The data on the volumes of plantation timber harvested and the output from processing plants is more or less accurate. All the major growers are members of Timbers Producers Federation. The organisations collect data from their members monthly and on a yearly basis. Standard forms are designed and are sent to each member organisation.
In case of the TPF, funding of the organisation is based on levies. A levy is paid for area under plantation, volume felled and volume produced from a processing plant. The data is required on a monthly basis. Submitted returns are compared with data from the previous month and the same of the previous year. In case of a significant difference in the return, the TPF usually demands an explanation. There is a follow up on late returns on questionnaire. The TPF has a good system in place to collect data and there is a strong belief in the industry that the TPF data is fairly accurate and reliable.
Production of industrial timber from natural forests is regulated, managed and monitored by the Forestry Commission. Payment from the concessions is based on the actual volume produced. This is made to the landowner and the Forestry Commission generates income by charging a levy. The Forestry Commission always ensures that the volumes harvested are measured accurately so that the landowner, usually the Rural Council and are not cheated out as it is an important source of revenue.
Collection of data on wood used as firewood and other non-industrial use is based on estimates done by various authors and organisations. The last proper survey was done in 1981. The data used are estimated with projected growth based on population increase.
The data collected by the CSO on wood products on imports and exports is not very useful as it does not show quantities and value. The data for each year from 1980 is compared by factor from the 1980 data. The data only shows the trend in growth and has limited use.
There is no co-ordinated national, regional and sectoral collection of data on wood products. The authorities do not realise the importance of adequate data on wood product production, consumption, exports and importance for planning and development purposes.
There is not recognised collection system to collect data by sector e.g. whether to use mass or volume.
Existing national institutions can easily be tasked to and have adequate resources in terms of human skills, infrastructure and equipment to collect woods products data. These are the Forestry Commission, the Central Statistics Office, the TPF and the Furniture Manufacturers Association, Timber Promotion Council and the Association of Rural Councils.
The TPF has adequate and accurate data on woods products from industrial plantations. Other non-government organisations can easily emulate the TPF and collect data for their particular sectors.
The Forestry Commission does not have a system for validating wood products data that they are collecting. There is need to have collected data validated.
The data is used mostly by researchers, students and academics. The data is used by researchers and academics mostly in the writing of papers for presentation at seminars, workshop or journals. There is no National Forestry Action Plan in place that would require use of such data. Organisations that are currently compile wood product data make it available to users only on request with the exception of the TPF. The TPF complies annual timber industry statistics that is made available to its members. This data is also made available on request to the public free of charge.
