How much of India’s vast wasteland can be used for growing plants such as eucalyptus and Jatropha? As land demands have increased, the sustainable use of marginal lands has become increasingly important. In India about 47 million hectares, or 15 percent of the total geographical area, is classified as wastelands. 

This brief presents an assessment of the climate and land quality requirements of eucalyptus, a commonly used plantation tree, and Jatropha, a much-discussed biodiesel crop. The study finds that roughly half of the degraded lands are suitable for growing eucalyptus and/or Jatropha.

Find the brief here.
 

This brief can be referenced as: Ostwald. M, Tiwari. R, Pettersson. K, Murthy. I, Berndes. G, Ravindranath. N.H, Karlson. M. Can India’s wasteland be used for biomass plantation? Focali Brief 2015:02, Gothenburg.

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