[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

Summary/Use of Eucalyptus in Reforestation Projects (fwd)



Permies,
   Eucalyptus ain't hardy in most of the U.S. temperate
zone, but in many parts of the world the question arises as 
to whether eucalyptus is appropriate in a particular permaculture 
design.  Here's some insights on the advantages and disadvantages of
eucalyptus FYI from Devel-L. 
   

Forwarded message:
> From UAFSYSB.UARK.EDU!LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU!owner-devel-l Fri Feb  3 21:54:34 1995
> X-Sender: m940219m@sunspot.eds.ecip.nagoya-u.ac.jp
> X-Mailer: Eudora-J(1.3.3J7)
> Mime-Version: 1.0
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-2022-jp
> Message-ID:  <9502040326.AA25619@sunspot.eds.ecip.nagoya-u.ac.jp>
> Date:         Sat, 4 Feb 1995 12:30:49 +0900
> Reply-To:     Ana Paula <m940219m@EDS.ECIP.NAGOYA-U.AC.JP>
> Sender:       Technology Transfer in International Development
>               <DEVEL-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU>
> From:         Ana Paula <m940219m@EDS.ECIP.NAGOYA-U.AC.JP>
> Subject:      Summary/Use of Eucalyptus in Reforestation Projects
> X-To:         DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
> To:           Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L
>               <DEVEL-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU>
> 
> Introduction
> 
> The number of answers received was 33.  Among the messages received, many
> demonstrated interest in reading a summary. Some people also  demonstrated
> interest in knowing who else is working with this topic.  Therefore the
> information received was structured into 7 items and a number of opinions
> are reproduced in the text.
> 
> Please accept  my  apologies for  not  being able to mention the
> institutional affiliations of all those cited in the text.  Unfortunately
> many of those who sent the messages did not mention their institutions.
> Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience caused.
> 
> Please notice that this discussion was proposed to the members of
> ENVIRONMENT IN LATIN AMERICA NETWORK (ELAN) and TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER IN
> DEVELOPMENT (DEVEL-L). This summary is being sent to both lists.  Sorry for
> the inconvenience of cross-posting if you subscribe to both lists.
> 
> Respecting the privacy of all the electronic addresses received, it was
> decided not to mention them in the text. Considering that all those cited
> probably subscribe one of the lists it is believed that all of them can be
> reached through the lists ELAN or DEVEL-L.
> 
> I was also asked to give comments about our view now; compared to before
> the question was posted in the Internet. Thus it is worthy acknowledging on
> behalf of my study group the educational validity of being able to have
> such a discussion through the list.  Since we do not have a background in
> areas related to the topic, the messages honestly achieved the purpose of
> educating us and incited our curiosity to learn more.
> 
> Finally, I would like to acknowledge the special contribution of the
> Professors JoAnn Jaffe, Mong-Shing Sim and Gebrekiduce Mekonnen for their
> kindly comments when examining this summary before being posted to the list
> in order to certify the quality of the same.  Professor Gene Wengert was
> also very kind in forwarding my inquiry to other institutions and
> contacting professionals in the area.
> 
> Thanks very much indeed to all those who contributed to this work.
> Ana Paula Lordello
> 
> ____________________________________________________________
> 
> 
> SUMMARY OF IDEAS - REFORESTATION WITH EUCALYPTUS
> 
> The question proposed was:
> "WHICH ARE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
> OF THE USE OF EUCALYPTUS IN REFORESTATION PROJECTS"
> 
> STRUCTURE OF THIS SUMMARY:
> 1. Reexamining the discussion's proposal.
> 2. Reforestation for commercial purposes.
> 3. Reforestation for social forestry purposes.
> 4. Scientific Information on Reforestation
> 5. Relate of people's experiences with reforestation projects and
> Eucalyptus (Africa, Asia, Latin America, USA) and scientific information
> 6. Acknowledgment
> 7. Scholars researching the topic
> 8. Suggested Bibliography
> 
> 
> 
> 1. REEXAMINING THE DISCUSSION'S PROPOSAL
> 
> Prof. Gebrekiduce Mekonnen, from Ottawa, Canada:
> observes that the point of the discussion is wrong.
> It should be: "Which needs does eucalyptus meet or does not meet" or "Which
> qualities make eucalyptus more or less attractive to plant in an area."
> 
> Dante Mossi, from Honduras, is a student from Vanderbilt University.  He
> adds that the point of the discussion should be centered more on the demand
> side of the projects. (Thus one can only tell the advantages and
> disadvantages observing the purpose of the project.)
> 
> Prof. Gebrekiduce Mekonnen highlights the two basic objectives of a
> reforestation projects:
> 1) Commercial purposes (the market needs will dictate the choice for which
> species to plant)
> 2) Social forestry purposes (the use of eucalyptus will be right or wrong
> depending on the long term and short term needs of the site and the local
> community).
> 
> 
> 2. REFORESTATION  FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES
> 
> Prof. Bob Schee sent an example of the advantages and disadvantages from a
> commercial viewpoint:
> 1) advantages:
> - some species of eucalyptus are extreme combustible
> - the tree has a high heat generating capacity
> (thus it can be used as a source for urban fireplaces, saving the native
> oak woodlands.  Because of these qualities, eucalyptus is increasingly
> being sought and used as wood for fireplaces in California).
> 
> 2) disadvantages:
> - because of its extreme combustibility and its high heat generating
> capacity, if planted in dry regions can provoke fire. (Example:  the
> firestorm in the East San Francisco bay hills a few years ago was fueled
> greatly by eucalyptus.)
> 
> Professor Axel Ringe elucidates some points to ponder about short and long
> term goals : "the problem of eucalyptus grown outside of its native habitat
> is that by doing so you create a biological desert.  The only animals
> capable of using eucalyptus "products" are koalas.  The fast growth of the
> trees ensures that other plants are out competed and die off.  This may be
> advantageous to the economic interests looking at the short-term
> profitability of the land, but is extremely disadvantageous to long-term
> sustainability and habitability of the land, both to the native flora and
> fauna and to the people of the area."
> 
> 
> 
> 3. REFORESTATION FOR SOCIAL FORESTRY PURPOSES
> 
> Prof. Kerry Miller explains that reforestation programmes using eucalyptus
> take the risk of interrupting the forage of local people who depended
> heavily on the native environment. His point of view is that "a eucalyptus
> monoculture in particular makes sense only from a very specific,
> exploitationist point of view."
> 
> Professor Peter Neitlich (Department of Botany, Oregon State University)
> was a reforestation volunteer and trainer for Peace Corps in West Africa
> (Niger) from 1987-1991. He observes that "reforestation efforts should
> attempt to be synonymous with natural community restoration."
> 
> Professor Dhon Sewatarmra, from Thailand, is now at George Washington
> University, in the area of International Development/Anthropology.  He
> amended that when dealing with reforestation with eucalyptus, it is
> important to be aware of its impacts on human and environment
> (biodiversity), which are greater and more difficult to deal with in the
> long run.
> 
> Prof. Dhon Sewatarmra also worked in development fields with the UN, PACT
> (US. NGO) and some German groups covering Southeast and South Asia.  He
> pictures the issue of social reforestation: "in Thailand eucalyptus is
> quite an issue of controversy.  Eucalyptus is not completely bad... yes, it
> does grow well in Australia and perhaps some part of the world, however,
> not in the rain forest. The social issues here are how people in that are
> live on.  Food, medicine, firewood and handicraft work are the sources of
> living, which only the rain forest can provide.  It is true that some of
> the eucalyptus plantation project would occupy the "degraded" land.
> However, this is not a good excuse to grow eucalyptus.  Instead, the
> degraded land deserves a revitalized program such as the organic
> development and of course it takes time (as well as it takes time to be
> degraded)."
> 
> 
> 
> 4. SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION ON REFORESTATION
> 
> Prof. Kerry Miller and Prof. Dhon Sewatarmra point out the danger of
> replacing an ecosystem with a monoculture.
> 
> The topic is summarized by Professor Tom Ashwood, from the Environmental
> Sciences Division of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee, USA:
> "Reforestation with any single species is less than desirable for at least
> three reasons:
> (1) monocultures (single species plantings) offer much poorer habitat for
> other species of plants and animals because of a lack of diversity;
> (2) monocultures do not provide for development of soils the way a more
> diverse reforestation scheme would;
> (3) if a disease strikes a monoculture, most or all of the plants will be
> lost, whereas in a diverse forest, some plants will survive (this is true
> for parasites as well as disease)."
> 
> Prof. Tom Ashwood concludes by saying that "a reforestation projection will
> benefit from careful planning using multiple species that are chosen to
> match the local climate, hydrology, and especially soil condition."
> 
> 
> 
> 5. RELATE OF PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCES WITH REFORESTATION PROJECTS WITH
> EUCALYPTUS (AND SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION)
> 
> 
> 
> AFRICA
> 
> 
> NIGER
> During the time Professor Peter Neitlich worked as a volunteer in
> reforestation projects in West Africa, eucalyptus were used for
> reforestation but he observed good reasons why these species should not be
> used. His experience there enables him to conclude that "reforestation
> efforts should attempt to be synonymous with natural community restoration"
> His explanation is as follows:
> 
> "1. Eucalyptus is native only in Australia.  Elsewhere it is exotic.
> Planting of Eucalyptus offers little benefit to the following groups which
> WOULD benefit from native species:
> a. animal needing forage
> b. epiphytes
> c. insect populations which form the basis of avian and other food webs.
> 
> 2. Eucalyptus has allopathic effects on native plants (i.e., it chemically
> inhibits their germination, establishment, growth etc.).  Areas planted in
> Eucalyptus tend to be sterile and devoid of understory forbes or shrubs.
> Eucalyptus planted as windbreaks even had deleterious effects on mango and
> citrus orchards in its vicinity.
> 
> 3. While some species of Eucalyptus were successful in arid areas which
> defied several rounds of reforestation efforts, its planting should
> generally be avoided.  Even where native trees could not be reestablished
> because of soil erosion/degradation/formation of laterite hardpans, we
> usually succeeded in reestablishing native grasses and shrubs.  Over time,
> these areas will succeed to forests again.  To my mind, it is hasty and
> unwise to introduce exotic species unless pressed by the most dire
> necessity."
> 
> 
> SENEGAL
> Professor Bob Youngs,  from Virginia Technology, Blacksburg, VA., USA
> explains that "we have used eucalyptus, especially E.camaldulensis
> extensively in reforestation in Senegal without apparent environmental
> damage.  It grows rapidly, and therefore uses large amounts of moisture and
> nutrients.  It can quickly provide protection from wind and sun for crops
> and animals in agroforestry situations, in addition to providing fuelwood,
> poles, and other wood materials."
> 
> 
> SOUTH AFRICA
> Professor Gordon Freer, from the University of the Witwatersrand,
> Johannesburg, South Africa, has read a number of African reforestation
> programmes that use the Eucalyptus (or Blue gum) to replant forests and
> stop soil erosion, and he concludes that: "A number of others use
> indigenous trees but there seems to have been no major problems from using
> the Australian import.  Just as a matter of interest it was imported into
> South Africa initially as a raw material for use as supports in the mining
> industry in the late 1800s."
> 
> 
> 
> SOUTHEAST ASIA
> 
> 
> SINGAPORE
> Professor Mong-Shing Sim, from Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore, has
> participated in many reforestation programmes in Southeast Asia.  He
> explains that:
> 
> "1. Most, if not all, Eucalyptus growth are very variable.  Variable in
> terms of germination, growth rate, and true-to-type (especially the hybrid
> Eucalyptus).
> 
> 2. In South-east Asia , most species of Eucalyptus are not suitable because
> they do not form canopy quick enough to reduce competition with native
> grass (known in Malaysia as "lalang" and Indonesia as "alang alang").  The
> scientific name is Imperata cylindrica.  Please note that this species of
> grass is ubiquitous in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand.
> This has led to many eucalyptus plantation with high mortality.
> 
> 3. Most species of Eucalyptus do not grow well because they show poor
> adaptation to other climatic conditions besides their own.  For example,
> the native Eucalyptus urophylla in Indonesia (Irian Jaya) can not adapt to
> the change in environmental condition when planted in Sumatra, Indonesia.
> 
> 4.  Of course, the well known problem with eucalyptus is soil degradation
> and toxicity to other plants.
> 
> With all the above factors, reforestation companies tend to be more
> cautions when planting Eucalyptus.  Hence, many provenance trials are
> conducted to evaluate the species' or hybrid's adaptability.
> 
> In South-east Asia, Acacia sp. is still the most popular because of their
> wide adaptability and uniformity."
> 
> 
> 
> THAILAND
> Prof. Dhon Sewatarmra explains that in his country "some eucalyptus
> companies promote the income opportunity for the people, but this is hardly
> to substitute what they could have gained from developing a social (or
> community) forestry and applying the indigenous wisdom (this is peculiar to
> each location)."
> 
> He interprets the topic from an ethical perspective: "There are some worse
> cases of the eucalyptus  (and paper) companies which exploit the villagers
> with fraud agreements, or deceitful tactics in paying back, and so on.
> Moreover, the way of obtaining land for the eucalyptus plantation is worth
> discuss.  There are cases of corruption to earn the land title or the
> concessions in Thailand and Southeast Asia.  The problems could emerge from
> the land at the boundaries of natural parks, or the century-occupied land
> by villagers without the title.  Normally, once the concession is awarded,
> the villagers who have lived on the land (even for generations) will be
> removed as the concessionaire has the ownership.  Then, who does really
> benefit? ...not the villagers!!"
> 
> 
> 
> LATIN AMERICA
> 
> 
> BRAZIL
> Helena Kobayashi, a student from the Graduate School of International
> Development, Yokohama National University, points out the problem of the
> over adaptation of the eucalyptus: "If it did not exist in the natural
> vegetation, and if it suits too well the local conditions, eucalyptus can
> grow exponentially, to the extent that man looses control over its growth.
> 
> Professor Hernani Chaves, from the Department of Geology and Geophysics,
> State University of Rio de Janeiro, criticizes the use of eucalyptus in
> reforestation in the central part of Brazil, saying that other species
> would be more adequate.
> 
> 
> GUATEMALA
> Prof.  Mirna Carranza explains that currently there is a reforestation
> project using Eucalyptus in Guatemala for commercial purposes.  The company
> that is responsible for the project utilizes the trees as fuel wood.  The
> species planted are Camandulensis and Citiodora.  The project is being
> extended to the Eastern Region of the country (which is very dry).  She
> advises that more information can be obtained from CATIE, Turrialba, Costa
> Rica.
> 
> 
> HAITI
> Professor JoAnn Jaffe worked on an agricultural development/soil
> conservation/agroforestry project in Haiti called Proje Sove Te, as a
> social scientist and farming systems research specialist.  She emphasizes
> that her comments reflects what peasants and others told her about  their
> experience with eucalyptus: "Evidently, the presence of eucalyptus inhibits
> the growth of agricultural crops, not just due to shading, but because it
> is allophatic. It is considered to harm crops even after it is harvested.
> As (agro)forestry species were concerned, participants preferred species
> that had personal or local uses - prosopis which can be coppiced and used
> for charcoal, some varieties of leucema that can be used as animal feed,
> neem which can be used to help protect crops during storage and as an
> insecticide tec.  They also liked some of the other fast growing species
> that could be used as building poles, or had other construction uses.
> These trees may indeed be more important and of higher value to peasants
> than those that end up in international markets as pulp."
> 
> 
> NICARAGUA
> Professor Andrew Davis describes the Nicaraguan case as follows:  "In
> Nicaragua the policy of planting eucalyptus has survived for the past 50
> years despite all changes of government, civil war and revolution.  It
> makes a good shelter bet, grows very quickly and makes excellent firewood.
> However, the tree has disadvantages.  It's fallen leaves  do not rot away
> very easily, very little will grow beneath the trees (because of the fallen
> leaves I believe not because of 'poisoning' per se) and the timber is not
> very good for structural or joinery work of any sophistication.  The irony
> is that Nicaragua's west coast has a very large number of indigenous tree
> species that have all the good characteristics that eucalyptus has and
> fewer drawbacks - the irony is doubled because Nicaragua "exports" seeds of
> both west coast and east coast (rain forest) species to several countries,
> including Australia!"
> 
> "My feeling is that eucalyptus should not be banned from aforestation
> projects but it should only be used if suitable species are "not" available
> locally.  For many projects I am sure that eucalyptus spp. would not come
> very high on the list of species-with-desired-characteristics."
> 
> He also stresses that his view is emphatically "not" that 'local is best' -
> just that 'local' should be assessed fully first.
> 
> 
> UNITED STATES
> 
> OREGON
> Dr. Wm. H. Emmingham, from the Department of Forest Science, Oregon State
> University, explains that planting Eucalyptus in Oregon, even in the
> warmest part of the state is very risky.  "Our occasional winter cold
> spells have killed most all the eucalyptus species that have been planted
> here.  Having seen it planted and thrive in warmer climates, I am skeptical
> that it actually harms the site in some way.  Of course, it may take over
> and create special conditions - e.g.. deep litter - that are either
> extremely flammable, or change the composition of the decomposer community.
>  If either of those conditions could be defined as harmful, I suppose one
> could argue the case."
> 
> 
> 6. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
> 
> Besides the persons cited in this text, it is also important  to
> acknowledge the contributions of the following:
> Ÿ       Scott Campbell, Ph.D., Crop Management Information Specialist, Dept.
> of Agronomy and Soil Sci., University of Hawaii at Manoa.
> Ÿ       David Barkin
> Ÿ       Foad (Frank) Shodjai
> Ÿ       Stephanie G.
> Ÿ       Martin J Scurrah, Spanish Department and Latin American Studies Prog
> ram, Flinders University of South Australia.
> Ÿ       Prof. Dorceta Taylor
> Ÿ       Professor Carol Giesecke, Cooperative Extension, University of Maine
> , Orono, ME.
> Ÿ       Prof. D Pena
> Ÿ       Professor Gene Wengert,  Extension Specialist in Wood Processing, De
> partment of Forestry, University of Wiscosin-Madison, Madison, WI.
> Ÿ       Professor William G. Hubbard, Southern Region Extension Forester, Co
> operative Extension Service, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA.
> 
> 
> 7. SCHOLARS RESEARCHING THE TOPIC
> 
> Besides the scholars cited above in this text , the following are also
> working with the topic:
> 
> Dr. Patricia Marchak
> Professor of Sociology and  Dean of the Faculty of Arts,
> University of British Columbia (area of research: eucalyptus - including
> its political economy, the effect of cloning and monoculturing; research of
> several sites in the Third World)
> 
> Dr. Donald Rockwood, University of Florida. (has done research on Eucalyptus)
> 
> 
> 8. SUGGESTED  BIBLIOGRAPHY
> 
> "Eucalyptus: Curse or Cure?" , published by the Australian Centre for
> International Research.
> 
> "Eucalyptus: The blessings of a damned tree" in Envio, Universidad
> Centroamericana, Managua, Nicaragua, volume 13, number 160, November 1994:
> 37 - 41
> 
> Shiva, Vandana.  Staying Alive: Women, Ecology and Development. Zed Books,
> London.
> 
> _____________. The Violence of the Green Revolution.  Zed Books LTD,,  London.
> 
> ______________. Monocultures of the Mind.  Zed Books, London, 1993. (This
> book is also published by Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey and Penang,
> Malaysia.  ISBN: 1-85649-217-6 (Hardback) and ISBN: 1-85649-218-4
> (Paperback).
> 
> Webb et al., Guide to Species Selection for Tropical and Subtropical
> Plantations.  University of Oxford Press, Tropical Forestry Papers, N. 15,
> 1984.
> 
> 
> (END)
>