Management of Industrial Plantation Forest (HTI) continues to grow over the time. One particular thing that is often overlooked is that as a technology business, it does not involve the role of higer education/universities in its management. This was stated by a team of experts from PT Sumalindo Lestari Jaya Tbk., Ir. Arif Purwanto, in the Public Lecture of Industrial Plantation Forest Management and Production Technology of Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) in the Multimedia Room of UGM Forestry Faculty on Thursday (26/5). On that occasion, Arif was accompanied by other expert team member, Ir. I Wayan Udiana.
"Involving the role of universities is often overlooked by the manager of Industrial Plantation Forest in Indonesia. Whereas to be able to develop, the campus cannot be overlooked," said Arif. In front of students, Arif also told about the management of plantations from beginning to end, from the phase of planning, land preparation, seeding, planting, maintenance, up to the harvest phase. In addition, Arif also conveyed about the prospect of Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) to supply the needs of the furniture currently run by PT Sumalindo.
Arif described that currently in terms of management of the Industrial Plantation Forest to become construction wood at PT Sumalindo, the percentage is expanded from about the expected rate of 10% to 50%. This is based on the ever expanding needs of the industry, furniture, home industry and building materials. Some steps have been taken to improve the quality of woods production, such as development of tree species and silvicultural techniques. "We keep increasing the percentage for construction wood from about 10% to 50%," he said.
I Wayan Udiana mentioned, some tree species developed in the Industrial Plantation Forest are the type of Gmelina Garboera, Acacia mangium, Paraserianthes falcatana (sengon), Hibiscus similis (Waru Rangkang), teak, Gmelina moluccana, and bulung-bulung. Special for the MDF, PT Sumalindo can produce about 710-900 kg/m3. The product is mostly derived from the development of Acacia mangium and Gmelina arborea tree. To produce the MDF, PT Sumalindo involves 350 employees, utilizing 190 hectare areas in Berau, East Kalimantan. "We focus on the MDF considering the needs of wood fiber are always increasing from year to year," said Udiana.