Forestry Operations

BBPL’s Forestry Sector is entrusted with the responsibility of supply green wood to particleboard factory on a sustainable basis. Its prime responsibilities comprises of logging, afforestation and engineering. The Forestry is also mandated to preserve the environment, maximize plantation, maintain cutting to plantation ratio of 1 : 24, and create even-aged forest with fast growing industrial specifies.

Logging Division :
The Logging Division is entrusted with the responsibility of carrying out logging and supply of green of green wood to the Company’s particleboard factory at Tala. Logging was first initiated in the year 1990 based on Selection Felling System. It was later changed to clear-felling system in 1991 through manual means.
Logging operations are carried out strictly as per rules and regulations of Forestry Service Division (FSD), Ministry of Agriculture, Royal Government of Bhutan. Felling principles and bucking rules are followed to minimize damages on the environment. Operations are manned and supervised by people with logging and forestry background. Logging activities are also inspected and monitored by the personnel of FSD on regular basis.
In order to further improve quality of logging operations, the Company shall introduce effective sanitation through removal of unnecessary debris.
Scientific logging operations have positive impact on the environment compared to traditional & manual logging. There is minimum disturbance & damage on soil & ground. It facilitates (re)afforestation activities on a larger scale bringing degraded areas into vast greenery.

Afforestation Program :
The Afforestation Program is entrusted with the responsibility of raising seedlings in nursery, planting them in the field, maintaining and protecting them from damages through its four prime responsibilities of (a) research and development (b) nursery (c) preparation, (d) plantation and (e) maintenance. Some of the activities carried out under the five prime responsibilities of Afforestation Program are given below:

Research and Development
The Research and Development is responsible for –
Identification of specifies suitable for plantation in the area considering the altitude and soil condition and also the industrial value of the particular plant;
Identify innovative technology for plantation, preparation for plantation and nursing of plantation for faster growth and to minimize mortality rate;
Development of enabling conditions for further growth of plants at the nursery stage;
Multiplication of plants. For the moment, no vegetative propagation and other techniques are employed;
Identification and introduction of mechanized plantation system.

Nursery
The activities under Nursery consist of the following:
Suitable seeds of some of the recognized fast growing species are collected from sound mother trees and sown in mother beds which are prepared by mixing nutritious soils, sand & humus. However, collection of seeds from solitary tree is avoided,

Preparation of nursery bed by digging and hoeing. The normal size of the nursery bed is 40’ X 4’. Watering is done as per requirement till they germinate and attain 3” –4” height or grow 2-3 tender leaves;

After the seeds germinate and attains height of 3” – 4” or grows 2 – 3 tender leavers, the tender plants are pricked and transferred to polypots through traditional mechanism. They are kept in shaded beds till they grow big and strong enough to be planted in the plantation. However, beginning year 2004, the plant seedlings are being raised through the application of root trainer system;

After the seedlings attain the desired height and are ready for plantation, the seedlings are transferred for plantation.

Weeding and Maintenance
The activities under preparation (weeding and maintenance) consist of the following:

Cleaning and weeding are done by cutting bushes and shrubs three times a year depending on weed growth – i.e first from Nov to Dec, second from June to July and last from Aug to Sept. The Company intends to carry out cleaning and weeding scientifically/mechanically to improve efficiency and cost effectiveness and also avoid any negative impact on environment.
Five strand barbed wire is being provided over wooden posts. The fencing is necessary to protect the plants from damages by cattle and wild animals. However, in order to provide better habitant to the animals, the Company intends to switch over from barbed wire fencing to 2 line live fencing charged by solar energy.
Digging of pits of 30 CMs length by 30 CMs depth for plantation providing a spacing of 2.5 M X 2.5 M. Pit digging may be carried out mechanically in future.

Plantation
The seedlings are planted after removal of polythene bags in the pits of 30 cm by 30 cm and the space provided between one plantation to another is 2.5 M. The Company intends to plant seedlings at closer intervals and avoid refilling. Plantation is carried out after 2 PM in the afternoon from January to May every year.

Planting trees shall -
Conserve soil, water and check air pollution.
Moderate climate & improve aesthetic value of the area.
Enrich soil fertility through addition of humus with leaves, barks and other parts.
Create conditions more conducive to flora and fauna.
Provide/generate income/revenue base for the Economy.

Engineering :
This division deals with construction and maintenance of forest road connecting BBPL’s raw material area and to facilitate transportation of wood materials to the factory. BBPL’s roads are “katcha road” with stone soling with the inter-space filled with gravels. As of November 2004, the Forestry Sector has already constructed and maintained 43.319 KMs of roads at Darla and Samtse.