Area
Most plantations are linear for the protection of agricultural land, and irrigation canals. There are approximately 40 000 ha of mature poplar stands, about 20 years old or more and also about 40 000 ha of willows.
Economic data
Egypt imports poplar wood (logs or semi-processed) and exports only fully manufactured wood, mainly to Arabian countries. The main use of poplar and willow woods are locally for some furniture, particleboard and ice-cream sticks.
Policy and legislation
There are three programs for poplar and willow plantations: the first for research, financed by the Horticulture Research Institute; the second for biomass use, financed by some scientific organizations, and the third for intensive plantations, financed by government and non-governmental organizations. In some cases, poplar material is distributed free of charge for environmental regulation and to encourage the establishment of plantations.
Technical data
From 1990 there has been a plan for forest genetic resource conservation including poplars and willows and their distribution throughout Egypt. Studies to evaluate the growth of poplar and willow clones under different environmental conditions were concluded.
General information
Egypt hopes to strengthen cooperation with Turkey, France, Spain and Italy which have poplars and willow Institutes, to train Egyptian staff on poplar and willow breeding, economy and wood utilization.
