A review of the suitability of eucalypts for short rotation forestry for energy in the UK

Leslie, Andrew ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6327-1711 , Mencuccini, Maurizio, Perks, Mike and Wilson, Edward (2019) A review of the suitability of eucalypts for short rotation forestry for energy in the UK. New Forests, 51 (1). pp. 1-19.

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Abstract

Eucalyptus has been identified as a genus with potential for short rotation forestry in the UK. This article assesses the suitability of Eucalyptus for biomass production. The first part of the article compares Eucalyptus nitens and Eucalyptus gunnii against short rotation forestry (SRF) species proposed by Hardcastle (2006), while the second part discusses limitations to the growing of eucalypts in the UK and how they may be overcome. Eucalypts compare favourably with other tree species in the UK in terms of rapid growth (up to 30 m3 ha-1 y-1) over short rotations of ten to fifteen years. The only genus that is potentially as productive in the UK is Nothofagus. Furthermore, most species will readily coppice, enabling regeneration after damage and avoiding the costs of replanting. The wood characteristics compare positively with other SRF species, exhibiting a moderate wood density, but limitations are a relatively high moisture and chlorine content. Many of the SRF species listed in Hardcastle (2006) are now damaged or under threat from damage by exotic pests or diseases. Eucalypts are currently relatively free from such damage. It is cold temperatures that most limits the use of eucalypts in the UK. Eucalypts, particularly when young are vulnerable to damage from cold weather events, particularly when temperatures drop rapidly. However, the risk can be reduced by planting appropriate species and provenances, facilitating rapid growth as smaller trees are more vulnerable and by focusing on species that coppice following damage.

Item Type:	Article
Journal / Publication Title:	New Forests
Publisher:	Springer Verlag
ISSN:	1573-5095
Departments:	Academic Departments > Science, Natural Resources & Outdoor Studies (SNROS) > Forestry and Conservation
Depositing User:	Anna Lupton
Date Deposited:	02 Apr 2019 09:57
Last Modified:	13 Jan 2024 08:35
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/4603

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