Development of Sustainable Forestry Plantations in China: a Review
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Development of sustainable forestry plantations in China: a review John W. Turnbull June 2007 The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) operates as part of Australia’s international development cooperation program, with a mission to achieve more-productive and sustainable agricultural systems, for the benefit of developing countries and Australia. It commissions collaborative research between Australian and developing-country researchers in areas where Australia has special research competence. It also administers Australia’s contribution to the International Agricultural Research Centres. ACIAR seeks to ensure that the outputs of its funded research are adopted by farmers, policymakers, quarantine officers and other beneficiaries. In order to monitor the effects of its projects, ACIAR commissions independent assessments of selected projects. This series reports the results of these independent studies. Communications regarding any aspects of this series should be directed to: The Research Program Manager Policy Linkages and Impact Assessment Program ACIAR GPO Box 1571 Canberra ACT 2601 Australia tel +612 62170500 email <[email protected]> © Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research GPO Box 1571, Canberra ACT 2601 Turnbull, J.W. Development of sustainable forestry plantations in China: a review. Impact Assessment Series Report No. 45, June 2007. This report may be downloaded and printed from <www.aciar.gov.au>. ISSN 1832-1879 Editing and design by Clarus Design Printing by Elect Printing From: Turnbull, J.W. Development of sustainable forestry plantations in China: a review. Impact Assessment Series Report No. 45, June 2007. Foreword The forestry sector in China is a major contributor to ACIAR felt the need to more fully document the story of economic growth. The development of fast-growing, Chinese forestry development, because of its socioeco- high-yielding plantations for wood production has nomic significance. Doing so also helps illustrate how made a significant contribution to this sector, especially collaboration and coordination of a range of research over the past 20–30 years. and development activities are required for success. Research into fast-growing, high-yielding plantation We believe that the story Dr John Turnbull relates in species, many of which are eucalypts from Australia, this interesting report is important and will be useful has been an important part of the Australian Centre for to others undertaking large, complex, research and International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) program development activities. We thank John for his account, in China since the Centre’s inception. and also the many people who collaborated with him to ensure the details are clear and accurate. Three impact assessment studies into this research activity have been commissioned by ACIAR during the past 15 years and, in each case, as more concrete evidence has become available, it has been shown that the returns on investment have been extremely high. Peter Core For development to be as impressive as this aspect Director of Chinese forestry has been, it was crucial for many ACIAR individuals and organisations to work together. Attribution of the benefits from a successful research activity is always difficult, and can be a sensitive issue. While the authors of all ACIAR Impact Assessment Series reports are mindful of this, there is rarely sufficient time to provide a full and detailed description and analysis of the whole activity and all contributions. Development of sustainable forestry plantations in China: a review (IAS 45) — June 2007 3 From: Turnbull, J.W. Development of sustainable forestry plantations in China: a review. Impact Assessment Series Report No. 45, June 2007. Contents Foreword . 3. Abbreviations . 7. Acknowledgments . 8. Summary . 9. Introduction . 1. 2 Background . 1. 3 Overview of China’s forest resources . 1. 3 Trends in consumption and wood processing . 1. 4 China’s policies and their effects on development of the forest plantation sector . 1. 7 Economic reform . 1. 7 Land and forest ownership . 1. 7 Deforestation . 2. 0 Afforestation . 2. 0 Historical development of Chinese eucalypt plantations . 2. 4 Why plant eucalypts in China? . 2. 4 Pre-1949 introductions and planting . 2. 6 Eucalypt planting during the pre-reform period 1950–1978 . 2. 6 Eucalypt planting during the post-reform period 1978–1990 . 3. 0 Developments in research and planting 1990–2006 . 3. 4 Domestication of eucalypts in China . 4. 2 Selection of species and provenances . 4. 3 Tree breeding . 4. 6 Nursery practices . 49. Silvicultural practices . 5. 2 Wood quality . 5. 7 Sustainable management of eucalypt plantations in China . 59. Environmental impacts . 6. 0 Socioeconomic impacts . 6. 2 Development of sustainable forestry plantations in China: a review (IAS 45) — June 2007 5 From: Turnbull, J.W. Development of sustainable forestry plantations in China: a review. Impact Assessment Series Report No. 45, June 2007. Concluding remarks . 6. 6 References . 68. Tables 1 Wood removals from forests in China.................................................................15 2 Changes in ownership of China’s forests ...............................................................18 3 Evolution of tree tenure and marketing systems in non-state forests in south China . 19 4 Types of plantations established in China, 1949–1977 . .21 5 Evolution of eucalypt plantation technology in China from 1978 to 2006 . 32 6 Main eucalypt species planted in China in 1992 and 2004 . .37 7 Average yield gains in Chinese commercial eucalypt plantations .......................................41 8 Growth of introduced eucalypt species relative to Eucalyptus exserta at Dongmen . .44 Figures 1 (a) Eucalyptus globulus in the grounds of the Golden Temple, Kunming, Yunnan; (b) Eucalyptus exserta planted an estimated 100 years ago near a village close to Zhuhai, Guangdong..................27 2 Eucalypt species trial planted 1974 at Leizhou Forestry Bureau, Guangdong ............................29 3 Raising Eucalyptus exserta in the nursery at Leizhou Forestry Bureau in 1980 . .30 4 Intensive site cultivation in a new eucalypt plantation at Leizhou Forestry Bureau in 1980 . 31 5 Eucalypt wood chips being exported from Zhanjiang, Guangdong .....................................38 6 Medium density fibreboard produced from eucalypts at a factory in Zhanjiang, Guangdong . .39 7 Asia Pulp and Paper pulp mill on Hainan Island . .39 8 Paper factory in Guangzhou, Guangdong . .40 9 Clonal planting of a hybrid eucalypt for pulpwood production at Pu Bei County, Qinzhou Prefecture, Guangxi. Planting distance 4 m × 1.25 m. Expected mean annual increment at end of rotation (6 years) is 26 m3/ha/year. .................................................................51 10 Poor growth of Eucalyptus globulus due to nutrient deficiency in plantations at An Lin Forest Bureau, Yunnan. Trees in foreground are unfertilised, trees in background have received phosphorus and boron fertiliser....................................................................................54 11 A fertiliser trial in a clonal planting of Eucalyptus urophylla × E. grandis aged 25 months at Zhenghai State Forest Farm, Guangdong ..............................................................55 12 Litter raked for fuel in a Guangxi eucalypt plantation..................................................65 6 Development of sustainable forestry plantations in China: a review (IAS 45) — June 2007 From: Turnbull, J.W. Development of sustainable forestry plantations in China: a review. Impact Assessment Series Report No. 45, June 2007. Abbreviations ACIAR Australian Centre for International GIFDCP Guangxi Integrated Forestry Agricultural Research Development and Conservation Project AIDAB Australian International Development Assistance Bureau (now AusAID) ITTO International Tropical Timber Organization APP Asia Pulp and Paper MDF medium-density fibreboard AusAID Australian Agency for International Development MOFERT Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade CAF Chinese Academy of Forestry NAP National Afforestation Project CERC China Eucalypt Research Centre R&D research and development CIFOR Center for International Forestry Research RITF Research Institute of Tropical Forestry CPC Communist Party of China SFA State Forest Administration FRDPP Forest Resource Development and Protection Project Development of sustainable forestry plantations in China: a review (IAS 45) — June 2007 7 From: Turnbull, J.W. Development of sustainable forestry plantations in China: a review. Impact Assessment Series Report No. 45, June 2007. Acknowledgments The author thanks the research scientists and forestry Christian Cossalter consultants who provided corrections and constructive Richard Pegg comments on the proposal for this review and on the subsequent draft publication. Contributions of Dr Garth Nikles the following people in China and Australia who John Simpson freely gave their time and provided information are Alan Brown especially appreciated: Suzette Searle Dr Xu Daping Dr Roger Arnold Professor Wang Huoran Stephen Midgley Professor Yang Minsheng Laurelle Tunks Professor Chen Shaoxiong Dr Ross Florence Qi Suxiong Dr Russell Haines Dr Liu Dachang 8 Development of sustainable forestry plantations in China: a review (IAS 45) — June 2007 From: Turnbull, J.W. Development of sustainable forestry plantations in China: a review. Impact Assessment Series Report No. 45,