1.1.1 Definition of a plantation

It is not easy to define the word of “plantation”, because there are many words related to it, such as artificial forest, man-made forest, planted forest, afforestation, reforestation, deforestation. FAO (2001) defines plantation as: “Forest stands established by planting or /and seeding in the process of afforestation or reforestation.” The basic criterion for plantation is artificial regenerated.

Why definition is important? Need to compare forest resource statistics from different sources.

See online APFNet Course 5: Restoration of Degraded Forest Ecosystems & Forest Plantation Development  (http://blogs.ubc.ca/apfnet05/), Module III, Topic 1: What is a forest plantation?

1.1.2 Importance of plantation

People need forest products, ecological conservation, the demand increasing (Table 1.1.2-1).

Natural forests could not meet the demand.

• In the last 150-200 years has net destruction of forest taken place in almost every country. In recent years, the rate of resource depletion has increased sharply in most tropical countries while forest cover is stable or even increasing in many temperate areas. Examples, Haiti, Thailand.
• Difficulty of access to existing natural forest.
• Natural forests conserve biological diversity, store carbon for mitigation of global climate change, protect fragile ecosystems in mountains and dry areas reducing soil erosion and providing clean water.

Selection criteria for timber Plantation:

High productivity: one species, high volume/unit area, cheaper harvest costs. Match species with site conditions for optimum growth

What is fast growth for a plantation? Table 1.1.2-2, Table 1.1.2-3.

Forest Plantation in tropics play a very important role in future world wood supply. They also have great potential to improve the livelihoods of rural communities through providing a range of products and services locally and to meet the international objectives for conservation of biodiversity, protection of the environment and mitigation of climate change.