Plantation vision: potentials, challenges and policy options for global industrial forest plantation development

Abstract

Expansion of global industrial forest plantations, i.e. intensively managed productive plantations is evident due to the prevailing demand and supply drivers. Forest plantations alone will not be sufficient for meeting the growing industrial roundwood demand. Natural and semi-natural forests in boreal and temperate zones will maintain their important role as the raw material source. The supply from these forests, however, is not likely to increase from the current level due to the constraints related to logistics, profitability and ownership structure. Moreover, sustainable management of tropical natural forests will not result in any increase of roundwood supply. Therefore, developing the global industrial forest plantations sustainably will be crucial to meeting increasing wood demand in the long term. Sustainable development of plantations is likely to face a number of economic, environmental and social challenges, and requires strong measures from the key stakeholders such as governments, strategic and financial investors.Vision des plantations: potentiels, défis, et options de politiques pour le développement de la plantation industrielle globale des forêts S.K. BARUA, P. LEHTONEN et T. PAHKASALO La croissance des plantations industrielles globales de forêts, c.a.d. des plantations de production gerées intensivement, est évidente du fait des pressions de l'offre et de la demande. Les plantations forestières seules ne vont pas être suffisantes pour faire face à la demande industrielle croissante de bois rond. Les forêts naturelles et semi-naturelles dans les zones tempérées et boréales vont maintenir leur rôle important de source principale du matériel brut. Cependant, la production de ces forêts ne va probablement pas augmenter du fait des contraintes liées à la logistique, au profit et às la structure des propriétés. De plus, la gestion durable des forêts naturelles tropicales ne va pas résulter en un accroissement de la production de bois rond. Par conséquent, le développement durable des plantations industrielles forestières va être crucial pour pourvoir à long terme à la demande croissante de bois. Le développement durable des plantations va très probablement faire face à un nombre de défis économiques, environnementaux et sociaux, et nécessite que des mesures fermes soient prise par les principales parties prenantes tels que les gouvernements et les investisseurs financiers stratégiques.Una visión sobre plantaciones: potencial, retos y opciones de políticas públicas para el desarrollo global de plantaciones forestales con las que abastecer la industria S.K. BARUA, P. LEHTONEN y T. PAHKASALO La expansión global de las plantaciones forestales para abastecer la industria, es decir, de las plantaciones productivas bajo un manejo intensivo, es evidente si atendemos a los aspectos preponderantes que impulsan la oferta y la demanda. Las plantaciones forestales no serán suficientes, por sí solas, para satisfacer la creciente demanda de madera en rollo de uso industrial. Los bosques naturales y semi-naturales de...

On the high road to future forest sector competitiveness

“…The results show that production capacity and market size are the most influential factors of the development of planted forest area development across studied countries in OECD and non-OECD regions based on the data from 1990-2010. This result aligns with previous arguments that international competitiveness is intrinsically related to the increased global demand for wood fibre, availability and dynamics of forest resources (Carle & Holmgren 2008;Hetemäki et al 2013;Barua et al 2014). …”

“…The area of planted forests has increased concurrently with an increase in global demand for fiber, fuel, and energy (Barua et al 2014). The area of these forests currently accounts for 7% of the total 3.9-Mha global forest area (FRA 2015).…”

“…However, it is estimated that ca. one third of the total global industrial wood demand is fulfilled by wood originating from plantation forests, although large geographical differences exist (Barua et al 2014).…”

Examining timberland ownership and control strategies in the global forest sector

“…This phenomenon is becoming evident in the global forest products sector where firms are expanding their supply sources to industrial semi-natural forests and fast-growing plantations (Barua et al, 2014). In recent years, more and more firms have been acquiring large-scale lands for securing access to resources (see, e.g., Deininger et al, 2011).…”

“…In recent years, more and more firms have been acquiring large-scale lands for securing access to resources (see, e.g., Deininger et al, 2011). Industrial ownership and control of timberland -a form of backward vertical integration -is becoming an increasingly interesting study area in the global forest sector as the competition for arable land to meet demands for food, fiber, energy and ecosystem services further intensifies (Evans et al, 2012;Barua et al, 2014).…”