Abstract

The public concern and criticism on eucalypt plantation activities in Kerala are examined here. The common man fears that these programmes lack adequate commercial justification and have adverse environmental and social effects. Is it true? The response of the foresters to this criticism has always been of a defensive nature. A total area of nearly 35, 000 ha of eucalypt plantations is expected to meet an annual demand of 330, 000 t of raw material from pulp and paper industries. The eucalypts are not adapted to all sites and notable failures have occurred. Absence of appropriate site and species selection and sound silvicultural practices are reasons for their low productivity. The public is now aware of the existence of forest and its values and the conflicting uses. From the forester's point of view it is rather unfortunate that it required public criticism and controversy to focus public attention on forestry issues. Therefore, much of the public image of forestry is