INTRODUCTIONPaper mulberry bark has been used as the raw material to make a form of paper since AD 100 in China (Lewington, 1990). At that time, paper mulberry fibers were needed to write Buddhist scriptures. It is also known that people used handmade mulberry paper as currency (Xiao, 2001). At present, this traditional papermaking exists in many countries and has been developed on an industrial scale. Among the huge range of available materials for papermaking, the bark of paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera and B. kazinoki) is the finest, because it produces a soft, strong paper with excellent texture (Kobayashi, 2001). With a rapid increase in demand for the bark of paper mulberry, large scale harvesting is being carried out with little or no proper management, resulting in the destruction of good growing areas. In an effort to try to correct the problem, paper manufacturers have themselves attempted to grow the tree, but to no avail. In Thailand, paper mulberry stands are distributed all over the country. Because they are mostly grown in protected areas, there are conflicts between villagers and foresters about paper mulberry harvesting. In this study, the growth of paper mulberry was investigated in terms of provenances and species. Growing conditions, such as site and spacing, were also examined to discover a combination that will provide a high and sustainable yield.Of the four species of paper mulberry that were commonly used, Broussonetia kaempferi, B. kursii, B. papyrifera and B. kazinoki, the latter two species are still predominant to this day (Supapornhemin, 1995). These two species are widely distributed in tropical areas, especially riverbanks and forests gaps, because these areas have an intermediate light intensity between open and closed sites, making it easy for pioneer and shade-tolerant species to survive (Hooker, 1885). Silvicultural research is needed in paper mulberry production to ensure the industry's sustainability to benefit growers and their communities. Much of silviculture is concerned with achieving the best match between species and planting site.Furthermore, for some species on some sites, addition of fertilizer is essential for satisfactory growth, as well as intensive management, such as weed control, pruning and thinning (Evans, 1992). The importance of finding a suitable growing site before planting will directly affect the final product, as reported by Richard (1985) that the major harvest product is affected by the availability of light, water and nutrients. A good provenance provides more yield and growth and therefore, the species chosen should first be adapted to the site's climate, soil and biotic environment (Anderson, 1950). Therefore, provenance and species trials were incorporated into this study. The success of a paper mulberry plantation will not only 1) Faculty of Agriculture, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8502, Japan; 2) Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; 3) National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation...

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