In the
Nursery
Our foresters select our seeds
and seedlings from the best available sources. For example, we pay a premium to obtain
teak seeds from the Department of Tropical Forestry Science of CATIE, based in Turrialba,
Costa Rica. CATIE is one of the five major tropical research organizations in the world
and maintains a seed bank for the purpose of improving the genetics of certain species of
plants and trees.
Our seeds are carefully
germinated in specially prepared germination beds, using the latest techniques for each
species. All of the seedlings are then hand-planted in nurseries and cared for by
experienced nursery personnel. Each seedling is carefully examined and any that do not meet
our standards are removed and either given away or discarded.
Leonardo, Beto and Steve examining nursery stock
After the seedlings have grown in the nursery to
the proper size, the little trees are carefully selected for field-planting in our
plantations. By this time they may be from one to six feet tall or more, depending upon
the species. Again, any seedlings which are not up to our standards are given away or
discarded.
As an example of the extent of
our selection process, we must plant approximately 2,000 select teak seeds in order to
produce 500 teak seedlings which will pass all of the stages of our selection process for
field-planting in our plantations.
next page - In the Field
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