Harvesting practicies

Madagascan logging is due to the policy and regulation of exploitation, characterised by a vast number of small enterprises which, due to the lack of financial backing, are unable to change and renew their logging and production methods. These small companies have their logging licence from three to five years for an area of maximum 200 hectares, and the owner of the licence is often a tradesman whose business is rather to occupy himself with the hiring of workmen than with the logging. One problem is that the granted areas are scattered over the territory, and it´s very difficult to administrate rationally the resource and to keep control of the concessionaires. In 1995 there were 275 operators in an area covering nearly 55,000 hectares.

The logging process is very unmechanized. Forest production methods have not changed since the beginning of the 20th century; the work in the forest is still done with an axe and the wood is carried out of the forest manually. Because of this, the wood extracted cannot weigh more than 50 to 60 kg or be longer than three or four meters. The rest is left in the forest.

Pitsawing is very common in Madagascar. Using one- or two-man saws and platforms or pits, these handmills produce a large volume of squares, structural timbers and planks. They have the advantage of being able to work in the forest or village setting and transport only finished products to market. The accuracy and finish of the lumber is lower but it is suitable for many purposes (FAO 1996, FAO 1997, Nagle 1990).

last updated: Thursday, October 28, 2004