Mtao forest, the hub for treated poles, is located in the Midlands Province in Mvuma covering an area of 8170ha. The plantation is managed on a 10-year rotation. It became a demarcated forest in 1922. In 1947 a forestry training school was established. It was under the ownership of the Forestry Commission until 2002. In 2002 after realizing that the commercial activities of the Forestry Commission can generate revenue, the need for commercialization led to the formation of Allied Timbers Zimbabwe.
