EUCALYPTUS PLANTATION IN FRANCE FOR BIOMASS PRODUCTION FROM THEORETICAL AREAS TO PROBABLE HECTARES

摘要

In the framework of the VALERBIO project, we studied the potential for biomass production fromShort Rotation Coppice (SRC) in France. Among different possible species, we focussed on eucalyptus which turnsto be an interesting candidate for marginal lands. Frost risk mapping was done by combining an inventory of knownfrost damages and the corresponding meteorological data. Rules explaining the damages were built and subsequently,meteorological data were processed to give the probability of occurrence of these events. The calculations werespatialized in order to map this risk. Chlorosis sensitivity mapping was done by using different pH soil maps andparticularly the European soil database (parent material layer). Crossing the two constraints with different additionalinformation on elevation and slope resulted in a map of suitable areas for eucalyptus, which represents some 11million theoretical hectares covering more particularly the south and west part of France.More probable areas were calculated by refining the theoretical figures with different assumptions: focussing on farmlands only and considering marginal ones, either uncultivated lands or former fallows, where SRC are more likely todevelop, particularly with hardy species like eucalyptus. The final step consisted in setting different scenarios ofmobilization for these marginal lands. While the most optimistic scenario proposed some 600 000 ha, the mostprobable one gives a maximum area cover of some 40 000 ha of eucalyptus, that would still have to be confrontedwith the competition of other energy crops or other energy sources. Despite natural uncertainties in the assumptions,this approach enables to spatialize the possibilities of development of this promising specie for biomass productionand to locate the most suitable and probable regions of development.