About Us

What is TEAKNET

TEAKNET is an international network of institutions and individuals interested in teak. Teaknet addresses the interests of all the categories of stakeholders related to teak, whether they are growers, traders, researchers or other groups with a profound interest or concerned with teak. From time to time, the organization formulates action plans focusing on the short term and long term needs of the global teak sector. Success of the network is critically dependent on wider participation, by all those concerned with conservation, management and utilization of teak.

Kerala Forest Research Institute, TEAKNET host institution at Peechi, Kerala, India

Objectives of TEAKNET

  • To link the national, regional and international institutions / organisations working on teak for sharing information and experience
  • To serve as a dialogue platform among the tree growers, traders and researchers on problems in teak sector to find solutions
  • To facilitate transfer of knowledge and dissemination of information useful to tree growers, local traders, exporters and importers on all aspects of teak including market information and price trends through its website www.teaknet.org
  • To promote studies on issues that hinder development of the teak sector which include quality assessment of short rotation teak, unification of log grading rules and tracing the geographical origin of teak logs to prevent illegal logging and ensure sustainability
  • To develop online databases and decision support tools beneficial to stakeholders of teak sector
  • To facilitate the exchange of genetic materials (superior seed sources/improved planting materials) to enhance productivity subject to the country regulations
  • To publish periodical reports/bulletins and organize meetings for the development of teak sector including matters related to development of timber certification and carbon credits

TEAKNET Secretariat

TEAKNET is basically manned by an International Steering Committee and its headquarters is currently located at the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI), Peechi, India which acts as the host institution for the functioning of Teaknet. The Secretariat of Teaknet was established in KFRI with the support of FAO Regional office for Asia-Pacific, Bangkok.

Since its establishment, Teaknet has evolved from a suboptimal state to an International Teak Information Network that serves the interests of the global teak community of researchers, growers, loggers, traders, farmers, scientists, and policymakers. Teaknet has organized and co-hosted a number of international conferences, partner events, and workshops around the world over the years, including the World Teak Conferences in Costa Rica (2011), Thailand (2013), and Ecuador (2015), in which hundreds of teak enthusiasts from around 70 teak-growing countries participated. Teaknet is the world's only network organization dedicated to a single species of teak, and it brings together numerous stakeholders under its umbrella for world teak conferences, where they share a wealth of information for the sustainable development of teak industry and trade. We collaborate with international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) for the sustainable use and management of teak resources. Teaknet was a partner of the Global Teak Study report published by IUFRO in 2017. Teaknet is also a project partner for information management in the three-year (2019-2022) ITTO executed teak project for Mekong countries, which spans Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Lao PDR, and Cambodia.

TEAKNET extends its heartfelt gratitude to everyone for your continued support over the past years and we look forward to continuing to be a successful teak network in the future.