Contents - LAC Biosafety

24 Forestry in the tropics
Acacia, Eucalyptus deglupta, Falcataria moluccana, Maesopsis eminii and Neolamarckia
cadamba are now being grown for pulpwood.
Plantations for plywood, matchwood, packing cases and light construction
Plantations of several species which produce light timber have been
raised in different countries to provide wood for manufacture of plywood,
matchsticks, veneers, packing cases and light construction. These include Alstonia
scholaris (India, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Sri Lanka), Bombax malabaricus
(India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka), Falcataria moluccana (Bangladesh, India, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Malawi, Nigeria,
Mexico, Hawaii, Samoa), Neolamarckia cadamba (India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Philippines, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Fiji, Solomon Islands), Populus deltoides
(India, Bangladesh, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Fiji) and Maesopsis eminii
(India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, several countries in Africa, Fiji).
Plantations of multipurpose tree species
Widespread destruction in the tropics of natural forests which once
catered to the needs of the local population for firewood, building materials,
fodder, shade etc. has necessitated tree planting on a large scale to meet social
needs. This has often been promoted by government-sponsored ‘social forestry’
schemes supported by leading agencies like the World Bank and voluntary
non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Some tree species, both native and
exotic, have been grown under such programmes for a variety of purposes. These
trees are often called ‘Multipurpose Tree Species’ (MPTS). The best-known
example is Leucaena leucocephala, native to tropical America, now cultivated very
widely across the tropics for fodder, green manure, fuel, erosion control,
nitrogen fixation etc. Alley cropping of leucaena, with one row of leucaena
between 4–6 rows of food crops in agricultural fields, is common in many
countries. Other popular MPTS include Calliandra callothyrsus (ornamental, fuel,
nitrogen fixing, green manure, erosion control), Casuarina equisetifolia (poles,
erosion control on coastlines, windbreak), Acacia auriculiformis (ornamental,
shade, nitrogen fixing, afforestation of impoverished sites, erosion control, fuel)
and Azadirachta indica (shade, wood, fuel, medicinal/insect repellent, arid zone
afforestation). Locally important tree species which produce edible fruits along
with timber, such as jack (Artocarpus heterophyllus), Tamarindus indica and mango
(Mangifera indica), are often planted.
Plantations for special products
Extensive plantations of some species have been raised in the tropics for
tapping or harvesting special products. These include Hevea brasiliensis to produce