KFPL is Solomon Islands’ largest sustainable re-afforestation project and has held Forest Stewardship Council (FSCTM) certification since 1998 (Licence code FSC-C013138). The plantation area consists of 14,330 hectares planted with mixed indigenous and exotic commercial species.
The first species provenance trials at KFPL were established by the Danish International Development Administration (DANIDA) in 1978 and set the standard for professional forest management practices. Tree breeding research programmes followed and the soils were intensively surveyed and mapped to enable site species matching.
Our predominant commercial species is Eucalyptus deglupta (Kamarere) and constitutes the bulk of KFPL’s plantation area. Kamarere is indigenous to neighbouring Papua New Guinea and is most suitable for the wider range of growth sites on Kolombangara. It grows tall and straight with a clean self-pruning stem, reaching marketable size at 17 years. The wood is pale pinkish-brown in colour with a medium to coarse even texture. Our E. deglupta tree breeding programme and intensive silvicultural regime ensures superior wood quality. Kamarere is well-regarded for processing into rotary veneer for making plywood, decorative flooring, furniture and interior joinery and mouldings.
Other exotic species include Acacia mangium and Tectona grandis (teak).
In addition to these exotic species KFPL has encouraged the natural regeneration of indigenous trees such as Campnosperma brevipetiolata, Albizia falcata, Calophyllum kajewskii and Pometia pinnata which are suitable for plywood production.