Industrial Timber Plantations - Sustainable?

[Philip Owen]

Dear BDNow   Here in Mpumalanga Escarment, South Africa, most of the original climax grasslands have been planted to industrial monoculture pine and eucalyptus plantations. Both these species are alien to the region. These alien timber plantations are the “mother of all monocultures”, with drastic impacts on biodiversity and vital functions performed by the original integrated natural environment.   Conditions in the understory of these plantations are lifeless, leading to terms such as ‘green deserts’, ‘green cancer’ and ‘ecological wastelands’ beieng applied. As I understand grasslands are bacterially dominated, and forests dominated by fungi. As these grasslands locally are being replaced by ‘false forests’ the soil landscape is becoming fungal dominated. At an upcoming meeting scientists associated with the industry will argue that this implies the soil will become progressively better for growing timber, and that soil nutrient quality in timber stands are actually improving for tree growing…..???   How can this be true?   Surely the fact that it is a mono culture with extremely limited biodiversity and ecological interactions dooms it to medium / long term soil nutrient depletion?   Your comments will be much appreciated.   Philip Owen www.geasphere.co.za