Short  Description  Of  Projects

Eucalyptus Plantation Is It

Ethically Justified?

Submitted By:                    

                                      Ashwani Kumar Dikshit (92054)

                                                Prashant Agarwal (92182)

                                                Pravesh Johri (92187)

Project Guide:                Dr. Madhav      

Course Instructor:            Dr. Amit Ray

Introduction:

The question of eucalyptus plantations is one that arouses strong feelings both for and against; and the arguments used by both the supporters and the opponents have often been based on more on prejudice than on balanced considerations of the facts. The genus has been a popular choice for introduction, especially in the warmer parts of the world, because of its rapid growth and the wide range of conditions in which the various species can grow. On the other hand, these plantations have been strongly criticized in some quarters because they are alleged to cause adverse effects on soil (impoverishment and encouraging erosion), on hydrology (by drying up aquifers) and because they provide relatively poor habitat for wildlife.

One of the principal reasons for planting eucalyptus is because they grow more rapidly than other species on the same site; this increased growth is necessarily associated with the greater consumption of water. The question then arises: which is more important in the circumstances :- wood or water?

Effects of Eucalyptus on Fauna

Steyn (1977) made a qualitative comparison of the bird population between eucalyptus plantation in north-eastern Transvaal containing strips of trees and shrubs along the water coasts. He found that some less adaptable species have been driven out and plantations were unsuited to the way of life of some species, e.g., the purple crested lories, which is a fruit eater and widow birds, bishop birds and some larks and pipits which prefer open country.

Some relatively clear and simple generalization can be drawn from the above studies:

1. Eucalyptus plantation has less diverse flora and fauna than indigenous forests.

2. Limited eucalyptus plantation in treeless areas and the shelters that these pro- vide can be beneficial to the wildlife population.

Effects of Eucalyptus on Flora

When an eucalyptus plantation is established it replaces one eco-system by an- other that is substantially different. The location and extent of eucalyptus plantation should be considered against some of the benefits received from the eco-system. Decisions about whether such replacements are justified or not, can only be taken against a background of national policy of conservation of nature and genetic resources.

Mathur and Sony (1983) at Rajvasti found that undergrowth under sal contains higher proportion of shrubs and animals while Ageratum conyzoides, a widespread animal need, is the commonest species under eucalyptus.

In the Multer valley, New South Wales, Australia (1967), Story detected, under several species of eucalyptus, circular patches which were more sparsely covered with grass than their surroundings. The trees involved were E. crebra, E. dawsonii, E. melliodora and E. molluccana. After careful investigation, he established that competition was not the cause and that competition for nutrients seemed unlikely. He concluded that chemical exudates, which inhibit the germination or growth of other species, were produced by the leaves or litter of eucalyptus which were partly responsible. This phenomenon could be a significant deterrent in choosing eucalyptus for erosion control or in circumstances when grazing under tree cover is important.