Teak is a popular plantation species and long-term investment across Central America. This project investigated favorable growth factors for teak as well as its economic and environmental sustainability, and then determined its viability in the region. The team conducted archival research and four expert interviews. Our organization of interview results revealed that soil, landscape, and plantation management are key factors in teak growth and helped the team come to this conclusion: while teak is a high value crop, the market is overly saturated, and the crop harms the water cycle and biodiversity. We compiled a series of recommendations for potential stakeholders that outline more sustainable alternatives such as intercropping, incorporation of native species, and silvopastoral systems.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Nowak, Monika T.
• Comatas, Rosina M.
• Stack, Tyler B.
• Santos-Heiman, Timothy

Subject

• Sustainability
• Environment

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 4426
• E-project-101520-202824

Stichwort

• Lumber
• Environment
• Teak
• Central America
• Sustainability

Advisor

• Kinicki, Robert
• Chiarelli, James A.

Year

• 2020

Center

• Panama City, Panama Project Center - IQP

Date created

• 2020-10-15

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright