Colombia

Introduction

Colombian forestry has enormous development potential, for the creation of wealth and employment - in effect, five hectares of timberland generate employment directly for one person and indirectly for several more. Colombia has some 25 million hectares with soils suited to forestry, but today there are only about 220,000 hectares of timberland. In other words, we are making use of less than 1% of the land available.

Colombia has a mainland surface area of 114 million hectares, of which some 60.7 million (53%) are natural forest. Colombia boasts 10% of world diversity of flora, and ranks 13th in total natural forest area.

The high development potential of the forestry sector is based on natural conditions which provide comparative advantages for timberland ventures and from appropriate management of natural forest.

At present, timberland ventures are to be found in the areas of influence of the pulp, chipboard and immunization industries in the Departments of Antioquia, Cordoba, Valle del Cauca, Cauca, Magdalena, Caldas, Bolivar and Santander. Also, there are important areas for the future forestry and industrial development to be found in eastern Colombia (the Llanos Orientales), in the Departments of Vichada and Caquetá, and on the Caribbean coast, where significant investments have been made in recent years.

Potential Zones for Forestry Development

Northeast of Antioquia

Consider the towns of Amalfi, Vegachi, Yali and Yolombo, plus the municipality of Maceo. These municipalities are characterized by the presence of large tracts of land not attached to any type of production process. The reactivation of the regional economy over the past four years, and the development of various agricultural projects, agro-industrial and commercial reforestation, has been energized with the rectification and paving of the "Troncal of the Northeast", the way that connected in a shorter time to departments of the country west to the Atlantic coast.
It is an area suitable for pine plantations, with growth rates of 30 m³/ha/year.

Caribbean and upper Magdalena

The upper Magdalena region is a territory of 29 municipalities in the departments of Antioquia (3), Santander (13), Bolivar (8) and Cesar (5). It is an area that has a physical infrastructure and important services, and access by different means of transport (road, river, railways) which makes is very close to major market centers of the country such as Bogota, Medellin and Bucaramanga.

It is a suitable area for the plantation of eucalyptus, with yields exceeding 35m³/ha/year. Teak is also one of the species that have greater development in this region, mainly in the area of Uraba.

For its proximity to the ports of Cartagena and Santa Marta, is a key region where the objective of the plantation is the international market.

Orinoco Basin

In the Colombian Orinoco region, also called the Eastern Plains, will be analyzed the potential of the departments of Meta and Vichada. Its also called the Eastern Plains (llanos orientales).

Meta department consists of 29 municipalities, their main economic activities are livestock, agriculture, technology-intensive crops of rice, sorghum, cocoa and oil palm, in addition to traditional crops of cassava, banana and snuff. The territory is watered by numerous streams, rivers and streams that originate in the Eastern Cordillera. Vichada department is located on the eastern tip of Colombia and the Orinoco region, and extends through the plains Eastern Plains to the Rio Orinoco. Its economy is based on traditional livestock, food crops and extractive industries that have little value added and employment. The main crops are maize, cassava, banana, watermelon and cocoa. The expansion of the agricultural frontier is focused on the establishment of pastures for cattle rearing and release in areas of greater coordination with the expansionary dynamic of Meta and Casanare.

Species and Yields

Several species are suitable for planting in Colombia, with a high potential for increasing yields through the application of biotechnology and genetic improvement.

Eucalyptus

In Colombia we use different species of eucalyptus, each developed for different sites. Following are the areas in which further development has been in this type of plantations.

• Valle del Cauca: Eucalyptus grandis, used in the pulp industry mainly Smurfit Kappa (company recognized).
• North Coast: Eucalyptus teriticornis, Eucalyptus camaldulensis. Used in boards and plywood industry. The main industries in the region are Madeflex and Pizano.
• Llanos Orientales: Eucalyptus pellita. This area is has a bunch of new plantations. For this species of eucalyptus the growth has exceeded 40 m³/ha/year, something very positive in the activity.

Pinus

Like eucalyptus, pine has been an important development in our country. Different species of pine have been introduced according to the environmental offer in each zone.

• Antioquia: The different species used are pinus oocarpa, tecunumanni, maximinoi and patula. The vast majority of timber production is destined for the sawmill and particleboard. Excellent growth rates have been reported for different species.
• North Coast: The Pine caribaea is the specie used in this region.
• Eastern plains: It is developing a large forested area with pine caribea

Tax Incentives and Benefices

Forestry Incentive Certificate (CIF)

The Forestry Incentive Certificate (CIF) is a cash subsidy to finance the setting up and maintenance of new plantations.

Some examples of forest plantations in Colombia:

1. Plantation pine oocarpa 8 months in the town of Amalfi, Antioquia

2. .Plantation of Teak 10 months in the region of Uraba, Antioquia.