Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to examine the problem of wood raw material requirement and to identify strategies to resolve the problem. Part 1 provides an analysis of the basic details on which the suggestions in part 2 are based. Magnitude ofthe problem of wood raw material procurement is examined. An analysis of the forest resources in the region reveals that the potential yield is considerably higher than what is obtained now. Strategies for meeting the wood raw material requirement of theindustry are discussed. Short term measures which will enhance the resource flow from the existing stock and long term measures which will increase the resource stock and thereby increase the wood output are examined. Of the long term measures, raising man-made forests can increase the supply of plywood timber. Regeneration measures suggested in the case of the evergreen and semievergreen forests will take a considerably long time to yield results and it is necessary to plan a plantation strategy now sothat a sizable resource base is achieved before the existing scope for "mining" plywood species from natural forests gets reduced. Complementary measures such as investment on roads to open up inaccessible areas and technological improvement in plywood production are also discussed