DEVELOPMENT OF POPLAR COPPICES IN THE CENTRAL AND EAST EUROPE
BEST PRACTICES OF VERBAVA GROUP
by
Paweł Jamrożek - Member of the Board at Polish subsidiary
[e-mail] / mobile [phone]
ABSTRACT OF THE PRESENTATION
Verbava Group has successfully established over 1000 ha of both poplar and willow
plantations in Poland, Germany, Czech and Sloval Republics as well as on Ukraine.
We are acting owner for over 800 ha of plantations, developing more than 250 ha of new
crops per annum. Considering over 20 years of our in-house experts' research expertise,
access to the broadest database of clones in Middle Europe, comprehensive machinery park
and reliable staff - we are ready for the further development under new service contracts.
Short rotation plantations are both high-performing and undemanding. Poplar and willow
in particular are not only among the fastest growing trees  they also re-sprout from their
stumps after harvesting. The same plants can therefore be harvested several times over
a 15-20 year period.
The economic and ecological advantages include:
·ð Low input requirements  if cared for professionally in the first growing seasons
·ð Largely unaffected by the escalating prices of fertilizer, pesticides and fuel,
compared to annual crops
·ð Mean annual increment (MAI) of 10-12 t dry matter (at min. 85 tons after harvesting)
over a plantation lifetime of more than 15 years
·ð Minimal nutrient removal due to wintertime harvesting after several years of growth
·ð Higher biodiversity in comparison to intensively managed agricultural crops
·ð Efficient harvesting and logistic chains due to multiyear growth accumulation
Furthermore marginal sites, unfavorable for annual crops, are suitable for fast growing tree
plantations.
Two major types of wood can be produced under poplar plantations - our major focus crops:
·ð biomass harvested every 4 years for energy sector entities (mainly power plants)
trees' diameter between 12 and 14 cm - yield over 85 tons/ha (conservative)
·ð pulpwood harvested 8 years after planting trees for paper, OSB and MDF production;
tees' diameter over 20 cm - yield over 240 t/ha (conservative)
Our rich experience is appreciated both by indivduals and large industry. We are acting
advisor and service provider for all parties having at minimum 30 ha of agricultural land.