Studies on raw material sustainability for wood based industries

The wood¿based industry in Uttarakhand's Tarai region is expanding rapidly due to rising construction demand, population growth, and limited forest timber after the 1996 green¿felling ban. This has created a persistent demand-supply gap, pushing industries toward agroforestry, private plantations, and imported wood. Markets remain unregulated and oligopolistic, with farmers lacking grading and pricing knowledge, enabling middlemen to dominate. Poplar and eucalyptus prices rose sharply (2003-2008), strengthening agroforestry and shifting farmer preferences. Annual demand reached 1.69 million m³, with agroforestry supplying over 90% of industrial consumption. Future supply will rely heavily on Trees Outside Forests (ToF) and imports as forest supply declines. The document stresses the need for MIS development, efficient utilisation, certification awareness, MSP for farmers, transit¿permit reforms, and industry-farmer integration to ensure sustainable raw¿material availability and long¿term industrial growth.

Pages: 196, Paperback, LAP Lambert Academic Publishing