Introduction
Why plant trees
There are many reasons to plant trees:
- to grow useful products for home use and
consumption - for example, poles for construction purposes, fuelwood, fruit,
fodder, nuts and oils.
- to grow products to sell - for example, poles, fuelwood and
charcoal, sawlogs, pulpwood, fruits, oils and resin.
- to keep water and wind from carrying away soil, to improve
degraded land and to maintain soil fertility.
- to create shade and shelter from high winds or just to be able
to enjoy their beauty.
It may take years before seedlings planted today grow into big
trees. Therefore, planting trees is for the benefit not only of those who do it
but also for future generations.
About this manual
This guide contains the basic information needed to plan,
organize and carry out the planting of trees by hand. There are many differences
between countries and regions regarding tree species grown, the climate, the
soils, the tools available, the people, traditions and other factors. Tree
planting projects vary greatly in their size, methods and type of produce that
will be grown. Since mere is no substitute for local experience, this small
booklet can only provide general information which has to be adapted to local
conditions. The present manual can serve as a basis for local manuals in a
number of ways:
- it draws attention to all the aspects that need to
be considered in tree planting;
- it provides a range of technical solutions to
choose from for local use;
- it gives an example of how the subject can be
presented in a clear, easily accessible way e.g. by having a clear page lay-out,
a limited text without technical jargon, a number of high-quality illustrations
and the breakdown of operations into a sequence of steps.
The ILO welcomes reproduction and translation of all or part of
this manual (please see copyright information on the page facing the table of
contents). This booklet replaces SPWP Training Element and Technical Guide
Number 7, Planting Techniques. Financial support was provided by the
Policies and Programmes for Development Branch of the Employment and Development
Department, ILO. It was written by Kicki Johansson, ILO Industrial Activities
Branch and illustrated by Anja Laengst, external collaborator.
Why plant trees?
Products for home consumption
Products to sell
Soil and water conservation
Shade and
shelter
