Present Situation and Prospects for Eucalypt Plantations in China

摘要

The area of eucalypt plantations, mainly Corymbia citriodora (Eucalyptus cilriodora) and E. exserta, increased rapidly in China from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. In the 1980s, more eucalypts were introduced, and provenances of species such as E.urophylla, E. grandis, E. camalchilensis were tested. More recently, research has also been conducted to select species and develop production systems for cold-tolerant eucalypts for use in cool regions of southern China. From a breeding base of over 2000 species, provenances/families, and clones, selected material has been deployed on a large scale to establish fast-growing, high-quality, eucalypt plantations. There are now over 1.54 million ha of eucalypt plantations in China. Since 1990, most plantations have been managed for the production of pulpwood and some for sawn timber production. Eucalypt plantations in China should have good prospects. The Chinese Government has implemented preferential policies, including reducing taxes and increasing investment, to encourage development of short-rotation, industrial timber, eucalypt plantations. Also, larger markets are stimulating local and foreign capital enterprises to actively invest in Chinese eucalypt plantations. For a long period, pulpwood hasbeen the main product, but utilisation for sawn wood and solid timber products is now an important trend. Further research is necessary to select and breed new species, to improve wood quality and cultivation technologies, and to achieve sustainable development of eucalypt plantations in China.