A man from Drujeygang Gewog in Dagana has turned to planting high-value trees as a new venture, pinning hopes on their success. Although he began planting trees a decade ago, he became more committed to the business after his contract work did not go as expected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, he is aiming to plant 100,000 high-value trees in the coming years.
Sherub Dorji, a 49-year-old from Ambithang-Pangserpo Chiwog is busy trimming and weeding his 3,000 teak plants that were planted about five years ago. This marks the last time they will need such intensive care.
Beyond teak, Sherub has also planted other valuable tree varieties including white teak also known as gamari, walnut, and cypress.
Recognising the potential of these high-value trees, he has transformed his once barren and unproductive 21-acre land. The land, previously home to wilting mandarin trees now has around 20,000 trees. He sources his saplings from forestry offices.
He also attempted to grow over a thousand agarwood trees but they did not survive due to water shortages.
“We have to pay land tax even if we keep the land fallow. So, I thought planting high-value trees would benefit my children in the future instead of keeping them fallow. We can also export them in case the country faces an economic crisis.”
Sherub’s dream does not end here. He believes in the role of hardwoods in sustainable construction and plans to expand his high-value tree plantations. His goal is to plant 100,000 trees before age limits his ability to continue.
“By profession, I am a contractor but I am also into planting trees when I don’t get contract work. Later I will supply mature trees to my fellow villagers. I have noticed that some houses in my gewog needed renovations within two decades due to poor quality timber used in constructions. So, that’s why I am confident and optimistic that there will be a market for my high-quality wood.”
In addition to planting high-value and high-quality construction trees, Sherub is also cultivating mandarin on his ancestral lands in the higher altitudes, aligning with the current demand for these trees.
Further, he highlighted the country’s reliance on the import of construction bamboo and suggested importing better quality bamboo samplings from India.
“The country is importing a huge number of construction bamboo every year. I have sent Nu 300,000 worth of bamboo to one of my fellow contractors during lockdowns amid the pandemic. So, I have also planted 300 pieces of bamboo but the one that we have in our country is not durable. If the government could help us import good quality bamboo saplings from India, it would also reduce the outflow of the rupee.”
Next, he plans to plant over a thousand banana trees and a few hundred high-quality bamboo plants if he can get the saplings.
Sherub’s obsession with planting trees not only secures his future but also represents building resilience to the changing climate and how every individual can contribute to a greener world.
Pema Tshewang, Dagana
Edited by Sonam Pem
