Plantation in the Future in China: Forest Silviculture, Wood Quality and Utilization

With the implementation of Natural Forests Protection Program, wood resource base in China is shifting from naturally grown forests to plantation forests. Since the wood from plantation will contain larger proportions of juvenile wood, the change of wood resources base will in turn significantly impact the industry of wood processing and wood products in China. This paper reviewed the present situation of wood resources in China. It compared the differences of basic wood properties between juvenile wood of plantation and mature wood of naturally grown forests. The silvicultural treatments for influencing wood property characteristics of plantation were discussed. The relationship between wood quality and various end products was described.Finally, the strategy on the research of wood science in China for plantation was suggested.