Staedtler Malaysia Expands Forest Plantation Venture

Mr. Lewandrowski does not want STAEDTLER to be left behind in forest conservation efforts. Germany's leading writing and drafting materials manufacturer, STAEDTLER, is expanding its forest plantation venture in Malaysia to ensure a continuous supply of Jelutong (Dyer() costulata), a tropical wood species whose timber is used in the manufacturing of pencils. STAEDTLER, through its Malaysian subsidiary, STAEDTLER (Malaysia) Bhd which has been operating in the country since 1967, has invested an initial RM500,000 (US$ 1 = RM3.8) in its first plantation venture located on a 20-hectare forest reserve land near the town of Kemasul in the state of Pahang. Of the total land area, 10 hectares are used for mono-culture plantation and the remaining 10 hectares are used for enrichment planting in a natural forest environment.

STAEDTLER Malaysia's Managing Director, Mr. Manfred Lewandrowski said that the company signed a Memorandum of Understanding in September 2000 with the Pahang Forestry Department and the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) to start a joint research project on the reforestation of Jelutong. Under this agreement, Pahang Forestry Department provides the land and site management while FRIM provides the scientific support and seedlings. STAEDTLER is responsible for the overall management and financial support of the project.

The Jelutong plantation venture is located on a 20-hectare forest reserve land near the town of Kemasul in the state of Pahang. The endeavour is not only STAEDTLER's first in Malaysia, but also the foremost of such project to be undertaken by this German group at any of its six manufacturing bases worldwide. "STAEDTLER does not want to be left behind in efforts pertaining to forest conservation. Apart from venturing into the plantation project to seek the best plantation management practices for this species, the project's success will provide scientific and commercial benefits not only to STAEDTLER but also Malaysia;" said Mr. Lewandrowski to the participants of
the recent timber trade familiarisation programme for the local media organised by the Malaysian Timber Industry Board.

Phase one of the project began soon after the MoU was signed. It involved test planting of the Jelutong seedlings according to research patterns determined by FRIM at a plantation site north of the Getah Planting Project, along the Belengu River near Kemasul. Pahang Forestry Department designated a suitable forest area west of the Getah Planting Project for enrichment planting. The growth of the seedlings is monitored constantly and observed results are carefully documented at regular intervals. A committee, comprising representatives from the three parties, is responsible for monitoring the development of this project and to implement changes whenever necessary. Over the past few years, impressive scientific results on the mono-culture of Jelutong and on reforestation have been compiled. Both the Jelutong trees on the plantation and in the natural forest environment are now thriving and displaying healthy growth.

The project involves mono-culture plantation and enrichment planting in a natural forest environment. According to Mr. Lewandrowski, a final stand of 200 to 250 trees per hectare is expected with a height of 15 metres in 20-22 years. He added that the company utilises 8,500 tonnes of highland Jelutong timber a year to produce about 230,400,000 pieces of pencils in its factory at the Temerloh Industrial Area. About 85% of the timber is currently sourced from Pahang and the remaining 15% from other states including Terengganu, Kelantan and Johor.

Following the initial success of this forest plantation venture, the Pahang State Government has earmarked another 2,000 hectares for STAEDTLER to plant Jelutong and other species. The land was awarded as a 60-year concession to the company last year. STAEDTLER is also currently talking to a company in Sabah on the possibility of undertaking a forest plantation project in the state.