Forest plantations are seen as a potential alternative to natural forest for timber supply. Leaders in forest plantation development include China, India, the Russian Federation, United States and Japan, which accounted for 65% of planted area in 2000. Other countries with increasing forest plantation development include Malaysia. Initiatives for large-scale forest plantation establishment in Malaysia started with an envisaged production of pulp, then second, an effort to augment timber supply with selected fast-growing species within 15 years, and third, to establish 375,000 ha of commercial forest plantation in stages. The first two initiatives ended up as failures due to shortcomings such as seed viability, mismatched downstream industry to the species planted and logistic unfeasibility. The third initiative looks promising as plantations are owned by the industry with the government providing loans and technical assistance. One industry has already entered its third rotation. Large hectarages of land are an advantage to have harvesting in perpetuity based on seven-year rotations. Choosing the right species that matches industry needs, improved planting materials and correct silvicultural practices are important factors, while having integrated downstream processing is an advantage.

Eucalyptus spp. is an important species in the worldwide quality tropical hardwood sector, which has also gained significance in Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia since the first large plantations established in 2008s. In October 2018, the trial planting of Eucalyptus hybrid (E. grandis x E. urophylla) and Eucalyptus pellita F. Muell was conducted in Hulu Sedili Forest Plantations, Kota Tinggi, Johore a tropical site with year-round high rainfall and humidity. The E. hybrid were formerly raised using tissue culture technique in the laboratory, Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) using the plantlets introduced from Tawau, Sabah. While the E. pellita seedlings were conventionally raised from seeds obtained from Seed Production Areas in Sabah Softwood Bhd, Tawau. After 18 months, it was clear that diameter, height growth and periodic increments of E. hybrid out performed E. pellita in the humid tropical environment. The average diameter at breast height, total height, periodic annual diameter and height increments of E. hybrid were significantly different in comparison with E. pellita. The initial vegetative measurement revealed the growth performance of Eucalyptus hybrid with respect with achieved diameter at breast height and total height was higher as compared with Eucalyptus pellita with good survival rate of greater than 90 percent.

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Klian Intan was formerly an ex-mining land within Rahman Hydraulic Tin Mining areas comprising remaining slime tailings of heterogeneous soil physical and chemical characteristics. A collaboration between Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) and Rahman Hydraulic Tin (RHT) was vital to establish a model plantation for rehabilitation of ex-mining lands. Soil reclamation was done by layering with mineral and topsoil, adding hydrated lime. Furthermore, planting and observing on the survival rates and total heights of Shorea roxburghii. Based on the results, this species showed a survival rate of 97%. In terms of total heights, this species showed an average mean of 2.75 m with periodic height growth increment at 0.94 m. Planting trees in ex-mining areas are very challenging due to degraded conditions, however, based on this study with modified soil conditions, S. roxburghii showed a good response in terms of survival. Silvicultural treatments including manuring at 4 months interval, green pruning up to 5 m height, and selected slashing and climber cuttings continues for at least 5 years period before handing over to RHT. The silvicultural regime must be a continuous effort in supporting the tree growth to develop viable good stands for afforestation in ex-mining lands.