Abstract
This book entitled 'Poplars and Willows: Trees for Society and the Environment' contains twelve chapters. The poplars could equally well be willows, since they are clearly of a single, identified taxon (Chapter 2), selected originally from naturally occurring genetic resources (Chapter 3), but having undergone a process of domestication (Chapter 4) to enhance productivity and perhaps resistance to diseases (Chapter 8) and damaging insects (Chapter 9). The procedures for operationally producing poplar planting material, and for ensuring successful establishment and growth once planted, have been developed, honed and adapted to different regions of the world (Chapter 5). The trees provide shelter, an environmental benefit, to the field crop (Chapter 6). The scientist needs to be aware of the stresses placed on the agroforestry ecosystem by abiotic factors such as drought, salinity and the changing global climate (Chapter 7). The trees in the older plantation in the photo will soon be ready to harvest for a variety of products (Chapter 10) and the person managing this agroforestry system will need to consider the market trends and future outlook for different poplar products (Chapter 11), as well as for the field crops. By its very nature, the scene is one of support for rural livelihoods and sustainable development (Chapter 12).