HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

Addressing the meeting’s theme “Silvicultural Research—A Retrospective, ” the following invited paper presents a history of short-rotation hardwoods research. Abstract—Thirty-four years after its conception, short-rotation hardwood forestry is going operational. This paper traces the history of the concept, from when it was dubbed "Silage Sycamore " to today's intensively managed plantings. Initially conceived as an efficient means of producing fiber, it also aroused interest as an alternate energy source. A summary of sycamore and sweetgum yields under different management regimes is presented. With the increased demand for fine paper, short rotation hardwood plantations are operational in the western USA. In the Southeastern US, hardwoods are being planted increasingly on upland sites which remain trafficable in wet weather