Forests and 'fast wood'

What is fast wood?

The world's natural forests cannot sustainably meet the soaring global demand for timber products under current forest management practices. One solution put forward is to establish more timber plantations to produce so-called 'fast wood'. There are now approximately 10 million hectares of fast-wood plantations worldwide. Each year around one million hectares of land is converted to fast-wood forests. This trend is likely to continue for the foreseeable future, and is increasing in both developed and developing countries.

There are many different types of plantations and they are established for a variety of reasons. Some provide shelter, shade and fodder for livestock; others fuelwood for households, and timber for furniture and the construction industry. Sometimes they are established for the benefit of wildlife, or as a recreational resource. Plantations may even provide a valuable service to urban populations, particularly in arid zones, by absorbing storm and sewage water.

The sole purpose of 'fast-wood' plantations, in contrast, is to produce large volumes of small-diameter logs at competitive prices as quickly as possible. Although fast-wood plantations produce a range of products, most have just one function. Some supply wood to make panel products and reconstituted boards. Some supply charcoal. A few provide sawn logs. And most important of all, fast-wood plantations supply pulpwood, the raw material for the paper industry.

Their impact and value

Growing fast wood can be a very efficient way of producing timber and pulpwood, and fast-wood plantations can be a profitable investment, both for the companies involved and for society as a whole. However, the industry and government decision makers often underestimate the damage done by ill-considered development of fast-wood forestry. There are cases where fast-wood plantations have replaced habitats rich in biodiversity. In other situations they have reduced annual water yields, leaving less water available to other users.

As a general rule, the impact of plantations on the environment will be a function of what they replace. While the establishment of a fast-wood plantation on already deforested land may have less impact on biodiversity, the same cannot be said for a plantation established on primary forest deliberately cleared for the purpose. Similarly, where there is abundant rainfall the effect of fast-wood plantations on water yields may be insignificant.

Many claim that fast-wood plantations take pressure off natural forests and thus help to 'assist in redressing biodiversity losses in natural forests'. This claim is highly debatable. It may be true for a small number of countries, such as New Zealand, but there is little evidence to suggest fast-wood plantations have taken pressure off natural forests elsewhere.

In Indonesia for example, the timber and pulp industry has grown so rapidly that managed plantations currently fulfill less than 50 percent of the industry's raw material requirements. The rest continues to be sourced from natural forest areas. In fact, the situation is worsening because pulp mills develop their capacity at a faster pace than plantations expand.

In Southeast Asia and other tropical regions, competition for land is fierce. Land that companies want for fast-growing industrial plantations is often the same land that villagers depend on for small-scale farming and other uses. As a result, disputes arise over land ownership and access. Meanwhile, companies claim that the plantations provide local employment, boost the economy and earn valuable foreign exchange.

The truth with social issues as well as with the impact on the environment, is that fast-wood forestry is neither inherently good nor inherently bad. In some situations fast-wood plantations are undesirable. In other situations they can yield benefits not just for the economy, but for the environment and local communities.

CIFOR's role

CIFOR is against the conversion of natural forest into fast-wood plantations. However, it is investigating the conditions necessary for long-term sustainability of existing plantations. This involves developing methods that will help different stakeholders reconcile their interests, devising acceptable plans for plantation development and identifying how all of the groups involved in plantation development can best benefit. These stakeholders include governments, conservation groups and others seeking an ecologically sound alternative to the degradation of natural forests. They also include local communities who want a share of the benefits to improve their socio-economic conditions, and companies seeking a stable supply of wood.

CIFOR's research is helping forest stakeholder better understand the processes that control long-term plantation productivity. Its research is also measuring the impact of selected management practices on productivity. This will provide the basis for sustainable management options.