A Discussion on the Contribution and Sustainable Management Strategy of Eucalypt Development in China
Eucalyptus were introduced to China as early as 1890s,initially for use as amenity trees around villages,houses and roadsides.After successful development of some larger plantations in western Guangdong and southern Guangxi in 1950s,Eucalyptus gradually came to be recognized as one of key plantation tree species in southern China.In 1980s,Eucalyptus started to be cultivated on a larger scale and by 1986 their plantation area reached 0.466 million hm2.Since the beginning of the new century Eucalyptus plantations have developed particularly rapidly,and their plantation area reached 4.5 million hm2 in 2015.The annual production of wood from this Eucalyptus plantation resource has reached over 30.0 million m3,accounting for 26.9％ of China's entire domestic timber production and making significant contributions to the security of the country's wood and fibre supply.China's Eucalyptus industry now comprises a complete industrial chain that includes nurseries and seedling production,fertilizers,sawn-timber,pulp and papermaking,artificial paper board,biomass and forest by-products with a total annual outputs of around ￥ 300 billion.The importance of this Eucalyptus industrial chain increases with time due to four key factors.Firstly,Eucalyptus relieves the tense situation of timber and fibre supply in China,reducing the external dependency and thus ensuring the security of supply.Secondly,the Eucalyptus industry is of increasing magnitude and this complete industrial chain constitutes an integral part of the state's economy.Thirdly,Eucalyptus plantations make significant contributions to the carbon sequestrated in forests and subsequent forest products,as well as offering favourable contributions to forest ecology and environmental protection.And,fourthly,Eucalyptus plantations are important for local livelihoods as they can increase farmers' incomes and benefit rural prosperity.The key to future successful development of Eucalyptus plantations is scientifically sustainable management.We must now revise industry's concept of management from that purely for timber production to management that combines timber production with environmental protection,and move from the traditional sustainable use to more holistically sustainable forest management.At the same time,the following technical measures of sustainable management need to be achieved:(1) planting tree species and varieties properly matched with sites;(2) establishing mixed species plantations involving Eucalyptus with other tree species;(3) scientific management of all vegetation;(4) improving site preparation and planting techniques;and,(5)scientific management of plant diseases and pests.
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NSTL
万方数据
维普
