2. Status of Forestry Statistics Related to Wood-products

The availability of production information related to wood-products at national and local levels is made difficult due to the shortage of personnel for data collection from sawmillers and other relevant entities. Because of this collection of timber production is usually given as an estimated volume.

Because there is no recent inventory of private or public forest plantations, the Forestry Department assisted by the "Trees for Tomorrow" project started an island wide biophysical inventory. Detail volume calculations will be undertaken based on the data collected.

After Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, which reduced the total pine plantation from an estimated 11 250 hectares to approximately 5 172 hectares, the emphasis of the Forestry Department shifted to establishing mainly hardwoods as they were more resistant to the effects of hurricane winds. The present plantation area is estimated at pines 4 287 hectares and hardwoods 3 900 hectares. Pinus caribaea accounts for approximately 95% of the pine population, with Hibiscus elatus and Swietena mahagoni accounting for 40% and 45% respectively of the hardwood plantations.

The Forestry Department assisted by the "Trees for Tomorrow" project attempted the first estimation of standing timber in Jamaica. Results are seen in Table 3 and a more detail result will depend on the result on the inventory mentioned previously.

Table 3: Estimate of Total Volume of Jamaican Forest (Year 2000).

Source: Compiled by Forestry Department, November 2000

In 1993 an estimated 120 fixed sawmills and numerous portable chainsaws were surveyed and an estimated 59 000 cubic metres of hardwoods and 3 000 cubic metres of softwoods were calculated as production totals from these surveys. The number of portable chainsaws have increased since then, but their production levels cannot be accurately estimated as they can access trees previously thought inaccessible, however estimated annual production for years following 1993 is shown in Table 1.

What is known is that supplies from state owned lands have declined and the majority of the logs supplied are mainly from private lands. Sawmill owners and independent log buyers purchase most of the logs, and there is owner felled and sawn timber for personal consumption.

Data collection as previously stated is very difficult as most sales from private owners are done from estimated volumes and pricing without any actual measurements to determine these volumes. . The majority of private logs are sold in small quantities and these sales are not reported to any regulating body. No cutting permit or transport licenses are necessary for private cutting and transporting, and checkpoints are non-existent.

An inventory is done on state own timber to be sold and a cutting permit for an agreed quantity is granted. After cutting, the logs are then measured for conformation and stamped, a removal permit is then granted. Stumpage for public lumber is established at management level at the Forestry Department. Information on cutting permits include name and address of applicant, amount to be extracted, price paid, name and location of property, what is to be extracted, date of application and valid period of license.

Forestry data is compiled at a regional level and reported to the Forestry Department’s Head Officers on a monthly basis and at management meetings. Data is collected at district levels, then checked by regional supervisors. Compilation is done at the regional level or at the Forestry Department's head office. Specialised units (inventory, land surveying and research), of the Forestry Department also collect data.

Trade data is extracted and compiled from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica's publication External Trade, Part 11. These figures reflect quantity and value of wood-products traded with other countries.

The Forestry Department is the principal agency in the forest sector, as mandated by the Forest Act of 1996. Other agencies involved in the collection, analysis and dissemination of data related to wood-products are:

National Water Commission (NWC) – responsible for supplying potable water. Owns and manages approximately 3 000 hectares of forestlands in two watersheds.

Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) – responsible for compiling trade and other statistical data

Private farmers - collects data for personal use and for sharing with other farmers

Although no recent survey data is available, charcoal and fuelwood users are widespread at the urban and rural levels for both household and commercial sectors.

Fuelwood is used as a cooking fuel extensively in rural areas by low-income households, and moderately by others even in urban areas. Sugar factories use wood for their energy needs in addition to baggasse, oil and grid electricity. Wood is also used in the construction industry for melting tar used for roofing, as well as bakeries, limekilns, and ceramic factories. The 1989 household energy survey estimates annual consumption at 12 600 tonnes.

The use of charcoal for cooking is even more widespread than wood, as even the wealthy and middle classes use charcoal for grill cooking. A study carried out in 1988 estimate annual charcoal demand at 60 000 tonnes (inclusive of commercial usage). Projected increase was estimated using annual population growth rate of 1.6%. Production was assessed in 1992 at 37 000 tonnes per year from surveying 10% of an estimated 2 500 producers island wide. This 37 000 tonnes is exclusive of commercial usage.

The difference in the 1988 demand estimate and the 1992 production estimate is significant and shows how little basic data is available about fuelwood use in Jamaica. It also shows that producers are under pressure to increase production and with the increase in "jerk meat" vendors and price increases in cooking gas, an annual increase in demand is expected.

There is also extensive production of fence posts (hardwood and softwood) with greater demand for hardwood posts as post-harvest treatment of softwood posts is almost non-existent.

Annual yamstick production (3-4 metres in length and 6-8 cm in diameter) has been estimated at 15 million sticks. This corresponds to an annual roundwood consumption of 150 000 cubic metres. Extensive yamstick production will have a negative impact on natural regeneration of forests in yam-growing areas, as the preferred species for yamstick production are hardwoods (Nectandra spp., Ocotea spp., Psychotria spp., Eugenia spp., Comocladia pinnatifolia).

The furniture industry is one of the major hardwood consumers in the country. Most of the better quality local hardwoods as swietena spp., hibiscus spp., Tectona grandis and Cedrolla odorata are used in the cabinetmakers. Imported particle boards, furniture grade plywood, imported softwoods furniture industry, with major furniture houses contracting their requirements to urban and rural and hardwoods, and other local hardwoods and softwoods are also used. It is estimated there are 760 small furniture establishments islandwide, employing up to 5 persons each.

Imported softwood (treated) and local rough-cut Pinus caribaea are used primarily in the construction industry for housing and other buildings.