The teak is called the queen of woods and in that epithet, there is a lot of truth, because that species has elegance and greatness; so much so that the specimens exceed between ten and 12 meters in height and are ideal for many things, especially shipbuilding and chemical laboratories.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- Teaks come from the Asian continent; but in the province of Las Tunas, they have taken root in such a way that they are part of one of the largest reserves of the Cuban urban forest, the forest of the city of Jobabo, with almost 100 years of life.
This area is part of the local history and its first specimens were sown in the already distant year 1927, which is why most of the inhabitants played on its estates because this is where the pioneer camps, excursions, and other collective or individual activities took place.
A few years ago it was cut, mostly, because many trees were already sick; but several hands came together and little by little it began to rejuvenate, protecting the area from those who practice illegal logging and hunting, and those who little by little form micro-dumps of solid waste.
Fortunately, in the municipalities of Jobabo, Colombia, and Amancio, the Agroforestry Company (EAF) is promoting new teak forests in the communities of Sirvén, La Federal, the surroundings of El Habanero beach, and Los Malungos, among others, according to Manuel Antonio Ferrás González, productive technical director in the entity.
"An important part of them is already at the time of cutting and since it is considered a precious wood, a new destination for these productions is being studied. It is being defined to dedicate them to the manufacture of different objects in the Libertad carpentry.
"As it is known, in that small factory in the provincial capital, doors, dining room sets, dressers, and other furniture are made, so it would be very good to incorporate teak as a raw material to raise the overall quality of the final product."
The Agroforestry Company reproduces teak seeds in nurseries and then takes them to the ground so that they grow in the natural environment until they reach the ideal size that guarantees their full use. Precisely, the provincial farm to obtain the seeds is located in the rural community of Sirvén.
This teak forest adorns the road that connects Las Tunas with Jobabo and more than 80 kilograms of seeds are extracted each year, in difficult management, because you have to wait for them to fall, besides keeping the areas clean from marabou and weeds, avoid forest, fires, and take care of loose animals and opportunists.
"The company can increase this type of forest, taking into account the quality of this wood, and we can also contribute to improving the overall environment of Jobabo's urban forest to restore its splendor," Ferrás González says.
When compared to the rest of the country, Las Tunas is, unfortunately, a land of few trees. But that truth repeated many times can and must change gradually, because the future is also built with the oxygen that they contribute to the atmosphere, and the guarantee of home for birds, insects, amphibians, and reptiles.
