The future of planted forests

Abstract

Although planted forests have produced forest products for centuries, the past 4-5 decades has seen an increase in diversity of species, areas planted, growth rates, harvest yields, forest products and the acknowledgement of a wide range of ecosystem services. This paper highlights the potential role of planted forests towards the mid-21 st Century through changing conditions including climate, indigenous forest resources, land availability, socio economic and environmental conditions, innovative forest and forest industries technologies, market demands for sustainability and legality and new innovations in green growth economies. Lessons learned from the past will assist in determining the issues, opportunities, and challenges facing the future of planted forests.