RUBBER WOOD TO THE RESCUE OF TIMBER INDUSTRIES

Compared with other resources (forest plantations, home gardens etc.), rubber plantationsas a source of timber to the timber based industries take a leading position. Easy andready accessibility, added to the wide acceptability and applicability of its wood workingproperties makes rubber wood the industrialist's prime choice.While plantation management is required to obtain higher yields and higher grades oftimber from the plantation, the timber industries are expected to have a more rational andan integrated approach in the use of much sought after woods.The paper discusses the avenues available to the industrialists to use rubber wood in theareas of small log sawing, improved sawing, techniques, minimizing waste, wasteutilization, value addition, improved chemical treatment and kiln drying methods,obtaining a higher value of products from the same unit volume of wood