Author(s):

Ravikumar Hoogar, Siddu Malakannavar and HT Sujatha

Abstract: Eucalyptus is one of the first forest species largely cultivated throughout the world. No other tree genus except Eucalyptus has ever been so widely propagated throughout the world since it contains remarkably wide range of tree species in regard to adaptation to site, types of management systems and multipurpose uses. More than 700 eucalyptus species are mostly native to Australia, all with great environmental value; 37 of these species are of interest for the forest industry while only 15 are used for commercial purpose. Eucalyptus can grow in a wide variety of soil conditions but requires deep, fertile, well-drained loamy soil with adequate moisture for best growth. Eucalyptus was given immense importance in large-scale afforestation especially in social forestry and agro- forestry programmes during seventies and early eighties. Raising of eucalyptus on field boundaries under different patterns of agro- forestry had been a common practice adopted by the farmers. The small farmers along with activist groups all over the country vis-à-vis environmentalists started raising alarm against the expansion of eucalyptus monoculture in the arid and semi-arid regions. Today eucalyptus is spread over more than 22 million hectares around the world (to which we would have to add over 11 million hectares of native eucalyptus woodland in Australia), which represent 13.4 per cent of global forest plantations. However, it is estimated that only 13 million hectares of these plantations are really of interest for industrial production. Eucalyptus plantations with industrial productivity account for 59 per cent of eucalyptus forests.

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