About

Under the auspices of IUFRO Division 5 Eucalypt Working Party a conference on "The Future of Eucalypts for Wood Products" was held in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia from 19th – 24th March 2000.

The conference was attended by 250 delegates representing forest growers, processors, marketers and researchers from 22 countries. Conference delegates came from Africa, North and South America, Europe, Asia and the Pacific.

The conference focus was on young eucalypts which make up plantations around the world and second growth production forests in Australia. Presentations and discussions covered the range of actual and potential solid wood products, including reconstituted products, but excluding pulp and paper. It included all phases of markets and production – from seedling to finished furniture, and from genetic manipulation to product specification.

The conference objectives were to:

- Explore future opportunities for eucalypts in quality wood markets;

- Review emerging technologies which are creating these opportunities;

- Define how research can progress these technologies and opportunities.

This web site is a result of the conference and its aim is to promote increased communication between eucalypt researchers. It is maintained by the Timber Research Unit at the University of Tasmania, as a service to Eucalypt researchers worldwide. It is funded by proceeds from the conference and by industry and government sources.

IUFRO is a non-profit, non-governmental international network of forest scientists. Its objectives are to promote international cooperation in forestry and forest products research. To find out more, go here.