Major forestry and biofuel project launches in China

Netherlands-based Carbon Positive has secured 266,000 hectares of land in China for reforestation and biofuel crops in Honghe state, Yunnan province, and planting has already begun at the sites.

More than 6,660 hectares of native timber species will be in the ground by the end of February 2007, the company says. 2,000 hectares of Jatropha, used for making bio-diesel, have also already been planted. Plans for larger scale planting in 2007 are under development, and the project is to be submitted for approval under Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

Research and development is the focus of 2006 and 2007 plantings. Many areas will be addressed, including the suitability of crops for biodiesel production, optimizing timber and crop outputs, and maximizing carbon credit flows under the CDM.

Carbon Positive is working with Chinese and international partners in the venture. The partnerships bring together experience and relationships in China with Carbon Positive’s ability to manage large-scale agro-forestry projects.

“The venture is very well placed, as Yunnan province offers high growth conditions while China itself has enormous and growing demand for timber and bio-energy,” said Jon Anwyl, chief executive of Carbon Positive.

More than half of China’s demand for timber is currently met by imports from countries that lack sound forest management controls. According to WWF China’s wood market, trade and environment 2003 report, China is one of the major destinations for wood that may be illegally harvested or traded.

A native species to China, Nepalese alder, has been chosen for initial planting for its extremely good environmental benefits, local commercial value and short rotation period. Other high-value, short-rotation species will be added in 2007. Production from the Jatropha trees will contribute to China’s current five-year plan to lift the production of biofuel as a substitute for coal.

For more information:

www.carbonpositive.net

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