Big Trees Come To Vanuatu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) March 16, 2010 -- An international forestation company in the South Pacific, EC02, plans to plant 3.3. million kiri (paulonia) trees over 20,000 acres of land on the tropical island of Malekula, Vanuatu.

Providing social and economical stability to an area that sadly lacks still the basics of schools, creating jobs and providing medical care and shops, is highly commendable.

The fast growing Kiri trees are being claimed as being ‘the new timber tree of the 21st century’. China, the origin of these ‘fantastic’ trees, has 1,300,000 hectares of Kiri Forest.

In only 5 months the trees can grow to a height of 20 feet, which is two feet a week, if fertilized. They can be harvested for pulp in just one year, or timber in 3 to 5 years. The trees can reach a height of 60-80 feet.

The growing area must be well drained, weed free, have lots of sunlight and free from strong winds. Round-Up is applied to kill weeds around young plants.

However, Kiri trees are subject to caterpillars, which can severely destroy the plants, if they eat the growing tips of the young trees. Planters mix Carbaryl Liquid, a highly toxic insecticide, must be regularly applied along with a small amount of dish washing liquid, so it will stick to the leaves.

Kiri trees belong to the begonia family, the large broad leaves being subject to damage. Strip it of its leaves and the tree becomes dead wood. Depending on the stage the tree is at, determines if the timber is able to be harvested or not.
To obtain tall straight timber it is essential for all lateral growth to be pinched out, usually to a height of 25 feet. Great care must be taken not to damage the large leaves.

Kiri trees are deciduous, shedding its leaves annually and becoming totally dormant during the winter months. The leaves, which are rich in nitrogen, serve as good fertilizer and fodder.

The timber is easy to work with and suitable for use as furniture, plywood, moldings and doors, boats and harps. The wood is light in weight and colour, strong, dries easily, has a beautiful grain, stains well, does not warp, crack, or deform easily and is resistant to both rot and fire.

For one month each year, a sweet, light and very unique honey can be harvested, when during springtime the air is filled with the sweet fragrance of the large petalled flowers.

When Kiri trees are harvested, a new tree grows up in its place, from the root of the old tree. Once planted in an area, there will be kiri trees there forever, unless the deep root system can be fully removed.

About Big Trees Come To Vanuatu

The tropical island nation of Vanuatu is to become the host to thousands of the fast growing kiri (paulonia)trees. For more information:http://www.tropicpost.com/big-business-comes-to-vanuatu/
Feel free to contact Wendy on admin@youmesupport.org
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Dr Wendy Stenberg-Tendys and her husband are CEO's of YouMe Support Foundation (http://youmesupport.org) provide high school education grants for children who are without hope. You can help in this really great project by taking a few minutes to check out the Sponsor a Student program at Win a Resort (http://winaresort.com). It really will change your life.

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