Bwa-yo - Société Audubon Haiti

Figure 16.3 Lime-induced chlorosis is common
on calcareous sites near the coast.
Nim US
et aI., 1984) at approximately 4000
seeds kg· l .
The heartwood of mature trees is
reddish brown, though most of the
wood harvested in Haiti is closer to
straw color with a tinge of pink. The
grain is interlocked, with a moderately
coarse texture. The wood ranges
from dull to somewhat lustrous, having,
when freshly cut, a slight cedary
smell that fades on drying. Neem
lumber seasons well and becomes stable
with varying atmospheric conditions.
It works well and produces a
smooth finish, though it has a tendency
to split when nailed. Neem is rated
as durable to moderately durable
(Chudnoff, 1984; UKFPRL, 1968).
Neem poles have a reputation of not
being attacked quickly by borers and
they sell well in the Port-au-Prince
market (Welle et a!., 1985). About
60% of the total tree weight can be
used for charcoal or poles (Ehrlich,
1985). Wood density is moderate (sp.
gr. 0.52-0.65) with an energy equivalent
of 16.92 megajoules kg'l at 14%
moisture content.
Utilization: In Haiti, neem has been planted primarily for its quick yield of wood and
deep shade. Trees generally are planted along field boundaries, serving as both a boundary
marker and a windbreak (Fig. 16.4). The tree pollards well and is managed on a lopping
cycle that coincides with the light and moisture needs of the understory crops.
Stems are utilized as roundwood for house construction. The ODH plantations in the
Cul-de-Sac plain were managed for a mixture of fuelwood, charcoal and poles in an
attempt to commercialize wood production. Stands located on more fertile sites at
Cazeau and Bon Repos were managed for fuelwood and lumber. Consumer preference
tests conducted in Port-au-Prince showed that neem charcoal was considered inferior to
charcoal made of Casuarina equisetifolia, Prosopisjuliflora and Acacia spp., superior
to Leucaena Leucocephala and Senna siamea and no different from Eucalyptus camalduLensis
and Albizia lebbeck (Grosenick, 1986a).
Despite its recent introduction to Haiti, neem is being utilized as a febrifuge. In the
La Chapelle area, neem ranks fifth among plant species as a source of leaf decoctions
for fever (Rouzier, 1990). It is recognized in other countries for its fungicidal, antibacterial
and antiviral properties (NRC, 1992).