Are tree plantations bad for the environment?
There are concerns that fast growing tree plantations can be detrimental to the environment. Potential problems are that uniform stands of the same species (particularly if they are not native) provide poor habitats for wildlife, that they degrade soil and water resources and deprive local people of farmland. However, it’s not that straightforward and the merits of a plantation have to be judged on a case-by-case basis. For example, a plantation that had replaced natural forest rich in biodiversity would undoubtedly have a negative impact on the environment. Whereas a plantation grown on land already degraded by logging or over-intensive farming can actually help to restore biodiversity.
