Productivity of Clonal Plantations in Northern India

This paper highlights various factors which determine the productivity of plantations and reviews published literature covering productivity and timber yields of plantations based on genetically improved clones. Well managed clonal Eucalyptus and poplar plantations on good sites can produce high quality wood at rates exceeding 50 m³/ha/year compared to less than 1 m³/ha/year productivity of India's forests. Thus genetically improved clonal planting stock, supported with sound silvicultural management practices and marketing support, can contribute immensely to meeting demand for wood and wood-based products on sustainable basis. Innovative policies for promoting integrated development of technology-based plantations and wood-based industries will also create vast employment opportunities through local value addition, save scarce foreign exchange and indirectly conserve our biodiversityrich forests. This is the only practical way to achieve the stated goal of 33% good tree cover in India.