Karunaratne S W creator text xx Journal of National Institute of Plant Management 9999 monographic und

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41-44 Rubberwood could claim the status of commercial wood of the future as the extent of land under rubber in the major rubber growing countries in South East Asia is around 5 million ha. Country-wise, the distribution is 1.5 m. ha. in Malaysia, 2 m. ha. in Indonesia, 800,000 ha. in Thailand, 300, 000 ha. each in India and China and 250,000 ha. in Sri Lanka. In the case of Sri Lanka, assuming that the field weight of rubber logs to be 5;., the potential availability of rubber logs for the industry in the country works out to be 1,25,000 tones or 1.9 million cu.m per year. A very conservative assessment shows that about 25 per cent of the total rubberwood output, ie., 500,000 cu.m. could be recovered as sawn timber in Sri Lanka. The total current rubberwood treatment capacity is estimated at about 5000 cu.m. at the most, which is only 1;of the available rubberwood in the country. There is a growing market potential for rubberwood mainly for the furniture industry. Rubberwood 220216