| In Indonesia, where much of this lumber comes from, | | | | although some reports suggest that its introduction |
| Teak is called Jati. Teak is a hardwood of the family | | | | may have been as early as the seventh century. |
| Verbenaceae. No other wood compares to teak | | | | Harvests from Javanese teak plantations today |
| when it comes to durability, elegance, stability and low | | | | support a rapidly expanding furniture manufacturing |
| maintenance. Teak is known for being extremely | | | | industry, the products of which are increasingly |
| weather resistant, able to withstand all types of | | | | directed to export markets. |
| weather conditions. | | | | Production of teak occurs in two sectors: one sector |
| So, What Makes Teak Wood a Sustainable Material? | | | | is the free market and the other sector is a teak |
| Nearly all natural teak wood products harvested for | | | | management and conservation division of the |
| commercial use fall under varying levels of scrutiny for | | | | Indonesian government's Forest and Field Department, |
| the responsible management of that resource, including | | | | called Perum Perhutani. While the practices of many |
| its harvesting. Many teak growers follow accepted | | | | free market producers is suspect, Perhutani's teak |
| best-practices for the responsible production of the | | | | production and processing activities are extensive, well |
| product while maintaining the resource at acceptable | | | | organized, managed and controlled. This involves |
| levels. | | | | provision for planting stock, advanced growing |
| Teak is a deciduous tree, which grows in dry, hilly | | | | methods, and specific advice to assist landholders with |
| terrains of forests in Southeast Asia. Actually, the best | | | | the establishment of responsible management |
| hardwood teak comes from Indonesia. However, teak | | | | practices for their teak plantations. |
| is not a timber found in tropical rain forests. In fact, teak | | | | Perum Perhutani operates under a strict policy of |
| cannot grow in rain forests. Most of the teak furniture | | | | regulating the number and size of trees which can be |
| sold around the world does not comes from natural | | | | felled. They also closely manage the number of trees |
| forests, but instead from tree farms - teak plantations. | | | | which are replanted so as to maintain the productivity |
| Teak is not a very fast-growing plant. When plantation | | | | of the teak forests for future generations. The teak |
| grown, the tree will usually attain a height of 130 ft. to | | | | plantations produce a high value crop that is a very |
| 150 ft. with a diameter of 3 to 5 ft. It will be ready for | | | | valuable source of income in their local area. The |
| harvesting at around 50-60 years. If well maintained | | | | associated furniture and timber products industry |
| the tree can produce a clear stem of up to 100 ft in | | | | provides regular local employment to many thousands |
| length giving a high timber yield. It produces a very | | | | of people. |
| large leaf similar to a tobacco leaf which is around 12" | | | | So, when managed properly, teak becomes a |
| long and wide. | | | | renewable natural resource that also serves the local |
| Teak plantations in Indonesia are largely located in | | | | economies where it is grown as valuable economic |
| Java and currently exceed 1.725 million acres. Teak | | | | resource. |
| was introduced into Java in the fourteenth century, | | | | |