professor Dr Latsamy Boupha.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr Latsamy said “We need more support in facilitating the necessary educational support for export strategy by establishing a research laboratory that focuses on wood anatomy, wood chemistry, wood composites and timber engineering, and by upgrading the curriculum and teaching materials.”
She said the four-year project had set up the Wood Tech Laboratory at the Faculty of Forestry, improved capacity building and networking, and had established a library and materials for the teaching of wood science and technology.
vientiane times
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