What is Plantation Wood?

The term "plantation wood" is referring to large crops of harvestable timber. Traditionally, plantations have been large expanses of land that have been set up to grow certain crops such as cotton, tobacco, coffee and sugar cane. The ones that now grow wood are set up to have rapidly growing crops of trees that can be used for logging and with suitable remnants for paper, pulp and fiber. Another name for the product grown with this farming technique is "fast wood."

Forestry specialists have helped to establish these fast wood installations. The goal is to grow a large amount of timber in as short a time as possible. Some proponents argue that this will save the naturally wooded forests, but those against this type of plantation are afraid that these man-made log factories will gradually replace the natural habitat. In other countries such as those on the continent of Asia, some of these installations have already begun to replace natural sites. These Asian locales grow high volume amounts of teak, rubber trees and certain types of palm trees. Christmas trees farms, which grow varieties of evergreens, have been practicing this technique for years.

One of the ways that the trees are growing so quickly is that the scientific community has been able to genetically engineer them. There are definitely some pros and cons to this tactic. The pros include the fact that we are able to harvest lumber quickly and from sources that were planted for this specific reason. It is beneficial to companies that make wooden products to have such a ready source at a lower cost. If this lower price is passed on to the consumers, this method is an economic benefit for them, as well. Genetic engineering has not only been able to institute rapid growth, it has enabled the species to resist problems such as disease and infestations by detrimental insects. One of the possible downsides of genetic engineering is that it may disturb the natural habitats and species which have been established for generations.

Will these fast wood plantations reduce humanity's need to strip the natural lands in order to fulfill its logging quotas? Some experts claim that this is their goal. The proponents state that even if land is cleared to make way for these developments, less land will be needed since the growth and harvest cycle is so much faster. 
Can plantation wood save our forests while offering up a ready source of timber? Many scientists, business persons and forestry experts seem to think so.