European Tropical Forest Research Network

Dear readers,

As this issue goes to print, the first call for proposals for the EC sixth framework programme for research, technological development and demonstration have been published. These calls include opportunities for forest research in the tropics, subtropics and Mediterranean - please see EC and ETFRN News for forest related themes covered by the calls.

The theme of this newsletter - forest use and soil quality - and particularly the effect of forest plantations on the soil - touches on many issues of global concern such as the sustainable use of soil and water resources, biological diversity, and carbon sources and sinks. Our guest editor, Prof. Gerhard Glatzel, has highlighted these links in his introductory article. He also points out the danger of approaching these questions from a purely technological point of view, stating that the degraded lands which should be reforested according to the forest department may well serve as grazing lands for local people. The attempt to establish a plantation on such lands without prior consultation and conflict resolution will probably be a waste of effort and resources. In his article, Zerfu Hailu provides fuel for such negotiations, by comparing the potential effects on soil fertility of the use of firewood from Eucalypt plantations with the use of dried dung for the same purpose.

But even when all parties agree that a forest plantation should be established, success is not yet guaranteed. As several of the authors point out, trees, like any other plants, extract plant nutrients from the soil to grow, and harvesting the trees will remove these nutrients. Because trees are able to extract nutrients from deeper soil levels than most agricultural crops, they can often grow on soils where agricultural crops would fail, so the need for nutrient management may not be immediately obvious. However, several of the experiments described in the following articles show that it makes good economic sense to pay attention to this.

Hoping you will enjoy reading this issue and that the articles will provide food for thought; please remember that ETFRN CU always welcomes comments, and contributions for future issues.

We are grateful to Gerhard Glatzel for editing this issue of the ETFRN News. Please note the theme and deadline for the next issues.

Willemine Brinkman
ETFRN Coordinator

ETFRN News is a publication of the European Tropical Forest Research Network and has a ciruculation of 3,600 copies. Texts may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes citing the source.

ETFRN Coordination Unit
c/o The Tropenbos Foundation
PO Box 232, 6700 AE Wageningen
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 317 495516
Fax: +31 317 495521
E-mail: etfrn@etfrn.org

Editor: Willemine Brinkman
Guest Editor for this issue: Gerhard Glatzel
Editorial assistance: Jacqui McGrath