Sustaining the productivity of planted forests

Abstract

Conversion of natural forests to plantations, particularly in the tropics, has drawn global attention and concern. Moreover, plantation forestry is on the rise, especially in tropical and subtropical regions where growth rates are rapid. Even in the United States, where even-age silviculture is being deemphasized on public land (only about 15 percent of all plantings in recent years), the area in new plantings on all ownership has averaged 1.11 million ha annually for the last decade, ranging from a low of 979 thousand ha in 1993 to the all-time high of 1.37 million ha in 1988 (Moulton, et al. 1996). Most of this is in the southern pine region. Since global and domestic demands for wood products will continue to rise in the 21st century, deemphasis of timber management on public forests and the reclassification of much natural forest to protected status places an unprecedented burden on planted forests on private lands to meet the needs of a wood-demanding public. Pressures will bear particularly on industrial plantations of the South and Pacific Northwest to be more productive than ever. But there is much skepticism that high rates of plantation productivity can be maintained for long periods with repeated cropping. Addressing this criticism requires a definition and understanding of productivity that cuts across all intended uses of plantations.

Citation

Powers, R.F.; Tiarks, A.E.; Burger, J.A.; Carter, M.C. 1996. Sustaining the productivity of planted forests. In: Carter, Mason C., ed. Growing trees in a greener world: industrial forestry in the 21st century; 35th LSU forestry symposium. Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station: 97-134