The International Commission on Poplars and Other Fast-Growing Trees Sustaining People and the Environment (IPC) [email protected] FAO Rome, Italy Synthesis of Country Progress Reports July 2020 1 Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.............................................................................................................................................3 FOREWORD ...............................................................................................................................................................4 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REPORT ....................................................................................................................................5 I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................7 II. POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK ....................................................................................................................8 III. TECHNICAL INFORMATION ........................................................................................................................ 12 1. TAXONOMY, NOMENCLATURE AND REGISTRATION ..................................................................................... 12 2. DOMESTICATION AND CONSERVATION OF GENETIC RESOURCES .................................................................... 15 2.1 Poplars ......................................................................................................................................................... 17 2.2 Willows ........................................................................................................................................................ 21 2.3 Other fast-growing tree species .................................................................................................................. 22 3. PLANT HEALTH, RESILIENCE TO THREATS AND CLIMATE CHANGE ............................................................... 25 3.1 Biotic factors, including insects, diseases and other animal pests .............................................................. 25 3.2 Abiotic factors, including storms, floods, droughts, pollution and others .................................................. 30 4. SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS, LAND-USE, PRODUCTS AND BIOENERGY ........................................................ 33 4.1 Nursery practices and propagation techniques .......................................................................................... 33 4.2 Planted Forests ............................................................................................................................................ 35 4.3 Naturally regenerating forest ...................................................................................................................... 37 4.4 Agroforestry and trees outside forests ....................................................................................................... 39 5. APPLICATION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE, TECHNOLOGIES AND TECHNIQUES ................................................... 41 5.1 Harvesting of poplars, willows and other fast-growing trees ..................................................................... 41 5.2 Utilization of poplars, willows and other fast-growing trees for various wood products........................... 42 5.3 Utilization of poplars, willows and other fast-growing trees as a renewable source of energy ................. 44 6. ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES ............................................................................................. 46 6.1 Site and landscape improvement ................................................................................................................ 46 6.2 Phyto-remediation of polluted soil and water ............................................................................................ 48 IV. GENERAL INFORMATION ........................................................................................................................... 51 Administration and Operation of the National Poplar Commission or equivalent Organization ..................... 51 Literature ........................................................................................................................................................... 53 Relations with other countries .......................................................................................................................... 53 Innovations not included in other sections ....................................................................................................... 56 Other fast-growing species of interest to member countries ........................................................................... 56 2 Contacts of National Poplar Commissions and the IPC Secretariat .................................................................. 57 V. SUMMARY STATISTICS ................................................................................................................................... 65 Areas .................................................................................................................................................................. 65 Cultivation ......................................................................................................................................................... 65 Wood removals ................................................................................................................................................. 66 Forest products .................................................................................................................................................. 66 Trends and opinions .......................................................................................................................................... 66 ANNEX 1: SUMMARY TABLES BY COUNTRY 2020 ................................................................................................. 72 Total area ........................................................................................................................................................... 72 Area by forest function ...................................................................................................................................... 73 Planted forest area ............................................................................................................................................ 77 Wood removals ................................................................................................................................................. 80 Forest products .................................................................................................................................................. 83 ANNEX 2: COUNTRY TABLES 2020 ......................................................................................................................... 85 AUSTRIA ............................................................................................................................................................. 85 BULGARIA .......................................................................................................................................................... 86 CANADA ............................................................................................................................................................. 87 CHINA................................................................................................................................................................. 88 CROATIA............................................................................................................................................................. 89 EGYPT ................................................................................................................................................................. 90 GERMANY .......................................................................................................................................................... 91 IRAN ................................................................................................................................................................... 92 IRELAND ............................................................................................................................................................. 93 ITALY .................................................................................................................................................................. 94 KOREA ................................................................................................................................................................ 95 NEW ZEALAND ................................................................................................................................................... 96 PORTUGAL ......................................................................................................................................................... 97 SLOVENIA ........................................................................................................................................................... 98 SOUTH AFRICA ..................................................................................................................................................