D4 of short-rotation forestry for 'Potentialitiesdeveloping countries b KlevSeloinbec co nt ieoiCE: Thiscopyright material law may(Title be 17 protected U.S. Code) by KlauIs Steinbeck USA School of Forest Resources. University of Georgia, Athens. GA 30602. of An old forest managemcnt system holds new promise for meeting the fuel. food. and fibre demands an boureoning humanity. Intensively practised coppice forestry adapted to local conditions, can be and a important source notably of fuelwood but also of raw mawr*al for reconstituted wood products possible source of other fuels such as alcohol or gas. meet the energy The increasing scarcity of fuelwood in soeic from adequate to halt erosion or as well as the accelerating use of needs of many countries. Reforestatiol programmes developing countries utilization as an energy alternative in general are cause for should serve multiple conseivation and wood infiltration capacity of concern [1. The Food and Agriculture Organization purposes. Forests enhance the fuelwood soils. therby reducing overland wate'r flow and ha'; p-epared a map of the world-wide the [2] which shows that in 1980 more than 100 erosion. They also restore soil fertility and tilth by situation nutrient human beings living in developing countries addition of organic matter and efficient million on to could not meet their minimum energy needs and cycling. Where agr:rulture is expanding 1.05 billion lived in areas where fuckood was submarginal soils. especially on hilly lands, another or of trees being depleted. This situation was especially acute in combinations of tree and agricultural crops to the sites Asia and Africa. One of the principal findings in the and pasture crops could be less detrimental forestry sector of a global study prepared for the than food crops alone. President of the United States [3] is that 'for the of humankind that depends primarily on 'Coppice' and 'short-rotation forestry' defined one-quarter the major wood for fuel. the outlook is bleak. Needs for Coppice forestry is likely to become fuelwood because it fuelwood will exceed available supplies by about 25 silvicultural system for producing means of cent before the turn of the century.' Deforestation 'is the simplest and most dependable per production and soil erosion are accelerating in many regions: both approaching the maximum average annual species' [4]. uic linked to the demands of a bourgeoning human theoretically attainable from a given the stumps of population for food, fuel. and fibre. "'either receives Coppice refers to sprout regrowth from of most broadleaved appropriate attention from governments because there cut trees which is characteristic of coppice stands are no inexpensive, short-term cures or immediate and a few coniferous species. Yields a root system profits to be derived from tackling either. Both are high because the sprouts grow on to soil water and problems are especially acute in subtropical and with previously estabIshed access reserves which tropical areas where demands are especially high and nutrients and with stored carbohydrate rootstocks, also are partially met by a combination of forest clearing. are cycled into the new growth. The harvests of relatively often followed by conversion to cropland. or by higher called stools. proviC: several for a variety of crop yields on existing lands through increased labour small material of uniform size suitable short as two years are intcn.sity or improved practices of cultivation [31. end uses. Harvesting cycles as stand establishment The worsening fuclwood situation has engendered biolog cally sustainable [5] and further planting or site concern among lending institutions such as the World after harvest is assured without be critical in denuded Bank and the Asian Development Bank; other preparation. These factors can of fuel, fodder, and international organizations such as the FAO and UN; areas where chronic shortages %\ellas national assistance agencies of various fibre persist. as extensively, both European countries. Japan. and the US. Reforestation Coppice forestry can be practised and of few cultural projects with emphasis on artificial regeneration have in the sense of large land areas 19th century Europe initiated. especially in the humid and semi-arid operations. This was common in been stakes, and bark of Africa and Asia. Such reforestation projects when firewood. mineprops. vineyard recions were indemand. from incentives and technical assistance for used in the hide tanning process ranue relatively recent or villages for planting fuclwood plot,, zo Intensive coppice forestry is a individuals inthe late 1960s by establishment of forest plantings on thousands of development. It was originated the of Georgia by governmental forestry agencies. U.S. Forest Service and University hectares called short­ Substantial as some of thcse fuclwood and research workers and is now generally It may involve large or small watershed reforestation programmes arc. they are far rotation forestry. plantings, manuring, and cultivation. Agroforestry combining coppiced tree crops with agricultural crops is alreadys practised Outlook on Agriculture. Volume 12.No. 4. 1883.prm in various spacing configurations to m" promise for the ('p,Pergamon Press. Printed InGreatBItiln) t* . , to some extent. and holds much 00317270183/0401G-05 $03.00. future. Intensively practised coppice forestry is the shade-tolerant, valuable species such as mahogan) main topic of this article. (Swietenia). The fast-growing legume could be Short-rotation forests are plantations of broadleaved coppiced several times while also serving as a nurse trees in which each rootstock occupies an area of 3 crop for the mahogany. square metres or less and which are harvested at Species-screening studies have been established in intervals of less than 10 years. Once planted, the same man) regions of the world, ranging from the dry-zone rootstocks provide several harvests of relatively small of Sri Lanka to the wet-lands of Sweden. Broad­ but uniform raw material. It can be utilized either in leaved species with rapid. juvenile growth rates: the reconstituted wood products such as chipboards, ability to sprout from stump or rootsystem: and good cartons, and paper; or be used as firewood; or growth rates o.. ? variety of sites are being sought. converted into other fuels such as charcoal, alcohols, Other selection criteria include high pest resistance, or gas. In the future, wood may also substitute for high genetic variability, ease of vegetative petroleum as chemical feedstock in the manufacture of propagation, and tolerance of competition in plastics [6]. plantings. Native species with these characteristics In summary, forest resource managers should should be used rather than exotics: unpublished consider short-rotation forestry rather than information often exists in the files of forestry 4igencies conventional silviculture when: which will provide promising leads. Species with these characteristics frequently are the pioneer species 1. A rapid financial return is desired and small, ecological succession. Where no suitable native speciesin uniform stems or the entire above-round portions of for short-rotation the trees can be utilized. forestry can be found. the 2. High biomass yields and 'automatic' regrowth of publication 'Firewood Crops: Shrub and Tree Species plantations are important. for Energy Production* [7] will be a useful guide. 3e(Also see [7a].) Various species in the genera Acacia. 3.A combination of tree crops and food or pasture Albizia, Abnus, Eucalyptus, Gmelim,. and Leucuena crops lead to land conservation and yield increases. have been planted otuside their native ranges with feasiblc4. Diversification and desirable. from a coniferous monoculture is considerableosdrbesces success. Favouring one species over another because of Many of these conditions are met in heavily higher energy c-)ntent per unit weight of wood holds deforested, developing countries where planning little promise. The calorific content of wood averages horizons at the local level are often short and demands about 4800 cal/g and tree species will generally vary for energy wood, small timbers, and newsprint are less than 10 per cent from this value [8. 9]. The species generally strong. to be planted on particular sites should. therefore, be Biomass yields from short-rotation forests depend chosen on the basis of its biomass production on the choice of tree species to be planted, as well as potential. This is easier said than done because as on site quality and interactions between the site and more plantations are being established it becomes the species chosen. Length of harvesting cycles apparent that there are few species that grow well on a (rotations), cultural practices such as chemical and range of sites. Instead, most have rather specific site physical cultivation, irrigation, spacing. and pests also requirements and research to determine their growth affect yields. and yield potential will. of necessity. also be quite site-specific. Choice of tree species for planting Forest trees can provide a variety of non-woody Plantation ebtablishment products, such as nutritious animal fodder; several Broad-leaved trees require better site-preparation and tons edible fruits per hectare; or excellent bee ).asture. longer care after plantir ! than conifers. The site must In addition, the woody biomass produced in short- first be cleared of large vegetation by mechanical rotation plantations also can serve a multiplicity of