Expansion, research and development of the eucalyptus in Africa. Wood production, livelihoods and environmental issues : an unlikely reconciliation ? (original) (raw)
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Eucalyptus in Kenya; Impacts on Environment and Society
2016
Eucalyptus trees were introduced to Kenya a little over a century ago. European colonization along with the development of a railway system increased the demand for a fast growing wood source. The expansion of the tree across the fertile lands in Kenya raises concerns about the environmental impact on ecosystems where it has been introduced. These concerns include degraded soils, loss of water resources, co-introduction of ectomycorrhizal species, and allelopathy. Economic benefits to local landowners were also explored as well as the potential for large Eucalyptus woodlots to maximize the sequestration of CO2 from the atmosphere. This was examined through farmer interviews and the collection of data from both Eucalyptus and indigenous forests. The results indicate that the density of Eucalyptus varied by age and species and managed harvest rates could be utilized to maximize carbon content in Eucalyptus to increase carbon sequestration potential of woodlots. In the greenhouse study...
2011
The counter-arguments have included claims that the criticisms are not based on fact or emotional. Research reports show that the concerns are real, but are also equally applicable to other exotic trees. Solutions must be specific to each case and based on accurate appraisal of biological, physical and human factors. In East African countries, where there are huge gaps between the demand and supply of wood as a result of escalating deforestation, the use of fast-growing plantation species such as the eucalypts is inevitable as they are preferred to other species, either introduced or native, because of their fast growth and useful products. Thus, emphasis should be given by extension services and other advisers to supporting land users in selecting the right species for the right site and the desired purpose and in plantation management to minimizing drawbacks and optimizing benefits while continuing the search for alternatives.
Eucalyptus in Ethiopia Risk or Opportunity
2014
The book attempts to clarify the myth, reality, risks, and opportunities that surround the continued "curse-blessing" debate on eucalyptus based empirical evidence but with little technical jargon as possible. Hence, it presents both side of the argument to minimize the drawbacks and maximize the benefits from the species. To this end, several issues on the sound and efficient management with little adverse impact on ecology and/or agriculture are elaborated for its sustained utilization. This is hoped to help policy makers and users make informed decisions. Professor Mesfin Abebe has written extensively in the field of soil science and the environment. His involvement in agriculture, natural resources, and the environment in different ministries, higher learning and research institutions has offered him a closer look into the forestry sector as reflected in this modest work. Dr. Wubalem Taddess has published his studies in several reputed journals for greater visibility of the forestry sector. In addition to his leadership in forestry research, he has been forefront in the organization of many conferences and the edition of the proceedings. Such knowledge and experience has been valuable in the preparation of this publication on eucalyptus in Ethiopia.
Journal of Ecology and The Natural Environment , 2019
This review was made to bring forth the contradicting outlooks from different research findings, challenges on the Eucalyptus species and show the opportunities we have with the tree. Due to the impact of Eucalyptus tree species on ecological health and agricultural productivity, ecologists, policy makers and politicians have had a negative view on this tree species. Hence, attempts are made to remove the tree from the agricultural landscape in some part of Ethiopia. In contrast, the farmers of Ethiopia prefer the fast growing, economically attractive, and the quality wood yields of Eucalyptus tree species. So we need to look for other dimension to coincide the existing contradictions. Eradication of the tree cannot be solution without replacing with suitable tree species for maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance. The tree can continue to supply fuel wood and construction material and thereby retard the rate of deforestation and loss of biodiversity resources of the remnant forests of the country. Collaborative work is crucial to gear efforts towards the establishment of a proper management system for the cultivation of Eucalyptus tree. Appropriate management practices such as species selection, planting site selection, correct site-species matching and efficient utilization can maximize the opportunity obtained from the tree. It is also very important to look for alternative trees species to replace Eucalyptus trees, and further studies are required to test the level of Eucalyptus species impact on specific ecosystem. Also, polices need to achieve a reasonable trade-off between the socioeconomic value and agro-ecological conservation.
Environmental and Socio-economic Implications of Eucalyptus in Ethiopia
Review Article, 2010
Eucalyptus is one of the exotic tree species in Ethiopia. It has been once associated with theEthiopian environment and economy. It is one of the most successful trees; it adapts to a variety of environments. Eucalyptus is often considered to have undesirable ecological qualities such as depletion of soil water and nutrients, aggressive competition for resources with native flora, unsuitability for erosion control, production of allelopathic chemicals that suppress the growth of other plants and provision of inadequate food and habitat for wildlife. On the other hand, Eucalyptus provides multiple environmental and socio-economic benefits. It is useful for provision of wood and other products thereby reducing the pressure on the natural forests, conservation of soil and water, rehabilitation of degraded lands, fostering the regeneration of native woody species, provision of food and habitat for wildlife, drainage of swampy areas, mitigation of climate change and provision of amenity. The benefits of Eucalyptus are far greater than the negative impacts. The negative impacts are mainly because of the poor management rather than its biological characteristics. Eucalyptus has been found to be efficient water user. In fact, it is fast growing and thereby consumes more nutrients from the soil. Applying appropriate silviculture and management on Eucalyptus planting will enhance the utilization of this important tree for maintaining and/or restoring the environment and solving socio-economic problems in Ethiopia and elsewhere. It appears that there are no profound reasons not to continue Eucalyptus planting in Ethiopia.
Eucalyptus Expansion as Relieving and Provocative Tree in Ethiopia
Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International, 2016
Over the last century, Eucalyptus has rapidly expanded across the globe. It has become the most planted tree species. Environmentalists fear this for the perceived negative eco-hydrological impact. Foresters and wood industries support its expansion looking at its socioeconomic benefits. Ethiopia is one of the countries where Eucalyptus dominates forest development gains in the last century. The main purpose of this review is to evaluate the expansion, benefit and challenges of Eucalyptus in Ethiopia. Eucalyptus was introduced to Africa, and Ethiopia, around the end of the 19 th century, in 1890s. Since then it has continued to expand to cover wider geographic areas within Ethiopia: highland and lowland. It is providing multiple purposes, economic and social, for millions of households in urban and rural areas. It has substituted effectively some of the natural forest's functions, principally in wood supply; hence this way it has contributed to reducing pressure and in slowing down deforestation. Yet Eucalyptus sustained blame for ecosystem water and soil nutrient drains, and allelopathic effect to suppress native flora growth. Studies on these aspects of
2010
The fast growth rate of Eucalyptus to provide possible products for the livelihood consumption and for the market has over won the continuing planting of the species irrespective of the policy resistant from the policy makers in Ethiopia. Until the end of the 1990s, the main tree seedling produced in government nurseries was Eucalyptus, but starting from the early 2000s, production of Eucalyptus in government nurseries has been given up. On the contrary, Eucalyptus gives some attention for concern in the context of diversified plantations by smallholder farmers, because owing to its importance to the household livelihood strategy by providing income and wood products for household consumption. With a large proportion of the world population in general, and of developing countries such as Ethiopia in particular, depending on wood for cooking and heating, the economic importance of Eucalyptus is immense. Eucalyptus outputs have significant impacts of change on rural livelihoods. The o...