Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Kerala will be hosting the inaugural edition of the World Teak Conference (WTC) from September 17-20, marking the first time India will organize the prestigious global event. The conference is expected to draw over 350 delegates from 40 countries, placing the state at the centre of global discussions on sustainable teak forestry and trade. Themed “Sustainable Development of the Global Teak Sector — Adapting to Future Markets and Environments”, the conference will deliberate on challenges and opportunities in the sector, ranging from socioeconomic issues and genetics to silviculture, technology, environment, and international trade.
The event is being jointly organised by the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) under the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF& CC), TEAKNET, and the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), Japan, with technical support from FAO, IUFRO, and MAFF Japan. Highlighting the significance of the event, CS Kannan Warrier, Director of KFRI, said: “Hosting the World Teak Conference in Kerala is a proud moment for India.”
With Nilambur being the cradle of teak plantations and home to the world’s first Teak Museum, Kerala represents both the heritage and the future of teak forestry. This conference will help chart sustainable pathways for the global teak sector while strengthening Kerala’s role as a knowledge hub.
