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Rules for the Felling Of Teak Trees
Extracts from the Maulmein (Moulmein) Chronicle 

                                                                                                  
       
​Vol. 5. No. 3. 21st April 1841
E.A. Blundell, Commissioner, Tenasserim Provinces.


Notice – Is hereby given that from and after the 1st proximo, the permits under which individuals are now allowed to fell teak trees, within certain localities, will be cancelled and resumed and such localities will be leased or farmed out to the same individual for a period of twenty years under the following rules:-

1. That the farmer keep up such an establishment for the preservation and working of the forest as may be considered necessary by the Government Superintending Officer, in order that the trees be felled without injury to those surrounding them by having proper ropes etc. for lowering them and that the requisite assistance of men, elephants, trucks, carts etc. be provided for removing them when felled.

2. That no tree shall be killed or felled of a less girth or circumference than 6ft. measured round the bark, 10ft. from the ground.

3. That every tree shall be killed by a broad rim of the bark, say 1ft. being taken off round the trunk of the tree, near the root, at a height not exceeding 2ft. from the ground and farther, by cutting to the spine or through the hard wood to prevent the least portion of sap from rising. This process is only to be done during the months of January, February and March, before the sap commences to rise and at no other period of the year.

4. That no tree shall be felled till the expiration of at least two years from the period it has been killed in the manner pointed out in rule 3.

5. That every tree felled, be removed from the forest with the least possible delay.

6. That for every tree felled and removed, five young trees of a proper size shall be planted by the farmer or by the Government at the expense of the farmer.
7. That no tree shall be, on any account, cut up into short lengths (called Loozars) but that every tree shall be removed as felled and be brought in that state (after removing the branches) either down the river to the town or to saw-pits established in the forest.

On proof of breach of any of the above rules, the locality wherein such breach may have been effected will be at once be resumed by Government.

The transfer of a lease of any forest from any party to another must be registered in the office from which the leases are issued and no transfer will be valid without such registry.

The duty of timber will continue to be levied as usual.
​
E.A. Blundell, Commissioner, Tenasserim Provinces. 12th April 1841