Fire: The greatest single risk to a Teak Plantation is a fire during the first two to three years. Around the fourth year of growth, the bark of Teak trees becomes resistant to fire. The dry season of the first few years after planting poses the biggest threat, when dry grass and shrubs may ignite and kill young Teak trees. It is during these preliminary years that considerable effort will be made to cut back grass and shrubs at the plantation. A fire break will be established as a further safety measure.
Insects: Only very young Teak plants in the nursery are subject to root-eating insects. There are no known insects in Belize that attack maturing Teak trees.
Disease: Teak trees are extremely resistant to plagues and diseases. Only at the nursery stage will there be some risk. That is the stage when the young plants may be susceptible to fungal attack. Once the taproot has matured, fungal infection is not really a significant problem.
Hurricanes: Jabiru Bamboo’s property is located well inland which limits the potential of damage resulting from hurricanes. There is still some risk from hurricanes, but historically the area has been missed.
Floods: Jabiru Bamboo’s property is located above the flood plains. We do have a rainy season, but before we acquired our land, we did extensive research to locate the right property. though once the trees have matured a bit, there is little damage from occasional flooding.
Theft: During the latter years, there is some risk from theft. We recommend that you hire a caretaker to live on the grounds to watch over your timber especially as it reaches maturity. This is another use for your cabana if you aren't personally living there full time.
While we will do everything we can during the first three years of establishing your teak farm, the risks mentioned above, although small, are very real. We guarantee you that at the end of the first three (3) years when we hand over the farm to you, that we have done everything that we said we would. we recommend that you take out insurance for your trees, land and cabana as a safety precaution.
Bruce Carroll, Managing Director